He actually ran at a faster rate per mile than they went in the much shorter Game Spirit Chase on the same card and clocked a time 17.8 seconds faster than they went in the good novice chase over the same distance.

As is always the case, Harry Topper got outpaced at one point, having to be ridden along as they headed out onto the second circuit.

However, he was nowhere near as slow over the fences as he normally is. His great strength enabled him to jump out of the heavy ground very effectively.

Harry Topper seems to be at his very best around giant two mile ovals like Newbury. He’s won all four times he’s run on such courses. He’s also won five of his six completed chase starts with cut in the ground.

Worryingly though, the one loss came at Cheltenham where I suspect he got taken out of his usual game of grinding his opposition into submission by having to go up hill and down dale around the unique course.

On this run I would bet Harry Topper to beat anything on heavy ground around a big galloping course without steep gradients. I’d still be pretty interested in his chances in the Gold Cup if the dreadfully wet weather continues.

His best prospects of a Grade 1 this season surely lie around Punchestown’s huge oval in the Punchestown Gold Cup. If it comes up muddy for that race I would not want to oppose him. He’s clearly one of the best mudlarks we’ve seen in years.

Once again runner-up Al Ferof (36) visibly didn’t quite stay the three miles. He moved well turning into the home-straight and looked a big threat, but he soon flagged and pretty much walked home.