IT has been a strange seven days in racing. It began with universal joy for something at the heart of jump racing, the pleasure at seeing old favourites returning year after year, still running their hearts out.

It was nowhere better demonstrated than in the veterans chase at Sandown. Did Paul Nicholls not teach Dan Skelton the great gift of longevity to jump racing, of keeping old horses going? We need them as much as younger performers. The young will have their day.