THERE was a time, not too long ago, when the quality of last season’s top staying novice chasers was being questioned. RSA Chase winner Topofthegame had been beaten at Aintree and was out for the season, RSA Chase runner-up Santini had scraped home by a head from the 144-rated Now McGinty at Sandown, and RSA Chase third Delta Work had been well-beaten by Road To Respect at Down Royal.

Different story now though. Delta Work battled on well to win the Savills Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas, and he is no better than 9/1 now for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, while Santini stayed on strongly to beat Bristol De Mai in the Cotswold Chase on Saturday. He may not have impressed everyone, but the true measure lies in the figures: 6/1 second favourite for the Gold Cup. Topofthegame is still out for the season but, add Lostintranslation, and second-season chasers now occupy three of the top six places in the Gold Cup market.