LIKE it or not, we are now on the long and winding road to Cheltenham, where any performance of note is analysed through the prism of the Festival.

It’s good to dream, exciting to speculate - even if in many cases somewhat premature. The use of data in this process can be a very unwelcome spoiler, waking some from their dreams, pouring cold water on speculation, an unwelcome bedfellow for those who want to live with the hype.