HAVING endured a torrid festival so far, Nico de Boinville probably jumped the gun a little when he implored viewers to “never write off Nicky Henderson”. Envoi Allen had just hit the deck, were the British-trained runners back? No. The green wave followed for the next six races.

Jumping the gun was to become a theme for the day with several false starts across the card. It is probably best the course microphones didn’t pick up whatever Jordan Gainford said to starter Robbie Supple before the Plate. Maybe it was just a glare, one Roy Keane would have been proud of.