REVE De Sivola (40) was allowed to set a rather moderate pace in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.

It wasn’t slow enough to hurt the final time but he was running 3.5% slower on the first circuit than the second.

As a result he had plenty in the tank left to answer the challenge of the eventual winner on the run-in and only went under by a neck.

I predicted after his win last time that if Reve De Sivola ran in the Cleeve Hurdle he wouldn’t be fresh enough to show his best in the World Hurdle.

That’s been the case in the last two seasons, and, seeing how much more tired Reve De Sivola was at the finish than the winner, my bet is he will once more run short of top form at the big meeting.

The winner was Saphir Du Rheu (40) who was cruising all the way up to the last jump. He had to be ridden vigorously to catch Reve De Sivola.

I think that was simply because the runner-up had been able to save so much energy by going slow on the first circuit.

After the finish, it was obvious Saphir Du Rheu had a much less taxing race as he had his ears pricked and looked full of energy. I reckon he’s capable of running faster off a stronger early gallop.

The World Hurdle has never fallen to a five-year-old, but three of the seven Cleeve Hurdle winners aged six or more, like Saphir Du Rheu, to contest the big race since the Cleeve was upped to three miles have scored.

This suggests that the 6/1 the bookies are offering about him for the World Hurdle is too big. Indeed, the only two entrants I have faster than him on my ratings - More Of That and Annie Power – have yet to run this season. He’s surely the one they all have to beat.

The stiff track and step up to three miles clearly suited third placed Un Temps Pour Tout (39).

He’d beaten the useful Cole Harden 16 lengths the only previous time he’d tackled a testing course. I can’t see any good reason why he should turn the form around with the winner in the World Hurdle.

However, he’s had very few opportunities to show how good he is, so I’m going to be cautious about predicting his future until I’ve seen him tackle a few more proper stamina tests.