THE flat season kicked off on easy ground at Naas on Sunday and Noble Nation impressed as the opening winner of the new campaign, though the last-to-first success of Dance For Chester in the following sprint handicap looks additionally eye-catching on the RaceiQ metrics, writes Will Hayler.

Across the eight-race card, this Far Above At Compas Stallions Handicap was the only race to achieve a Par rating on the Race iQ Time Analysis index (all other contests rated as Slow) and Dance For Chester – slowest of all of the 11 runners in the opening furlong – collared two race-fit rivals out in front (finished second and third) as the winner ran the final furlong 0.39s faster than the runner-up, a significant difference for a race over the minimum trip.