SATURDAY’S action at Ascot was weakened significantly by the late defection of Paisley Park from the Marsh (formerly Long Walk) Hurdle which was at his mercy if he coped with conditions.

Following a couple of inspections, racing went ahead and the surface was eminently raceable: only just “heavy” judged on times, as it happens.

The Worlds End was the chief beneficiary, but it took a vintage piece of stopping in front from L’Ami Serge to let him back in. The time was not great, even after sectionals are allowed for, with the first two earning 149 figures (Paisley Park has run to 166).

The handicap chases on the same Ascot Saturday card produced a couple of meritorious winners, Espoir De Guye looking well ahead of his mark in posting a 144 timefigure and 147-rated Regal Encore having one of his going days in denying Acting Lass (150), Jerrysback (145) and top-weighted Black Corton (156).

Even better came from Riders Onthe Storm in winning the Graduation Chase earlier on the card emphatically from very useful rivals. It is possible that none of those behind him ran right up to their best, but Riders Onthe Storm looked a class apart and now figures on 158 (including sectional upgrade), which makes him a legitimate contender for the Ryanair Chase and perhaps even for the Champion Chase.

Long way to go

Not So Sleepy is being talked of as a Champion Hurdle longshot after his clear-cut front-running win in the valuable Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle, but he was off bottom weight in this and has a long way to go.

That said, this looks solid form of its type, with only the winner returning a finishing speed percentage in excess of 100 in what was a well-run race. He is now rated 141 on time with me, with top-weighted runner-up Monsieur Lecoq confirming his apparent improvement at Cheltenham the week before on 149.

The highlight at Haydock was arguably the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase, though it is not the race it once was (early winners included Little Owl, Forgive ’N Forget, The Thinker and One Man).

Lord Du Mesnil deserves credit for running his rivals ragged, but he carried less weight than most and earns a “useful but not exceptional” 136 timefigure as a result.

There had been some notable wins at Newbury’s meeting on Wednesday, including Magic Of Light’s Listed Mares’ Chase success (beat only one other finisher and ran just a 112 time) and Fraser Island’s debut hurdling success in the opening juvenile (slowly-run, but gets a 125 figure on sectionals).

Possibly most significant of all for the future, however, was The Big Breakaway’s victory in a novice hurdle. The son of Getaway did not have a lot to beat but did it in style, with a quick late sectional, and now figures on 138.

On the flat

Flat racing does not get much of a look-in on these pages at present, but it is worth making an exception for one-time classic hope Dubai Warrior, who made it four wins out of six in the Listed Betway Quebec Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday.

The John Gosden-trained three-year-old gets a figure of 112 as a result (flat figures are around 40 below jump ones) and looks Group 3 standard.

Much better still was the wide-margin win of Lys Gracieux in the very valuable Arima Kinen at Nakayama on Sunday morning, an effort which looks to be about the equal of Enable’s career-best of 130, though it should be noted that the leaders seemed to go too fast and that much-heralded Almond Eye failed to get home at the extended 12 furlongs.