IT'S hard to know what is a source of more annoyance. Cheltenham’s influx of Grade 1 races over untraditional distances to satisfy commercial coffers or the pandering of the sports major owners and trainers to have their best horses run in these races.

Worryingly, the two instances are somewhat symbiotic, and thus will likely continue and even worse, become even more apparent. If that is the case, maybe in the coming years we’ll have a Champion Hurdle over two and a half miles. Or a mares’ chase over two and a half. Or a mares’ novices’ chase, one over two and a quarter miles and another over two and three quarters. Beware the five-day meeting.