JUMPS racing in Britain is winding down, with the season finale at Sandown this Saturday, but there were still a few notable performances in the last week.

Leading the way narrowly was Vicente’s 153 timefigure for winning the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. But Vaniteux (152, listed handicap chase), Cloudy Dream (149, Future Champion Novices’ Chase) and Label Des Obeaux (148, novices’ handicap chase) were other winners at the Scottish course to run useful times.

Cloudy Dream had been suffering from seconditis – though those defeats included ones at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, as well as at the hands of Buveur d’Air earlier – but answered any doubts about his resolve in a finish as well as about his ability to see out two and a half miles on good going.

The handicap hurdle wins of Ashoka at Exeter (in a time 16.6s quicker than the race which followed) and San Satiro at Wincanton (easily the fastest average speed on the card) were eye-catchingly quick for the grade – worthy of timefigures of 129 and 123 respectively – the pair can continue to make their mark at an ordinary level.

There may be a few more quick times flying around this summer in Britain than usual on account of a wholesale remeasurement of flat racecourses which has necessitated the movement of some of the starts, most of which will take effect from May 8th.

Around 70% of distances surveyed were found to be wrong, including that of the Derby at Epsom (four yards shorter than imagined) and the International/Dante at York (32 yards short).

This is all part of a drive within British racing, not least from the Horseracing Bettors Forum, to improve customer confidence in the accuracy of the data associated with the product. It is difficult to understand why Irish racing – in which discrepancies appear to be greater – fails to do likewise.