PTIT Zig (40) won the Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in good style.

He was stretched when the runner-up kicked for home after three out but really got rolling as that one tired running up to the last.

He cleared that fence well, tucking his front legs right up under him to ping it with speed, and then cleared away under pressure up the run-in.

Seeing that he’s a tall, strong sort and stayed on so well, it’s tempting to conclude that the three-mile RSA Chase is the right end of season target for Ptit Zig. He has the physique of a two and a half mile specialist to my eye.

Trainer Paul Nicholls agrees with me on distance, so I doubt we’ll see Ptit Zig tested beyond two miles and five as a novice. If things pan out I imagine he’ll be given a shot at three miles next season in the King George. I’d oppose him with some confidence there, not just on stamina grounds but on class too.

Ptit Zig has already won a Grade 1 over fixed brush hurdles in France. Diakali beat him fair and square seven lengths into second in another Grade 1.

Diakali is top class in single figure fields, but a seven length loss to him suggests to me that the borderline Grade 1 rating I gave Ptit Zig for this performance is as good as he is.

He’s unbeaten in four novice chases. However, I see him as vulnerable to a genuinely top class rival. Therefore I’d like to take a long hard look at his opposition before saying he’s a solid bet for his obvious Cheltenham target, the JLT Novice Chase.

The runner-up Champagne West (38) looked to have the winner in trouble when he kicked on after three out but was reeled in by the last and outrun.

He’s won the last five times that he’s run below pattern class but does seem a bit short of the best. That said, this was his best run to date, and he’s still pretty lightly-raced.

Maybe he can improve a bit when he goes back up to three miles and is held on to for longer.

The other interesting performance in the race was put up by fourth placed Ned Stark (30). He moved eye-catchingly well for a long way, jumping fast and accurately, but he ran out of gas rapidly from four out.

Seeing that he’s so strong and tall and has won over longer, I can’t believe lack of stamina was the problem.

Right now my guess would be that Ned Stark is best on his first two starts of the season and needs six week plus breaks thereafter to run well again.

Alternatively he could be best in the spring and autumn. He’s run insufficient times to be sure. However, he’s clearly smart judged by his previous form.