Some of these have been quite critical and questioning – and it is right that it should be queried. However, to attempt to strangle the concept at birth is short-sighted and it must be allowed some breathing space to go about its stated aim. Sniping from the sidelines is easy to do. To get involved and work hard for the business and sport we all love, and need, is another matter.

A critical eye must be kept on the work of the new body, which simply sees representative bodies coming together in common cause to raise awareness of the main issues affecting racing and breeding and lobby for change and improvements. To say that this is already the work of, or should be the aim of, Horse Racing Ireland is only partly true. That body has an ear in Government and its chairman is appointed by the Minister for Agriculture. It has and continues to fight the good fight on behalf of the racing industry, but its sole aim is not to be the saviour of every sector. Its main job is to administer Irish racing on a day-to-day basis. Nobody can deny that progress on numerous pieces of legislation which affect the industry has been painfully slow. We need an umbrella group to provide a more united front in the corridors of power.