THE threatened downpours at Cheltenham proved less of a factor than had been feared, with the surface predominantly “soft” on the opening day and “good to soft” thereafter, judged on times.

They certainly affected Uttoxeter last Saturday, when conditions were the most testing of the season in Britain by the end of the card.

The Midlands Grand National, over more than four miles, was an even more extreme test than usual.

Potters Corner – part-owned by Wales outside centre Jonathan Davies, who was otherwise engaged on Saturday afternoon – slogged it out to win for up-and-coming Welsh trainer Christian Williams, recording a 142 timefigure in the process.

De Rasher Counter (126: has run into the 140s) and Power Play (137) were other good winners on the Uttoxeter card, with the former looking the type to play a part in good staying handicap chases next term.

The best winning performance on time at Kempton last Saturday came from Timoteo (135), an ordinary maiden hurdler who has taken to chasing in real style, winning both of his starts in the sphere easily.

There were a handful of useful winning efforts on the clock in Ireland around the same time, including the 149 timefigure posted by Darasso in beating 151-rated Cadmium in the Grade 2 Webster Cup at Navan on Monday. Westerner Point (142), Robin De Carlow (134), Moyhenna (132) and Jury Duty (158) were others worth calling out, with the last-named beating Mala Beach (142) and Don Poli impressively enough at Down Royal with the Grand National at Aintree in mind.

There has been a lot going on over jumps of late but that is no excuse for my neglecting last week to mention a couple of good winners on all-weather in Playa Del Puente, who beat Western Australia in a listed race at Dundalk, and I Can Fly, who won a Fast-Track Qualifier on the same card.

The former posted a very healthy 108 timefigure in the process, while the latter has shown herself to be capable of much better than the 91 she needed to run to here. It should be remembered that flat ratings are on a level around 40 lower than jumps.

The best British all-weather performance of late came from Cardsharp, who ran to 106, winning under 9st 9lb at Lingfield.