SALDIER was not the only significant winner in the Ricci silks in the last week and a bit. The period also saw the impressive return of Douvan, who won the Clonmel Oil Chase with a 162 time performance, and Faugheen, who landed a beginners’ chase at the grand old age of 11, though it was a steadily-run affair and he gets a figure of just 137 even after sectionals have been allowed for.

Douvan’s time was 1.4s quicker on my timepiece than Shattered Love’s half an hour later, the latter carrying 8lbs less and returning a 147 figure with something to spare (sectionals confirm both races were truly run).