Performance of the year

EVERY season the point is hammered home that every other race in the calendar is not simply a dress rehearsal for March in the Cotswolds. That point could not be better demonstrated than by Cyrname who gained deserved recognition as the best horse in Britain last season by winning the Ascot Chase in February.

The way Cyrname glided around Ascot to hand out a serious beating to the likes of Waiting Patiently, Politologue and Aso, the last two who went on to finish much closer in second in the Champion Chase and Ryanair on their next starts, is to see something close to a perfection in a chaser.

Beating top-class rivals by an easy 17 lengths was a truly awesome performance from the son of Nickname. Just enjoy class, wherever you see it, fellas.

Colin Tizzard could be top trainer in Britain next year \ Healy Racing

Looking ahead

JUIMPS racing in Britain has been dominated by Henderson and Nicholls for some time but I predict that Colin Tizzard will be the top of the pile – at least for a while – in 2020. He has the up and coming Lostintranslation sitting as favourite for the King George, and holds a very strong hand in the Welsh Grand National the following day, so he could easily be moving up from a currently modest standing of fifth. With the Gold Cup and Grand National being the key races to win for trainers hoping to land the title, he is again better placed than either of his competitors.