Hermes Allen was good but the hype needs tempering - three things we learned

One of the first major meetings of the jumps season proper took place this week, with three brilliant days of action at Cheltenham's November meeting. Although we saw some impressive performances, there were some unwanted absences from the track too. Here are three things we learned from this week's racing . . .

1. Banbridge could be the real deal over two miles

One of the performances of the weekend came from Cheltenham Festival hero Banbridge, who maintained his perfect record at the track with an impressive six-length win in the Grade 2 2m novice chase on Saturday.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained six-year-old, who won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle in March over a longer trip, put up his career-best performance to earn a Racing Post Rating of 158.

Banbridge: could go for the Arkle or Turners Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Alan Crowhurst

He does have a staying pedigree, however, and O'Brien is uncertain whether he will remain at the minimum trip. His similar price for the Arkle and Turners Novices' Chase at the festival suggests he will have an equal chance in either.

It may be worth giving Banbridge at least one more go at two miles given the speed he showed on Saturday, and the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas could be the perfect race to do so.

2. Approach British novice hurdle form with some caution

Hermes Allen caused ripples in the betting for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle with a wide-margin win of a race with the same name on Friday, which saw him cut to as short as 6-1 for the festival contest.

His nine-length win was visually impressive, but it has to be taken with a pinch of salt at this stage, especially given the warning Rich Ricci gave on Racing TV about the unplaced 6-4 favourite Hubrisko being nowhere near the best of his novice hurdlers.

It's a certainty sterner tests will come this season, possibly in the Challow Hurdle next, but given it's also certain he did not come up against Willie Mullins', Gordon Elliott's or Ireland's best novice hurdlers, any hype around Hermes Allen needs to be tempered for now.

3. We need the weather gods to smile on us and we need it now for the jumps season to start dazzling

In a week which started with Carlisle's cancellation due to waterlogging on Monday, dry conditions left Cheltenham watering once again on ground described as good on Sunday and saw star attraction Edwardstone withdrawn from the Shloer Chase.

Alan King did not want to risk derailing the Arkle winner's season at this early stage, which left Nube Negra to stroll home over two inferior rivals, and left the trainer already thinking of plan B before Edwardstone's campaign had begun.

Monmiral's chase debut on Saturday at the track was also put on hold because of the ground, but it was not confined to Cheltenham.

Star novice chaser Ferny Hollow's return was scrapped on Sunday, one of three withdrawals from the Fortria Chase, despite the ground at Navan being officially yielding, which ended up having just four runners.

It was yet another weekend of racing being affected by the remarkably dry weather this year, but thankfully next Saturday may be the start of a change for the better if the weather forecasts are correct.

Ferny Hollow: one of several top-flight non-runners because of lack of rainCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Some rain, which may be particularly heavy on Tuesday, is due at Haydock and Ascot before their meetings, according to the Met Office, and it is desperately needed to make sure their big races are not depleted.

With only six in the Betfair Chase before five-day forfeits on Monday, which looks effectively to be five after Rich Ricci said on Friday Royale Pagaille would miss the race, any significant rain could be crucial in hoping for a semblance of a challenge to A Plus Tard, while Constitution Hill would appreciate some drops of water ahead of his Ascot return.

Read more from The Last Word (Members' Club subscribers):

The curious case of the Emmet Mullins plunge and other tales of woe for punters

Johnny Burke has adapted brilliantly to Britain - and it showed at Cheltenham

Banbridge stars in the Arkle Trial - but what festival race should he tackle?

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