SPEAKING of Aidan O’Brien, it was another significant week as we close in on the end of a truly extraordinary year.

Champion for the 19th time in Ireland, champion for the fifth time in Britain with a record-breaking total, with that unprecedented Arc de Triomphe 1-2-3 (which counted towards neither championship), Highland Reel was his 11th Breeders’ Cup winner, his sixth Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, and his 22nd Group/Grade 1 win of the year. He probably won’t beat Bobby Frankel’s world record of 25 now, not this year, but it has been fun trying.