DEFI Du Seuil was the undoubted star on the undercard at Cheltenham on Thursday, the former Triumph Hurdle winner landing the opening JLT Novices’ Chase readily by two and a quarter lengths from his old rival Lostintranslation.

The score is now two-one in Defi Du Seuil’s favour, with Lostintranslation in receipt of a crucial 3lbs on the only time he came out on top, but I am not convinced the argument between them has been settled once and for all.

What Defi Du Seuil does possess, besides an excellent attitude, is a withering turn of foot, and steadily-run races at two and a half miles enable him to show it off to considerable effect. This was another steadily-run race, as his speed from three out (four furlongs from home) of 109.7% of his average race speed illustrates.

SMART PERFORMER

He is also a very smart performer indeed, and those fast late sectionals raise his base timefigure in this race from 142 to 161, making him the fifth-best novice chaser in a good season for novice chasers already, behind Duc Des Genievres (170), A Plus Tard (168), Topofthegame (166) and Santini (162).

However, it is worth just being aware that, for all his virtues, Defi Du Seuil has not contested a two-and-a-half-mile race that has truly tested stamina so far. Perhaps that will happen hereafter.

The same J. P McManus colours were also carried to victory on the third day by Sire Du Berlais (149 timefigure, 154 on sectionals) and Any Second Now (144/152), who had both caught the eye previously.

Sire Du Berlais’ overall time turned out to be very similar to Paisley Park’s, as were his sectionals, and he would not be out of place in a good level-weights staying hurdle by the look of it.

There were good wins also from Siruh Du Lac in the Plate Handicap Chase and Eglantine Du Seuil in the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, both posting 142 sectional ratings.

The former beat Janika (157) in a virtual repeat of their duel at this course in January, which looked strong handicap form, and so does this. Eglantine Du Seuil short-headed stable companion Concertista (137) in a race in which none of the first seven home started at under 25/1.