PACE was less of a factor in the two chases on Punchestown’s opening day than in the novice hurdle, though the BoyleSports Champion Chase turned into quite a test of stamina for a two-miler.

Un De Sceaux looked home and hosed early in the straight (touched 4/1 on in the run) but began to flag approaching the last, just as Fox Norton’s stamina booted in. The latter swept past to win in a 163 timefigure, his best to date, with Un De Sceaux on 161 a bit below his recent best of 164.

Fox Norton is an admirable individual – game and consistent – though it is difficult to forget that Altior wiped the floor with him at Newbury in February when running a 170 timefigure.

The leaders ran from three out in 51.6s in the Champion Chase but in 50.2s in the Growise Champion Novice Chase later on over more than a mile further, though that reflects an undemanding pace in the latter race as much as a demanding one in the former.

Disko was perfectly equipped to capitalise in the novice race, not only having shown plenty of speed at shorter but being a sound jumper and comfortably the most talented runner in a solid field. He skipped clear after the third-last and never looked in any danger thereafter, recording a career-best 157 in the process.

In what may well have been the best season ever for novice chasers that gets Disko only into joint-seventh place in the division, but he is younger than all of Altior (170), Thistlecrack (166), Our Duke (165), Might Bite (164), Whisper (162) and American (158) and is an exciting prospect.

Behind Disko, Anibale Fly (153), A Genie In Abottle (152) and A Toi Phil (148) either ran to form or progressed slightly, but the effort of Acapella Bourgeois in fifth adds substance to the idea that he was grossly flattered by his success at Navan in February.