THINGS change. On this day last year, Defi Du Seuil was impressive in beating Un De Sceaux in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Clarence House Chase at Ascot. Twelve months and just two runs later, and Defi has to do it all again.

Sent off at 2/5 for the Champion Chase in March in the absence of Altior and Chacun Pour Soi, he was never travelling and he finished a well beaten fourth behind Politologue. Then last time, on his debut this season in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting, he didn’t finish off his race, and Richard Johnson pulled him up before the last.