RAINFALL was the catalyst for the emergence of some sublime equine talent on both sides of the Irish Sea as the class on show provided the most fascinating weekend of the National Hunt season to date.

A blend of proven Grade 1 achievers returned with performances to show they are as good as ever and were richly complemented by novice hurdlers and chasers which courtesy of the comparable data posted served to mark them down as being destined for the top of their respective disciplines.

The John Durkan Chase staged by Punchestown is the only place to start as a star-studded line up went to post including both Allaho (159) and Envoi Allen, both of whom represented Cheveley Park Stud.

Any thoughts Allaho would prove vulnerable on his seasonal debut were unfounded as Patrick Mullins guided the Ryanair winner to victory, albeit in a time figure way below his Cheltenham victory.

My view would be that the combination of the removal of fences and going right-handed contributed to being below his best. The gallop through the middle segment of the race where the fences were omitted was particularly strong as I clocked Allaho through the section to the fourth last 6.9 seconds or 35 lengths faster than the returning Ferny Hollow, who in turn was 25 lengths clear of the leader in the three-mile handicap chase.

This is an illustration that the pace was extremely strong in both races.

Resolute

What materialised from the fourth last when comparing the two Cheveley Park-owned winners indicates how resolute Allaho is and in equal measure displays the talents of Ferny Hollow as the six-year-old reduced the margin between the two races to just five lengths at the line.

The comparable sectionals were Ferny Hollow 62.7 seconds and Allaho 68.6 which equates to 30 lengths.

There is no doubt Ferny Hollow (161) quickened as he was momentarily headed by Coeur Sublime but as Glenquin Castle (117) completed the closing sectional in 68.1 seconds, the pace in the Grade 1 has collapsed in the latter stages.

Coeur Sublime (157), now in the care of Henry de Bromhead, was smart over hurdles but this run exceeds anything he achieved over the smaller obstacles, his closing sectional of 63.3 seconds was slower than the winner as he lost ground in the shadow of the post, probably due to his slight mistake at the final fence.

He will not always find opposition as determined as Ferny Hollow and looks sure to win races in this sphere.

The Devilscoachman (154) found his stride late to post a closing sectional of 63.0 seconds in third, having jumped the last fence better than the previous three, he ran to a similar level when winning over hurdles at Navan last season.

Noel Meade’s gelding looks set to surpass his achievements as a hurdler as he gains confidence over his fences.

Hurdles

The hurdles on the card are difficult to assess due to the obstacles being removed following the first race while the racing line was changed for Party Central’s (130) listed win.

Gordon Elliott’s mare clocked the fastest time when adjusted for distance but was the more leisurely through the closing stages with her closing sectional of 60.7 seconds the slowest of the four hurdle races.

Top Bandit (125) was the fastest from the third last but the overall time was the slowest.