SIX weeks have passed since my last day at the office. The closest that I have come to a social life in that time has been a (socially distanced) chat with neighbour Norman Williamson, who was dropping back a harrow. Yes, Storming Norman is now Tractor Ted and, while I might worry that he might not be the best man to take it that handy on the hard ground, we are all in less of a hurry these days which is not only good news for the machinery but also means that we both have plenty of time for a chat.

It is a harrowing time in more ways than one for the breeze-up vendors, of which Norman is among the very best. Goffs is due to host its (first ever) breeze-up sale at the end of June which will be the amalgamation of the two sales that were due to be held last week by Goffs UK in Doncaster and next weekend by Arqana in Deauville. It was at the 2018 Arqana sale that Norman sold War Of Will, winner of last year’s Preakness Stakes, and the only European breeze-up graduate to ever win a leg of the American Triple Crown.