SEVERAL performances over the last seven days provided us with food for thought, as far as the Cheltenham Festival is concerned. Constitution Hill was the highest profile horse on show, and he cantered to success in a race where he was afforded a very easy lead. Bar a difference of opinion with Nico de Boinville at the last, it was all very routine.

The most interesting point from the data he produced is that the mistake at the last may have looked bad, but such was the energy he had in reserve, he only lost 2.17mph at that final hurdle and gained 1.49 lengths on the rest of the field. The final time he recorded was 4m 20.47s, which was a staggering 10.17s slower than East India Dock earlier on the card.