COURSE records over jumps are often best taken with a pinch of salt. In many cases, distances, fences, and even the way in which races themselves are timed, have altered almost beyond recognition over the years.

Nonetheless, it is fair to say that Cloth Cap ran fast in historical terms – a course record according to Racing Post – when winning last Saturday’s Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury by 10 lengths in 6m 21.6s according to my timepiece.

That is not to say that Cloth Cap is better than the likes of Native River and Burrough Hill Lad – never mind Arkle himself – among past winners of what was known as “the Hennessy”, of course. But he was a well-handicapped and lightly weighted individual, who, crucially, was running on ground that was no softer than good and which was considerably quicker than is often the case.

It was also not true that Cloth Cap set especially solid fractions, for his closing splits were rapid and his finishing speed from three out was a notably high 109% of his average race speed where about 100% is par.

Compared to other times on the card, Cloth Cap’s effort was worth about 139 – one of the worst winners of this historical race, not the best – but that goes up to 145 on the back of those splits.

His new BHA mark of 147 should get him into the handicap for the Grand National at Aintree, where his slick jumping and attacking style should count in his favour even though there could well be better-treated and classier individuals among his rivals.

Those other times at Newbury on Saturday included notable chase wins for the novices Next Destination (a former Willie Mullins-trained smart hurdler) and Zanza, who posted figures of 147 and 142 respectively after sectionals have been taken into account.

They also included notable handicap hurdle wins from Flash The Steel and Floressa, rated 144 and 143 respectively, the former seeming the winner on merit but the latter benefiting from a shrewd ride out in front and from various misfortunes befalling her rivals, notably Milkwood and Thyme White, both of whom remain interesting at this level.

Speed not stamina

The surface at Newbury the day before had been a shade easier – on the borderline between good to soft and good judged on times – but the emphasis had still been more on speed than stamina.

That was especially true for the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle, in which the pace was modest once the field finally got under way, with Thyme Hill showing a good turn of foot to prevail.

It was a very smart effort from him (161) once sectionals are taken into account, but an even better one from penalised runner-up Paisley Park (164), who came from a bit further back and who looks a fair bet to go close to recapturing his Stayers’ Hurdle crown at Cheltenham faced with more of a test. Third-placed McFabulous (155) shaped well before failing to stay.

The pick of the other winning performances at Newbury on Friday week were those of Caribean Boy (151) in a Grade 2 novice chase (he will no longer be a novice by the time you read this) that was much more truly run than the handicap won by 153-rated Clondaw Castle which followed it, Elusive Belle (144) in a novice handicap chase, and My Drogo and Bravemansgame (both 130) in maiden/novice hurdles.