SANDY Dudgeon this weekend should be at Aintree, part of a team presenting the world with its most famous horse race. Instead, he will, like the rest of us, be ruing the fact that events outside his control put paid to what should be a celebration that transcends borders.

The senior steward of the Jockey Club has a personal connection to the race too, having ridden in it as an amateur almost four decades ago, but more of that anon. Now Dudgeon has to be forward-looking, already thinking of Aintree 2021. However, in his role with the Jockey Club he has many other responsibilities to handle.