THE constant dull, grey drizzle of this winter stretches across the country on Tuesday morning from Dundalk through Ardee, Navan and Trim. It’s a long way from the roar of Cheltenham, four weeks away in March, as the tapes go up for the Supreme Novices.

But just as we approach Longwood, the lights on the car dashboard screen switch from dark to daylight. Yes, it’s much brighter round Cullentra this winter… brighter days on the horizon, in more ways than one.