THE 2017 Cheltenham Festival may not have been as successful as last year’s renewal from the perspective of Irish point-to-point graduates but, for me, one of the performances of the meeting came in Thursday’s Grade 1 JLT Novices’ Chase from the winner, Yorkhill.

Victorious 12 months earlier in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle, also Grade 1, the 2010 Presenting gelding first caught the eye when, on his debut for owner Wilson Dennison and trainer Colin McKeever, he powered away from his opponents in the four-year-old maiden at Toomebridge in November 2014.

Unfortunately, he ‘lost’ his rider that day, Gerald Quinn, when ducking inside a doll in the back straight. However, such was the impression he made that his win next time out at Tattersalls the following month, when Derek O’Connor was in the saddle, was merely a necessary formality.

Since joining the Willie Mullins yard shortly afterwards, Yorkhill has run 10 times and only once failed to score in bumpers, hurdles and chases and that when fourth in the Grade 1 Champion Novices’ Hurdle at the 2016 Punchestown Festival when he refused to settle.

Having had such a traumatic end to the National Hunt Chase on the Tuesday when his mount Edwulf had to be pulled-up after the last, Derek O’Connor had a deserved good ride in the Foxhunter Chase on Friday. He led most of the way on the Graham McKeever-trained Balnaslow who faded to finish fifth, just behind the first Irish horse home, On The Fringe ridden by the in-form Jamie Codd.

Anyone who knows Peggy Hagan, the owner of Balnaslow (another Loughanmore graduate), can just imagine how excited she was at seeing her horse still leading coming to the last and all we can say is: “Better luck next year Peggy!”

While there is a lot of talk about qualifications for these races, I think all horses should have to win at least one point-to-point each season before progressing to hunters’ chases.