THERE were a few meaningful efforts on the clock away from the glare of the Cheltenham Festival spotlight, and they could have plenty of relevance for events further ahead.

Chief among them was the win of American in the Betfred TV Novices’ Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter on Saturday. The Harry Fry-trained gelding ran a 158 timefigure in beating the well-treated Rock The Kasbah easily, and would have been snapping at the heels of Might Bite and Whisper in a superior RSA Chase judged on that, though it remains to be seen if soft ground is important to him.