THE month of October was spent in exasperation. Endless NH previews, podcasts, unproven horses to follow, 10 possible winners already thrown in the ‘ideal for the Albert Bartlett’ notebook. Every social media racing account promoting a dark horse for this, that and t’other Festival race. Remember Willie Mullins entered 14 novice chasers in the Turners at the end of January last season and ran two and neither was in the first three.

There is much less interest and betting for the 2024 classics even though you actually know what races horses will be targeted at.