THERE was a fair smattering of meaningful jumps action away from the major meetings in the period under review, including a well-run listed mares’ novices’ chase at Bangor-On-Dee in which Alsa Mix and Agusta Gold were separated by just a short-head and both ran useful 137 figures on time.

Last season’s smart novice hurdler Brewin’Upastorm is being brought along steadily over larger obstacles, but his ready defeat of Southfield Stone at Taunton amounted to plenty on time (148 figure) and he already looks even better in this sphere.

Rival

Midnight Tune beat her only remaining rival (after two others pulled up) by 32 lengths in a mares’ novice chase at Uttoxeter on Saturday, but the clock suggests the effort amounted to a fair bit, with a 133 figure from a mare who was capable of at least that previously.

Good Boy Bobby had been run down by Brewin’Upastorm at Carlisle on their chasing debuts but looks nearly as promising as that one, and his workmanlike novice win at Wetherby in a 133 time was another solid step in the right direction.

Cornerstone Lad is making into one of the best hurdlers in the north of Britain and could be worth a try in non-handicaps after his 148-rated success under top weight later on that Wetherby card.

That final observation may also apply to the four-year-old Song For Someone, who stormed to victory under 12st in what had looked quite a competitive affair at Fontwell on Sunday, an effort which registers at 147 on time ratings.

FLAT ratings are historically on a level 35 to 40 lower than jumps ones (a legacy of when Free Handicaps were published and ratings tied in with riding weights), so the wins of Scentasia (106 timefigure), Crossed Baton (98) in a Churchill Stakes weakened by the late defection of Lord North and Judicial (107), all in listed races at Lingfield on Saturday, need viewing in that context.

The last-named dispelled doubts about his stamina beyond the minimum trip with a power-packed 22.17s last two furlongs and looks a leading contender for the Sprint Final on April 10th, having been rated 115 not so long ago.

BEFORE then, we will have the final acts in the 2019 international flat season, notably the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on December 8th (political events there allowing).

Last Sunday saw the major local trials for that occasion, which resulted in emphatic wins for Exultant (third to Churchill in the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2017 when known as Irishcorrespondent) and Aethero, but a difficult-to-excuse defeat for the crack miler Beauty Generation.

I now have Exultant (who gave weight here) on 127, and anything looking to beat him at 10 furlongs in a couple of weeks’ time will need to be good. Aethero is just one less but did get the run of things somewhat up front and is probably at least as good at five furlongs as six furlongs, so there is a bit of hope there for his rivals.

Best miler

Beauty Generation, officially the best miler on either surface in the world this year, raced efficiently after quite a quick opening quarter but found disappointingly little and finished third to 117-rated Waikuku.

His air of invincibility has gone, and 123-rated Circus Maximus would have every chance of playing a major part if connections send him for the Hong Kong Mile in which Beauty Generation will be going for a hat-trick.