CLASSY jumps performances have been a bit thin on the ground of late, though things will undoubtedly change on that score from November onwards. It is worth remembering, by the way, that jumps figures are approximately 35 higher than flat ones, in line with official marks in the two codes.

I had only two winning performances exceeding 150 on time since August in Britain and Ireland - Ballycasey (157) in Gowran’s Champion Chase and Sharp Rise (154) for a handicap hurdle win at Stratford - until the latest week, when they were joined by Garde La Victoire and Hargam.