Performance of a Gold Cup winner? Our ratings expert’s verdict on Protektorat

After some high-profile non-runners at Ascot, the pick of the racing over the weekend came at Haydock in the Betfair Chase, which featured last year's winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard.

There is no doubt A Plus Tard did not run his race, but let’s not take away from the impressive performance from Protektorat in winning, recording a career-best Racing Post Rating of 177+.

There is potential for this race to rate higher with Eldorado Allen (166) in second not quite running to his previous-high RPR of 168. There is a chance this race came too soon for Frodon (159) being just two weeks after his last race at Wincanton in the Badger Beer.