THE Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle proved a somewhat controversial affair, with the race-fit Cornerstone Lad getting loose on the lead and the long-odds-on Buveur D’Air failing by a short-head to go past him. Thanks to Total Performance Data’s sectionals, we can figure out what went on with great accuracy. Cornerstone Lad’s finishing speed from four furlongs out was 98.1%, whereas Buveur D’Air’s was 101.6%, but Newcastle is no ordinary track, in that its finish is against the collar, and par finishing speed % is in the mid-90s.

The splits show that Buveur D’Air raced quite a bit less efficiently than did Cornerstone Lad, and that should have made the small difference between winning and losing, and more besides. Of course, Buveur D’Air finished with an injury, apparently sustained in jumping when trying to make up the substantial deficit, so he would probably have got away with it otherwise, without running to his best.