IT was a mistake. People make them. We’re all human. Even jockeys are human.

Watching the race live, your instant reaction was one of bewilderment. You weren’t really sure what happened. Then you watched it again on the screen, slow motion and all. You saw Paul Townend look to his right, then make a sharp manoeuvre in that direction, his obvious intention to go to the right of the rail that led into the final fence. Your immediate hypothesis was that, for some reason, he was trying to by-pass the final fence.