SUNDAY’S meeting at Navan is perfect for sectionalistas (a technical term!) as there were several races over similar distances which proved apt for direct time comparisons.

Abacadabras was my idea of the most likely winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and he delivered in style for Gigginstown House Stud and the Elliott yard. A steady enough gallop, they reached three-out around two seconds slower than the other course-and-distance race on the card (won by Dolly’s Destination). Of note, however, were the closing sectionals which were nearly four-seconds faster than that race in the home-straight. Abacadabras strides unusually quickly for a jumps horse and he looks every inch the pacey two-miler. I rated this performance in the low 140s and we can expect to see him in better company now.