Looking ahead to next year, Rhinestone Cowboy will have learned a lot from this race which will hold it in good stead next year. The practice of not being pushed out and winning on the bit had not helped its education on this evidence. Its stable companion Intersky Falcon will have to be taught to be held up. If not, it is likely that it will set the race up again for Rooster Booster next year, doing a Sea Pigeon by winning it at 10, for a second time. Hors la Loi III refused to race after a delayed start. Novice Back To Front winner of the Supreme Novices' with something in hand, would have finished second to the winner on ratings. It is still relatively unexposed and would seem to be the main challenger.

Baracouda 170 joined the rollcall of Champions in 2003 with a thrilling victory in the Gd1 Stayers Hurdle over Iris's Gift 169 and Limestone Lad 165. The latter set a decent gallop from the start as expected. It could not shake off the attentions of Iris's Gift and always looked likely to be beaten by that rival on the final circuit. Baracouda possibly surprised Barry Geraghty on Iris's Gift when coming through to lead before the last. It came back at the winner on the flat but could not peg it back simply because Baracouda kept finding that little bit more.

Limestone Lad may not have won the race but deserves special praise. It is said to be a poor traveller and its style of running will always make it vulnerable to a decent opponent with a turn of foot. It does run more often than most and my radical idea of giving an 3lb allowance to horses that run four times or more in a season (starting in October), prior to running at Cheltenham, should be seriously considered. The majority of winners this week would not have qualified for an allowance. If this trend were to continue the rest of the jumps season will become even less competitive and dull.

At Leopardstown, Jan 26, the fastest time of the day was naturally the Gd1 AIG Europe Champion Hurdle won by Like-A-Butterfly in a battling finish from Limestone Lad. The runner-up did not jump as well as it has done for Paul Carberry this season but rallied gamely when headed.

Veteran Stayer Deano's Beeno caused a minor shock in making all to win (a finely judged ride from A P McCoy) a Gd1 from Baracouda at Ascot on Dec 20. The winning time suggested it was not a fluke. Thierry Doumen on Baracouda did appear to go to sleep around halfway allowing McCoy to extend his lead. As usual though the leader was hauled in. This time, however, it was Baracouda who had nothing in reserve on the flat as Deano's Beano galloped on resolutely to the line. As far as Cheltenham is concerned the Pipe horse probably does not find Cheltenham suited to its style of running and would need plenty of give in any case.

Deano's Beano did not look particularly keen (as has often been the case) in the Gd2 Premier Stayers' Hurdle at Haydock Jan 18. Despite Tony McCoy's urgings it went down by a neck to Lord Transcend 125, who always travelled well in what proved to be a moderately run (and weakly contested) race. The winner may be flattered by the form (not entered in the Stayers) but looks a fine chasing prospect with a turn of foot, for next season over 2½-3m.

Deano's Beano was a virtually unchallenged winner of the Gd2 Rendelsham Hurdle at Kempton, Feb 21. It made all but did not appear to be very amenable to Tony McCoy's urgings on ground that was almost certainly a shade too fast. The same could be said about its rivals particularly the mud loving Stromness who put in a poor effort here. The only rival that looked able to challenge was the eventual second Palua 119, who travelled better than the winner but was tenderly ridden throughout by Barry Fenton. The time was not great, with the end result likely to be a clobbering from the handicapper. Connections may wonder why and regret running in this contest in the long run but did at least pick up over eight grand for their efforts this time.

At the end of last season I wondered whether Intersky Falcon could maintain its improvement this time around. Emphatic victories in the Fighting Fifth, Newcastle Nov 30 and the Christmas Hurdle, Kempton Dec 26. The latter race was a decent contest with another marked improver in Santenay (no extra flat) coming second and Davenport Milenium third not forgetting that last season's Champion Hurdle 1-2 Hors La Loi and Marble Arch were in arrears. The latter two are being trained for the big race no doubt, but will almost certainly need to improve on last season's efforts to prevail.

Rooster Booster is enjoying a run of good fortune for a change and has picked up the Gd2 Bula Hurdle, Cheltenham Dec 14 alongwith two other decent prizes. It won the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown Feb 1 but not without having to struggle to beat improving novice Self Defense 137. The going was heavy and this was put forward as the excuse for a less than convincing display. The runner up may also contest the Champion Hurdle in order to protect its novice status until next season.

Flame Creek easily won a handicap under a big weight at Cheltenham on Jan 1. The going was very testing that day. Noel Chance believes the horse will be better on quicker ground. Flame Creek easily won the Gd2 Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Jan 18, despite nearly unseating Seamus Durack 2out and despite being held up off a slow early early pace. Its next outing is expected to be the Champion Hurdle.

Liss A Paoraigh is well used to getting stuffed by Limestone Lad, who is allowed to dictate, no matter what the weight concession. This suggests, (or connections believe) that she is better when not required to battle, against opponents of lesser ability. Her made all Gd1 win, Leopardstown Dec 29 was a weak contest where she enjoyed a healthy advantage from the start. By all accounts retirement to the paddocks is on the agenda soon.

Novice Rhinestone Cowboy moved to the head of the Champion Hurdle betting with a very easy success over fellow novice Thisthatandtother with last year's winner Hors La Loi III, a well beaten third in the Gd2 Axminster Kingwell Hurdle, Wincanton Feb 15. The time was not great, the rating was achieved by calculating that the winner had around 20lb in hand. It could well be that the winner is capable of 160+, though it may be a different story if put under serious pressure. As far as I'm concerned it is one of half a dozen that can win it. That's not including Hors La Loi III, who is sure to be better on the day providing the ground is riding fast. The evidence though suggests it is not good enough to win it without a stroke of good fortune again. As a reminder its second to Istabraq was achieved in a poor year, winner apart.

A useful bumper performer Spirit Leader struggled to carry heavy weights in the mud during her novice hurdle campaign last season. With her connections realising that she is better off carrying less weight on better ground, it has been a different story this time around. She followed winning a valuable prize at Sandown, Dec 7, with a respectable staying on fifth in the Pierse Hurdle (won by Xenophon 135S+), Leopardstown Jan 12. Further progress has been maintained with a game win in the Tote Gold Trophy, Newbury Feb 8. The runner up Non So 141+ travelled well through the race, run at a furious gallop. Looking the likeliest winner when still cruising three out. Norman Williamson who had already got to work on the winner, drove her into challenging for the lead two out. Even at the last, it looked as if Non So would surely prevail, however, it could not pull away from the Jessica Harrington trained mare. Who found the greater stamina reserve. Pulling away in the last 100 yds to win 1½ lengths. Tikram kept on for third with In Contrast running on for Richard Johnson's pressure to snatch fourth close home. Obviously because this was such a strongly run race there were plenty of good performances amongst the competitive field. Benbyas 136 deserves mention for going at such a good gallop, stronger than last year. Monkerhostin 137 was the eyecatcher in the race having been hampered at the first it kept on strongly from a long way back looking unlucky not to have made the frame. (My eyecatcher in this race last year was Rooster Booster who also met trouble early in that race but managed to keep on for second, winning the County Hurdle next time out.). Others performances of note were Quazar 141, Polar Red and Copeland, last year's winner.