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Option 2, redirect chains should always be avoided and should go straight to the final destination URL.

Thanks anyway but no this client has never before done any structured SEO or link building. The site is a long established site with thousands of clients linking back to it and the checks I've done show that they are natural links. I'll do a bit more digging but my previous observations had been that GWT underestimated the links versus OSE or previously Yahoo Site explorer. This is so far the other way around it is odd.