IT’S much too easy to tackle last weekend’s Derby – won by Seamie Heffernan on board the Aidan O’Brien-trained Anthony Van Dyck – in terms of the overall quality of the race. The knee-jerk reaction is that with five horses separated by just a length at the line, this must represent a weak renewal in terms of the winner’s ability.

This is to do the race a grave disservice, however, and if there is one thing that such a finish should elicit, it’s genuine excitement. Too often racing is reduced to a numbers game, but the appeal of the sport isn’t just in producing outstanding champions, but also in providing a thrilling spectacle, and the 240th Derby did just that, so let’s put that front and centre for now.