THE accompanying tables show the highest timefigures run to by individual horses in each category, with the higher the timefigure the better the performance.

Where possible, the timefigures take into account the sectionals which gave rise to them.

A few horses appear in more than one category, and some of the ratings have been revised from what was first printed, due to the race, or associated form, working out well or poorly. Mares, who will receive an additional weight allowance, are marked *.

A-grade for Apple’s

APPLE’S Jade’s best – notably her Irish Champion Hurdle win at Leopardstown in February – narrowly surpasses Buveur d’Air’s best, which includes his victories in the last two Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham.

However, that gap is much wider when the former’s mares’ allowance is factored in. Apple’s Jade has done it from two miles to three miles and on ground from heavy through to good.

Sharjah’s overall times have been decent, rather than better, but his sectionals have been very sharp and few possess his telling turn of foot. Brain Power, Silver Streak – the one-two in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December – and Global Citizen are best of the rest among the Brits.

Laurina has yet to run a really fast time, or really fast sectionals, though she has not been fully tested.

Paisley tops the stayers

PAISLEY Park is best of the stayers after Apple’s Jade, though a strong pace and testing conditions somewhat exaggerated his margin of victory over West Approach, Black Op and Sam Spinner in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham. Black Op, in particular, could improve for a more patient ride than he received in that race.

With Penhill sidelined, Faugheen comes more into the reckoning: he ran nearly to the same level in time terms when second to Sharjah in the Morgiana Hurdle in November. Presenting Percy’s defeat of Bapaume at Gowran may prove most significant in hurdling terms for the latter’s signs of a return to his best.

Percy has solid Gold Cup claims

BRISTOL De Mai gets top spot in this division by virtue of his Betfair Chase win over Native River at Haydock in November, but he has still to run as well away from that track.

Native River followed that effort with an outpaced third to Clan Des Obeaux and Thistlecrack in the King George at Kempton, and his win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup 12 months ago does not look as good as it once did.

On the other hand, Presenting Percy’s RSA Chase win 12 months ago has been boosted a number of times, even though he has been seen just once (and over hurdles at that) since that win.

Al Boum Photo looked booked for third in the RSA Chase when falling but has gone from strength to strength, with his listed win at Tramore on New Year’s Day better in time terms than seems to have been widely appreciated.

Santini looks to be top staying novice

SANTINI claims top spot among novice chasers on account of some excellent late sectionals when third to La Bague Au Roi (misses Cheltenham) and Topofthegame at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day in the Kauto Star, a race which was only a little slower overall than the King George on the same card despite being more tactical.

Le Richebourg, Dynamite Dollars and Master Dino have been sidelined through injury, meaning Defi Du Seuil has the strongest claims among shorter-distance novice chasers (Lalor is on 150).

Ballyward’s 11-length Naas win in a smart time has been boosted since, and he is now marginally ahead of OK Corral (won two steadily-run chases with good late sectionals) who finished in front of both him and Santini at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

British novices hold strong hand

IT is tight at the top among novice hurdlers, but Angel’s Breath managed to enhance his reputation by just failing to catch Southfield Stone in the Dovecote at Kempton last time, conceding his rival weight and first run.

The latter ties in with the strong form of Elixir De Nutz and Grand Sancy, while Al Dancer and Champ earned their figures in handicaps and are similarly solid.

Lisnagar Oscar ran remarkably fast late on when bursting clear to win at Haydock last time and leads the way among the staying types.

Irish-trained horses need to improve, though probably not by much in the case of Klassical Dream and Aramon, one-two at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Fakir holds top juvenile figure

FAKIR d’Oudairies has run fastest of juvenile hurdlers seen in Ireland and Britain, beating Fine Brunello and Adjali by a wide margin at Cheltenham in January.

Sir Erec has impressed in winning two out of two at Leopardstown, though more visually than strictly on the clock, accounting for Tiger Tap Tap by just a neck on the first occasion and Gardens Of Babylon by six lengths on the second.

Pic d’Orhy brings strong form from France (where he finished ahead of Fakir d’Oudairies on one occasion), though his figure is an estimate in time terms.

Quel Destin is tough and very consistent, though his winning spree might have been assisted by a string of tactical races in which his turn of foot has been seen to good effect.

Envoi best of the bumpers

ENVOI Allen’s Grade 2 win at the Dublin Racing Festival came in a time not much slower than Apple’s Jade’s in the Irish Champion Hurdle on the same card (though the latter jumped six flights in the process, of course), and that is marginally the best on offer in this division.

Meticulous, Embittered and Beacon Edge were quite close behind him that day, and Abacadabras would have been but for running out. Envoi Allen beat Midnight Run at Navan the time before and the latter has gone in nicely at Naas since.

Get In The Queue and Eden Du Houx are marginally best of an apparently slightly weaker British team. The Gordon Elliott-trained Malone Road, winner of both his starts, could be best of the lot but has been sidelined.