WHEN I’m at the races I often go down to the last fence to watch the drama of horses tackling the final test of a long race.

I love to hear the loud swish of the horses brushing through the stiff birch and the urgings of their jockeys to even greater efforts. I enjoy seeing these brave competitors, after two or three gruelling miles, using the last of their energy to launch themselves into the air one last time, over an obstacle standing almost as tall as they are, and charge towards the winning post some 100 yards away.