They went really slow on the first circuit and only the last mile and seven furlongs or so of the three miles, a furlong and a half, was run in another chase on the same card.

If I assume the first circuit was so slow it had no impact and simply compare the last mile and seven with that of the two mile, five furlong chases on the card, I come up with a rating that is in line with my expectations. So I’m going with that.

At a couple of the jumps The Giant Bolster was a little slow. As the race began in earnest, he closed down the outside, challenged from two out and then forged clear on the run-in to score by seven lengths.

In the past I have come up with many theories to explain The Giant Bolster’s form. I’ve been tempted to say he’s just not that good as he’d lost all 12 times that he’d run in Grade 1 or 2 contests before this success.

However, The Giant Bolster had routinely run faster than any of his rivals in the Argento and the statistics suggested he merited close attention. So I came up with a new theory which seemed to be borne out by his success.

My new theory is that The Giant Bolster, like a lot of horses, does not like traveling a long way from his home stables. In this regard it’s worth noting that Cheltenham is the course nearest to The Giant Bolster’s stables. The only other track in easy reach is Worcester.

A REAL SHOT

The Giant Bolster wasn’t very good over hurdles but on his sole start over timber at Cheltenham as a novice he only got beaten seven lengths in the Neptune at the Festival. Over fences he has completed the course six times at Worcester or Cheltenham. He won four of those six times and was second and fourth in the Gold Cup in his two losses. He looks to have a real shot of at least being placed in the Gold Cup again this year.

The runner-up Rocky Creek (39) gave The Giant Bolster a real fight until his stride shortened dramatically in the last 100 yards and he nearly got caught for second. He’d apparently missed some work and wasn’t at peak fitness according to trainer Paul Nicholls. He will now be aimed at the Grand National apparently. He’s still yet to show form quite good enough to take a Grade 1 but it’s still a bit early to say for sure he’s not capable of winning at the top level.

Harry Topper (39) stayed on nicely on the run-in and very nearly snatched second place from Rocky Creek. As ever, he was slow over several of the jumps but once more demonstrated the deep reserves of stamina he seems to possess.

If the ground came up soft enough in the Grand National to slow the others down over the jumps Harry Topper would surely have a serious chance - assuming he got the hang of jumping the unusual fences and coped with the crowding.

Harry Topper doesn’t get from one side of a fence to another very fast or elegantly. He seems to need very soft ground to slow down his rivals jumping enough to give him a chance. He showed this once more last time when stretched into a series of mistakes on fast ground at Sandown.