IT is still strange that the flat jockeys’ and flat trainers’ championships in Britain do not finish on the same day. Oisin Murphy was crowned champion jockey on British Champions Day at Ascot two weeks ago, yet the trainers’ championship rolls on.

It is close too at present. Going into the Balmoral Handicap, the last race on Champions Day at Ascot, Aidan O’Brien had closed the gap on John Gosden to just over £65,482, thanks largely to Magical’s win in the Champion Stakes and Kew Gardens’ win in the Long Distance Cup.