THE margins between victory and defeat are so small these days. Training horses is so much more than simply taking them out on the gallops and getting them fit. Every aspect of the care and preparation of a horse for the races is finely tuned, and a hallmark of the most successful trainers is their attention to every detail.

For this reason it is understandable that some are upset to learn that American trainer Wesley Ward was allowed to train his team at Ascot ahead of next week’s Royal extravaganza. This is a meeting that shapes the future careers of horses, and absolutely no stone will be left unturned by trainers to have their charges at their peak.