THINGS to do if you are going to Cheltenham on Tuesday? Get to the track early for starters. You don’t want to be playing catch up. You don’t want to be battling your way through traffic and getting there ten minutes before the first, then starting to figure out where you want to be. It’s a unique meeting, it’s a unique atmosphere. Give yourself the time to drink it all in.

Go to the top of the stands and have a look out over the racecourse, steeped in history. Cleeve Hill behind it. A natural amphitheatre. Remember Istabraq, remember Hardy Eustace. Remember Best Mate, remember Kauto Star, remember War Of Attrition, remember Moscow Flyer.