UNLIKE on the flat, where my methodology is very similar to that of Simon Rowlands and Timeform, I take a different approach to race-rating over jumps and use a scale which I’ve attempted to mirror with official BHA handicap ratings.

One of the advantages which exists in the timing of races between obstacles is your ability to drill down into very precise sectionals, something which allows you to upgrade performance with a precision which isn’t always possible on the flat. Which nicely segues into our first venture to Cheltenham of the season, for their opening two-day meeting.

Canardier (135p) posted comfortably the fasting closing sectional (from the second last) of the weekend, despite the pace being both quite strong and him only really being asked for an effort after the last. A horse with the pace for two miles, but clearly doing his best work at the finish here, he’ll likely end up just shy of top class over hurdles and will benefit from his trip-versatility.

Thomas Darby (138) benefited from a pace collapse with Elixir De Nutz (135) and Bang On Frankie (134) shaping well having taken each other from a long way out: the finishing speed was 94.6%, according to Timeform, which tells you that the pace was gruelling and Thomas Darby was a shade flattered having sat off the gallop.

Flattered or not, however, to put up a performance in the high-130s on hurdling debut is the mark of an unusually talented animal and he’s one to keep an eye on, along with the two aforementioned.

Over fences, there were two performances of note. Lil Rockefeller (147) is a slightly tricky horse, often surpassing expectations when the pressure’s off but failing to strike when faced with poorer opposition. He didn’t jump fluently, nor did he travel well, but the overall time was solid, and the sectionals compare very favourably to both Diakali and Sam Red who won the other chase events on the same day.

If he can improve on his jumping, it’s likely he’ll be equally effective over fences as he is over hurdles.

The best performances, relative to what one might expect at least, came in the opening chase on Saturday. Strongly run, with excellent sectionals too, Relentless Dreamer (145) and Cogry (146) delivered a titanic battle up the home-straight coming clear of the field in a manner which, both visually and on the clock, would suggest they had close to a stone in hand of the handicapper.

West Approach (145p) ran a blinder too having been overly-keen early and doing too much on the front. If he settles better, he has a race in him off his current mark, perhaps over slightly shorter than this three-mile+ trip.