CHRISTMAS comes early for bloodstock professionals and enthusiasts with the publication of the Weatherbys Return of Mares each autumn. The book is an essential reference tool, and makes for fascinating reading, as it records the identity of every foal born and mare covered in Ireland and Britain in the previous breeding season.

He might have only raced twice, with his sole success coming in a maiden at Roscommon, and he might not yet have had any runners under rules or in the point-to-point field, but Affinisea was nevertheless the busiest sire in Ireland and Britain in 2021 with 324 mares covered.