In many ways, the Cheltenham Gold Cup rather symbolised the year over jumps - a little frayed around the edges but certainly not without incident.

Lord Windermere's breathless last-to-first triumph, which also required the survival of a stewards' inquiry, generated plenty of negativity amongst the purists.

So much so that Timeform analysts gave Jim Culloty's 20-1 chance the lowest rating for a Gold Cup winner since 1980.

But anyone with even a passing interest in racing could possibly argue that the race, for all its foibles and downright craziness, was not an arousing spectacle.

Yes, it may have seemingly lacked that touch of genuine class, but that is an accusation which can be levelled at the staying chase division in recent times and, in any case, might be viewed in a different light when we get to March next year.

Indeed, with Sprinter Sacre, British jumps racing's undisputed superstar, and esteemed grey Simonsig still to return from long spells on the sidelines, the year was crying out for a bit more Hollywood and a little less moderation.

Tony McCoy, as ever, looked like he had a chance of providing the necessary gold-dust, but his pursuit of what was, fleetingly, a reachable 300 winners in a season was stifled by injury.

Even Champion Chase winner Sire De Grugy, who has made enough hay to carpet Cheltenham in the absence of Sprinter Sacre, has fallen off the chart due to a hip problem.

Happily for racegoers, the Festival in March was joyously harum-scarum, with Ireland again to the fore with 12 winners.

Lord Windermere notwithstanding, the highest-profile victory for the raiding party came in the Champion Hurdle, when Jezki held off My Tent Or Yours by a neck.

The New One was an unlucky third for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who remains unwavering in his belief the six-year-old will set the record straight next March.

And with grand old showman Hurricane Fly back in business following his meek defence of the title in March, the two-mile hurdling brigade is clearly in the pinkest of health.

But it is the gravitas carried by Hurricane Fly's stablemate, Faugheen, which provides the most interesting thread of Champion Hurdle narrative.

Last season's Neptune winner remains unbeaten and looked genuinely fantastic in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot in November.

He is one of a many ridiculously talented animals trained in County Carlow by Willie Mullins, whose runners are now becoming increasingly commonplace on a weekend in Britain.

Annie Power, Vautour, Champagne Fever, Un De Sceaux, On His Own, Nichols Canyon - the list of top-notchers at the Mullins yard is exhaustive and continually expanding.

It is fair to say Paul Nicholls, who did especially well to reclaim the British trainers' title from Nicky Henderson, cannot really expect to trade blows against such an intense range of artillery.

That said, the Ditcheat handler may just have the ace in the hole next year if the bewilderingly underrated Silviniaco Conti, whose late waywardness arguably cost him the Gold Cup, continues to mesh substance with style.

For just over nine minutes at Aintree in April, Pineau De Re also had the lot.

Despite having made a couple of routine jumping errors, the sleek-looking gelding had the stamina and a surprisingly quick shift of gear to charge clear of Balthazar King for one of the nicer Grand National stories in recent history.

Small-time trainer Dr Richard Newland will be back for another go next April, though Pineau De Re's season has admittedly not quite gone to plan so far.

But if this year has reminded us of anything, it is that anything can happen in the capricious arena of jumps racing.

ends