What won Rubaud the Pendil on Saturday? This data reveals the definitive answer

Making Rubaud favourite for Saturday's Pendil Novices' Chase was based on one of two things. It was either his superior hurdles form, or because of an apparently improved effort over fences behind L'Ead Du Sud at Warwick two weeks earlier. 

It may still not be clear from just watching Saturday's race which of those two factors contributed to Rubaud finishing a length in front of Boombawn. The lengths gained jumping metric, provided by RaceIQ and calculated by tracking the speed horses lose immediately before and after obstacles, gives a strong indication that it was his class between the fences that got him through.

As you can see in the first graphic, Rubaud was the only one of the four main principals who lost ground at his fences in the race. He conceded at least five lengths to the others, which you might not have been able to tell by the naked eye.