RECEIVED wisdom is that proven race fitness is not as important now as it used to be, due to the increased ability to get horses fit at home. Nonetheless, it sometimes makes the difference, and that seemed to be the case in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal last Saturday.

The Storyteller put his superior preparedness to best use against some more ring-rusty rivals. But you would fancy neck runner-up Chris’s Dream to beat him another day, and perhaps the fourth and fifth, Presenting Percy and Delta Work, too.