IF the weekends of winter Saturdays through the National Hunt season are geared to provide us with clues to head well armed into those four days in March, this weekend was of the quieter variety despite Prestbury Park holding its International meeting featuring the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.

There are few graded hurdles around that Willie Mullins doesn’t win these days but despite not winning the International, Mullins must have been pretty satisfied with the result, although on Sunday he lamented blowing Sempre Medici’s mark for the big handicaps ahead. The Mullins runner jumped the last along with the two four-year-olds Hargam and Old Guard, but it was the Paul Nicholls-trained Old Guard who proved the stronger up the hill, winning by a length under Sam Twiston-Davies.

He is the biggest winner so far over jumps for Knockhouse Stud sire Notnowcato, also the sire of Long Dog and who also sired the mare Ruby Rambler, a nice winner on Sunday for Lucy Wadham at Southwell.

Britain great new hope for the Champion Hurdle, Peace And Co ran a stinker. Nicky Henderson’s Triumph Hurdle winner pulled much too hard, racing with head high and ears back, eventually taking it up after the third as Daryl Jacob gave up the struggle to hold him.

He raced more sweetly once in the lead and jumped well until a slight mistake two out. He was overhauled quickly on the run to the last and faded out of contention. Nicky Henderson thought he was making a noise afterwards but did appear puzzled with the run and the jury is out for the moment.

He had pulled hard in his races last year but was still unbeaten through the season culminating in his Festival win.

He finished 20 lengths behind Hargam here, who had run already but was beaten just over a length by Peace And Co in last year’s Triumph. It remains to be seen if any explanation comes to light. (Epiglottis check anyone?)

Barry Geraghty who rode Hargam, (needs better ground) noted on his At The Races blog that “all three horses would probably all have to improve a bit on this if they are to be involved in the Champion Hurdle,” and that was fair comment.

Last year’s Triumph form has still to be boosted. Old Guard was sent off at 7/1 here and had finished ninth in the Triumph last year. He was adding to his Greatwood Hurdle win but although he has obviously improved, the form must be suspect. The stable’s All Yours won the Grade 1 at Aintree and seemed a better horse last year but disappointed at Wincanton first time out.

The New One and My Tent Or Yours, the other two British Champion Hurdle contenders have still to appear so the power lies in Closutton with two other Irish-trained horses Identity Thief and Windsor Park also quoted in the Champion markets.

If Old Guard is the best of the new guard, Faugheen and co have little to worry about.

REST OF CHELTENHAM

Geraghty was on the mark when 2014 World Hurdle winner More Of That won the novice chase by 13 lengths from his only completing rival Sametegal but he was more workmanlike than No More Heroes and indeed Pont Alexandre. A three runner race has little comparison with the bigger field RSA Chase on better ground, although there was little wrong with this run.

Among the juvenile hurdlers, nothing across channel has made a big impression and Alan King, whose string continues in very good form, had two three-year-old winners on Saturday.

The very likeable French-bred Sceau Royal (7/4) took advantage of the blunder and unseat of Leoncavallo at the last, to beat the Nicholls favourite Adrien Du Pont who had been awarded the race bewteen the two at Chepstow while Who Dares Wins (by Jeremy) (3/1), also beat a John Ferguson-trained horse in the surprising favourite Robertstown and had it much easier at Doncaster, winning by 12 lengths for a King double at the venue.

Sceau Royal was winning his second race in Britain on his fourth run. He may not prove the best four-year-old as the season progresses but there’s no doubting his enthusiasm.

CASPIAN CAVIAR GOLD CUP

Village Vic rewarded Richard Johnson’s efforts to do 10st when he made most of the running, jumping well to win the big handicap, the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. He stayed on strongly up the hill to win from his Philip Hobbs-trained stable companion Champagne West. Both the first two are likely to have improvement in them but this didn’t look the strongest race.

Buywise again didn’t jump fluently but ran an honest race in fourth. Annacotty was disappointing as were most of those who were concerned in the finish of the Paddy Power - Sound Investment, Art Maresque and Johns Spirit. The well-backed Little Jon reverted to his blundering ways, making a bad mistake in front of the stands and never figured, even if he remains a horse of potential when he gets it all together

The two Irish challengers Molotov and Texas Jack were both pulled up before the 12th. Willie Mullins reported that Mozoltov, well backed as a Pricewise tip, had not felt right according to Ruby Walsh and returned with an overreach.

NAVAN SUNDAY

The Jessica Harrington-trained Ttebbob (2/5) added to his Thurles win with an all the way win by 41 lengths in the two mile one furlong Grade 3 Klairon Davis Novice Chase where the three runners came home at wide intervals.

He settled in front and jumped well and was never in danger under Robbie Power. The Mullins novices set the standard but he should pick up more at graded level and his style of running will provide a good test for any less accomplished jumpers.

Bellshill produced an impressive performance to add to the Mullins novice hurdle band in the Navan Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) after Yorkhill and Min had impressed in recent weeks.

He was left in front when stable companion Stone Hard hit a hurdle down the far side and fired Paul Townend over his head. Going well into the straight, he was slick over the last two hurdles while Tycoon Prince was a bit slow.

Ruby Walsh appeared impressed stating that the horse had shown more speed than in this bumper runs. The only slight doubt on the performance was that Gordon Elliott appeared disappointed with the run of Tycoon Prince. However, you could not fault Bellshill.

Anibale Fly won the opener for J.P. McManus a bit more easily than the half-length distance as he had difficulty in finding a clear run. There were eye-catching finishes by two Gordon Elliott horses in the McManus debutant Sutton Place (50/1) in third and the Paul Rooney-owned Westend Star (33/1) in fifth under Jacques Ricou. The Mullins-trained favourite Balko Des Flos 6/4 was never involved.

Hours after winning a Grade 1 on the flat on the far side of the world, Aidan O’Brien almost trained a 33/1 winner of a Navan novice chase when Edwulf was clear and set for victory when he came down at the last under Mikey Fogarty. He had been second in a Dromahane point and then finished seventh in a Punchestown festival bumper for Ben Pauling. He won’t be 33/1 next time. The mishap left the favourite Walk To Freedom to complete a double for Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power.

Rossvoss added to his Punchestown chase success, again at 14/1 here, when he ran away with the handicap hurdle for Ted and Katie Walsh winning by 18 lengths from top weight Bentelimar.

The second in that Punchestown race, Dromnea, could be one for the Paddy Power at Christmas.

Gordon Elliott had three seconds on the card before Killer Crow, formerly with Willie Mullins, surprised at 10/1 in the two and a half mile novice chase where Sizing Titanium was disappointing when only fourth at 11/8. Tom Gibney’s Balnagon Boy ran a good race here, leading for a long way although not fluent at times and kept on for third.

Death Duty was well touted and well backed in what looked a hot bumper. A chaser in the making, Nina Carberry sent him out in front and he was always holding Our Duke. That horse still looks very promising, with Kate Harington not able to claim her allowance, and up against Nina Carberry on the winner. Jack The Wire may well be fitter next time.

CARLISLE SUNDAY

Pineau de Re broke the hoodoo on Grand National winners when he became the first horse since Bindaree in 2002 to win again after his Aintree victory. Now 12 years old, he had fallen at the second in the Becher Chase last week. Richard Johnson who can do no wrong this season was on board. He is likely stay over hurdles as he is well handicapped at the moment but his aim is the Grand National of a lower mark than which he won of two years ago.

Point-to-point winning mare Billy Billy gave Stuart Crawford and across the sea double when she won the bumper at short odds to give Richard Johnson a treble on the card.

NAVAN MONDAY

The Hilly Way Chase was rescheduled from the abandoned Cork meeting to Navan and provided a stirring finish with three together over the last after a sedate pace was set by Hidden Cyclone after Twinlight dropped back from the third (reported never travelling). Last year's winner Felix Yonger (11/10) was held up and produced before the last by Ruby Walsh which he jumped well to lead and hold off Bright New Dawn and Hidden Cyclone. The winner is sure to pick up some more decent prizes on the home front though he turns 10 in a few weeks’ time.

This was a much better display by Bright New Dawn and there is surely a decent prize to be won with the son of Presenting on better ground.

It looks unlikely Hidden Cyclone will ever get that elusive Grade 1 win over fences but he got round safe and picked up prize money.

Willie Mullins went on to complete a treble with easy odds-on wins when Black Hercules won his beginners chase and Avenir D'Une Vie (8/11) took the bumper.

Don't miss this weekend's The Irish Field for Simon Rowlands Timeform accessment, end of year reviews and comments on the action so far.