BRISTOL De Mai actually managed to run the quickest average speed of the chase winners on Haydock’s Saturday card, despite racing at much further than the other two contests over fences, with the Peter Marsh Chase additionally extended by 78 yards on account of rail movements.

That said, the time performance of Waiting Patiently in landing the Grade 2 Novices’ Chase over about two and a half miles earlier on was not to be sniffed at, either.