THREE weeks ago, Cue Card recorded the third highest Timeform rating of his 27-race career when he won the Betfair Chase at Haydock. Two weeks ago, Smad Place put up the best Timeform rating of his 22-race career in winning the Hennessy Gold Cup.

Then last Sunday at Huntingdon, one week ago, Al Ferof rolled back the years in winning the Peterborough Chase, recording a Timeform figure of 170, the joint highest of his 24-race career. There is no telling the peaks you can scale when you can untrap those epiglotti.