OPINIONS are split as to whether the 2016/2017 jumps season in Britain and Ireland was a good one, an average one or a poor one (a Twitter poll of my followers went 27%, 44% and 29% respectively), but it certainly ended with a bang not a whimper.

Willie Mullins vs Gordon Elliott, Nicky Henderson vs Paul Nicholls, and Altior, Great Field, Sizing John and Unowhatimeanharry ensured that the end of April was anything but an after-thought to the season.