Al Dancer proved front-runners can gain a big advantage in staying chases - but everything changes on testing ground

Flooring Porter, Real Steel, Lisnamult Lad, Senior Chief, The Real Whacker, Chianti Classico, King Turgeon and Al Dancer are the winners of some of the most valuable staying chases run this season, but can you spot the odd one out? The answer is Senior Chief because he was the only one who didn't make nearly all the running and even he raced prominently.

Making the running in competitive chases has always been a massive advantage because the front-runner gets a clear look at the fences and can jump without getting put off by the chaos that is going on around them. The fact that they can get the lead early on shows they have some pace, which is important because most staying chases are run much quicker at the start than they are at the finish.

Just take a look back at the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Saturday. It would have taken a wonder performance from anything held up to get remotely close to Al Dancer given the conditions and the rhythm he got into.