JANUARY is the month associated with the bringing in of the new and, so far as National Hunt racing is concerned, several exciting novice hurdlers have broken cover with a purpose since the new year.

Notable among them are two that began life in point-to-points and are owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly, Asterion Forlonge and Shishkin. Both scored impressively with what looked like plenty in hand, but whereas Asterion Forlonge went under the radar to some degree by dint of winning on the same card as Envoi Allen, Shishkin had no such foil at last week’s meeting at Newbury. Visually impressive performances don’t always translate to the clock but in this instance it certainly did.