BACK in the 1950s marathon runner Emil Zatopek was famed for his ability to run the heart out of his competitors. He would slow the pace down then speed it up again until his rivals quit.

Wounded Warrior (38) did something similar when winning a Grade 2 novice chase at Naas. He led or pressed the pace in a race where the first mile was run at a rather ordinary pace.

Then he made up for lost time like high class horse – getting from the first fence taken in the two-mile chase on the same card in a time 3.24 seconds faster than they did in the shorter contest.

It looks like the constantly changing pace caused by undulations suit Wounded Warrior. The same is true for soft and heavy ground.

On soft or heavy ground, on tracks that are both galloping and undulating – he has now won five from six – his sole loss being a good second to Grade 1 winner Don Poli over an inadequate two and a half miles.