Ratings Update: Betfair hero Ballyandy the big mover

Native River (remains on c167p) reinforced his Cheltenham Gold Cup claims with an all-the-way success against two rivals in the Betfair Denman Chase. He coped well with what was much more a test of speed than his two previous wins this season and has had the perfect campaign to this point. While he may not have shown quite the ability of his stable-companions Thistlecrack and Cue Card, he still has more to offer and displays many of the qualities one would look for in a Gold Cup winner. Market rival Bristol de Mai (c166) was ill-served by a change of tactics, not jumping nearly so well as he had in the Peter Marsh and unable to reproduce that effort. Le Mercurey (up to c155 from c153+) split his rivals. He's entered in the Grand National but there’s little in his record suggesting he's an obvious candidate for the race.

Altior is now rated 167p after taking on open company over fences for the first time in the Betfair Exchange Chase (Game Spirit to me and you) and could not have been more impressive. Asked to make the running, with no obvious pacemaker in the field, some of his jumping took the breath away as he made mincemeat of some very smart opponents. A clash with Douvan is the most mouth-watering prospect, albeit one that may well have to wait until next season. Fox Norton (c166+) was below form after three months off for all he had plenty on conceding 5 lb to the winner; he'll likely be sharper for the run, though will have his work cut out against Douvan in the Champion Chase. Traffic Fluide (c162) shaped as if retaining plenty of ability after 13 months off, the effort of pressing the winner all too much in the end.

The Betfair Hurdle turned into a battle of the well-handicapped novices late on, with Ballyandy and Movewiththetimes pulling well clear of Clyne and Song Light. Eventually it was Ballyandy (up 12 lb to h143p) who justified his trainer’s confidence with a three quarters of a length win. His jumping is a bit of a worry, but in terms of ability and effectiveness at the track he has to be high on the shortlist for whichever novice race he contests at Cheltenham. Like the winner, Movewiththetimes (now 142) was making his handicap debut after the minimum required runs in novices and showed much improved form, well served by the different tempo of a big-field handicap. Clyne (unchanged on 149) ran creditably, just no match for a speedier pair who were making their handicap debut, and he remains with potential, particularly over further.

Over at Warwick, Flying Angel (up 10 lb to c149) was gambled on after three months off and proved a different proposition in the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase. He was an excellent second in a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival last season before finishing third in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle and he'll have place claims in the top novice chases again this spring (entered in both the Arkle and JLT). Runner-up Gino Trail (up 2 lb to c148) is a solid yardstick, consistently running to a high level, while Two Taffs (c138) bounced back from a poor run at Catterick. He shaped better than the bare result in third and was unlucky not to finish closer to the front pair, yet to be asked for his effort when badly hampered after three out.

Four Grade 1s at Leopardstown on Sunday were kicked off by Mega Fortune (up 10 lb to h146) in a solid renewal of the Spring Juvenile Hurdle. The winner's effort was the best from an Irish-trained juvenile so far this season, though the runner-up Bapaume (now h142) had beaten him twice previously and none of the once-raced ones among the opposition managed to step up and make an impact, with the overall impression still that the British probably hold the key to the Triumph Hurdle. Faring best of the fillies was Dinaria des Obeaux (unchanged on h137p) who was found wanting for experience a little nine weeks on from a bloodless hurdling debut win and acquitted herself fairly well in the circumstances; she'll be suited by further than 2m and remains with potential.

Nine of the 10 runners in the Deloitte Novices’ Hurdle represented Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott and it was a fifth straight win in this race for the former, whose pair in first and second showed form that'll make them big players when it comes to championship honours at the spring festivals, albeit most likely in different divisions. Winner Bacardys (up 5 lb to h149p) was suited by the longer trip and left the strong impression he'll stay further still, the Neptune or Albert Bartlett (will probably stay 3m) therefore his most appealing Cheltenham options, while Bunk Off Early (now h144p) improved plenty on the form of his successful hurdling debut here over Christmas and shaped very well into the bargain, powering through the race better than anything but worn down late on by a stronger stayer over this longer trip.

The Cheltenham claims of Bellshill (loses ‘p’ and now rated c149) suffered a severe blow as he crashed out of the Flogas Novices’ Chase, however that might be a blessing as he’s flopped at the last two Festivals before bouncing back to form at Aintree. Ultimately, Disko (up 6 lb to c154) prevailed, though he was helped in no small part by the way the race developed, taking it up early and able to control the race from the front. Circumstances are unlikely to be so favourable if - as expected - he lines up in the JLT next. Our Duke (up 5 lb to c155p), who had beaten Disko last time out, finished second this time but he looks the best prospect in this field. He's set to miss the Cheltenham Festival and will reportedly be aimed at the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in mid-April.

Finally, Sizing John (up 5 lb to c168) won an up-to-scratch renewal of the Irish Gold Cup where five of the six still standing were in with a chance at the last. As More Of That (up to c167+) - who was yet to be asked for full effort - crumpled on landing, Sizing John and Empire of Dirt asserted on the run-in, with Jessica Harrington’s runner prevailing by three quarters of a length. The Cheltenham Gold Cup, rather than the Ryanair, looks likely next, though he will need to progress again to feature prominently.

Empire of Dirt (now c167) was well at home tackling Grade 1 company for the first time and proved better than ever. His trainer suggested the Ryanair is his preferred Cheltenham option and the double-figure odds available about him for that race make a bit of appeal as he's still improving and won't be found wanting for pace back down in trip. Favourite Don Poli (down 2 lb to 167) probably ran about as well as he had in the Lexus, just found wanting for a late change of gear, while Carlingford Lough (unchanged on 167), chasing a hat-trick in this race, wasn't discredited but never looked like making it three in a row, the leaders not coming back in a race that wasn't the same gruelling test as the one he won here in 2016. Both the third and fourth will head to the Grand National in due course.