IN one respect, the answer to the question “what does it take to win or run well at the Cheltenham Festival?” is simple. It takes superior ability, tuned-to-the-second preparedness, and suitability to the precise task being faced.

In another, it is far more complex. There are plenty who fit the bill every year but who fail to make the grade, while there are others who perform well despite deficiencies in one (but seldom more than one) of those categories. You often need a bit of luck along the way, too.