I WAS rather keen on the chances of Ar Mad (26-pace adjusted 32) in a novice hurdle at Newbury last Wednesday week as he had some really good form in France. Unfortunately I failed to factor in the possibility of a slow early pace.

In France the early pace in jumps races is invariably strong. This is partly because they tend to have bigger fields but mostly because the horses have to jump the obstacles at speed to reduce the friction they cause as they drag against their bodies.