SUNDAY’S meeting at Navan is perfect for sectionalistas (a technical term!) as there were several races over similar distances which proved apt for direct time comparisons.

Abacadabras was my idea of the most likely winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and he delivered in style for Gigginstown House Stud and the Elliott yard. A steady enough gallop, they reached three-out around two seconds slower than the other course-and-distance race on the card (won by Dolly’s Destination). Of note, however, were the closing sectionals which were nearly four-seconds faster than that race in the home-straight. Abacadabras strides unusually quickly for a jumps horse and he looks every inch the pacey two-miler. I rated this performance in the low 140s and we can expect to see him in better company now.

The headline from the Lismullen Hurdle for most was Apple’s Jade’s flop, but there was perhaps a little more to it than just that. Bacardys (162) posted a new personal best in winning this and could well be of the Oscar Whisky/Wholestone mould in that he’s less able over three miles than at the intermediate trip that brought him success here.

Andy Dufresne (130) was arguably the eyecatcher of the entire day, but the clock performance – when lined up against Bacardys – was a shade disappointing. Six seconds slower to Bacardys to three out, but also marginally slower from there to the line, it’s clear that Andy Dufresne is capable of better than this given the ease of his win.

That said, the fact he won so easily, despite the ordinary time, suggests that he beat a very ordinary bunch in behind. Form to be wary of in the case of Andy Dufresne, but also a knock on the idea that Apple’s Jade drastically underperformed. She’s tended to need her first run, and her performance in the Lismullen was probably only five or six pounds inferior to her seasonal debuts of other years.

Over fences we had the Grade 2 Fortria Chase, won by Ballyoisin, and an excellent beginners’ chase, where Fakir D’oudairies was the victor, over a similar distance.

Ballyoisin (163) is one of those thoroughly likeable sorts who thrives for jumping a fence. He’s two stone better over the larger obstacles to the smaller ones and there was no fluke about this performance: the pace was strong and he was giving 9lbs to A Plus Tard (151) who ultimately found the minimum distance too much of a test of speed.

Fakir D’oudairies (150) reached the home-straight five seconds slower than Ballyoisin when their times are compared but made up close to two seconds from the third-last to the line. The beneficiary of what’s perhaps a slightly generous four-year-old chasing allowance, he was often too slick for Melon (152) and was well-in control late on.

Melon, who jumped promisingly but in a less polished manner, strikes me as the type to find greater improvement in time. He could well turn the tables with the winner when the allowance decreases in time. Either way, they are probably the two best novice chasers we’ve seen this season in Ireland.