Let's break the mould.
Perceived wisdom has long held that the greatest steeplechasing stars are the ones that complete the rare King George VI Chase/
Cheltenham Gold Cup double.
Best Mate and Desert Orchid each managed it once.
So different are the two races, goes the theory, that any horse that can carry off both prizes, within three months of each other, is indeed the business.
One examines precision on a fast three-mile, flat circuit at Kempton, on Boxing Day, the other tests stamina, over an extra quarter-mile, uphill and down-dale at Cheltenham, in March.
The whole thinking, however, betrays an extraordinary bias, on the subject of perceived champions, towards competitors in chases of three miles or more.
Because it is often the powerful, accurate two-milers which are officially rated at the very top of the steeplechasing tree, rather than those that slug it out over further distances.
Look at Ireland's Moscow Flyer and British rising star Azertyuiop, a pair of two-mile rivals whose current exploits demonstrate they are the best around.
The score between them is now 2-1 to the Irish star after their latest meeting, at Sandown.
But the 1�-length victory does not begin to reflect the authority with which the success was achieved.
Azertyuiop's owner, John Hales, came out with a lot of drivel about Ruby Walsh, his jockey, riding badly. Oh, come off it, Mr Hales, don't be a bad loser, the winner was simply far too good.
When Moscow Flyer doesn't make the jumping mistakes that have cost him dear in the past, he is sensational, truly - in the words of his jockey Barry Geraghty - a Ferrari of a horse. A sleek Roller Azertyuiop may be, but on occasions like these, that is just not enough.
Anyway, back to the original point about the King George/Gold Cup double defining great champions.
Perhaps that is all soon to change because Moscow Flyer will hopefully be asked to extend his repertoire to three miles in this season's King George.
Although serious challenges will be thrown down, it is hard to oppose the horse that will be hot favourite if/when confirmed as a runner.
Victory there, and in a shorter race at the Cheltenham Festival, a different sort of rare double, would be quite dazzling.
Spectacular at Kempton, then breath-taking at Cheltenham would perhaps make Moscow Flyer even more of a champion than if he slogged his way to a Gold Cup.
MMIX
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He was looking round having a laugh and gave me a better feel in that race than ever before
