1. Market madness in Ballymore and Coral Cup

After Irish-trained horses filled the first eight places in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, it could hardly have been viewed as a promising sign for the home team’s remaining novice hurdlers at the meeting.

Against that backdrop, it was quite remarkable that the Paul Nicholls-trained Hermes Allen was backed off the boards into 9/4 favourite for Wednesday’s opening Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle - especially with such stable confidence behind Impaire Et Passe. The well-backed market leader was beaten 21 lengths in sixth.

Another of the peculiar market moves came in the Coral Cup when Camprond, who had been priced close to favourite at 13/2 on raceday morning, drifted right out to 20/1 and a Betfair Exchange starting price of just over 45/1. He went close and finished an excellent third, beaten a neck and a head.

2. Song another near-miss for unlucky Brassil

On the Coral Cup, spare a thought for Martin Brassil, J.J. Slevin and Sean and Bernardine Mulryan, whose An Epic Song was narrowly denied when splitting Langer Dan and Camprond. Much has been made in recent times of the British handicapper’s treatment of those two horses.

Langer Dan last year had memorably been dropped 3lb for just one run on his return from a layoff ahead of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, while Camprond was lowered a whopping 9lb for just two completed starts since his win at last year’s Punchestown Festival.

The trio pulled nine and a half lengths clear of the remainder, so it was quite the effort from An Epic Song, who was running off 4lb higher than his Irish mark.

3 Gallant Gerri looks one who got away

You get the sense that had the new British whip rules not been in place, Jordan Gainford would have loved to give a few more reminders to the generous but laid-back Gerri Colombe in his near-miss in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

He responded so well to Gainford’s urgings that he may well have picked off the winner if greater whip use was permitted, but perhaps the real damage was done when The Real Whacker and Bronn slightly stole a march on him around the third last fence.

4 Cross Country throws up serious Aintree clues

We got our fair share of Grand National clues on Tuesday with wins for Corach Rambler and Gaillard Du Mesnil but the biggest pointers to the Aintree highlight may well have come in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

It’s surprising to see 14/1 still available about Delta Work given how well he shaped and the fact he will be 7lb better off with Galvin in Liverpool. He must have a big chance off 11st 4lb (third in the race last year when carrying 11st 9lb).

5 De Bromhead sqaud in outstanding form

What is it about Henry de Bromhead’s horses raising their game to another level when breathing in the Cotswolds air in the spring?

Maskada left behind a Dublin Racing Festival disappointment to win the Grand Annual and Captain Guinness excelled when posting a likely career-best second in the Champion Chase (backed from 40/1 to 12/1).

De Bromhead’s string has really peaked for this meeting.