Jump to it: It’s the changing of the guard. Farewell to fast ground, to flying sprinters and summer speed. To a scintillating turn of foot, to seeing the first progeny of past stars show potential, to finding a great classic-winning horse.

Hello to the “hardy, hefty, humble bred ones.” To three mile slogs on heavy ground. Hello to fences, fallers and fractures. To waiting hopefully for the fallen jockey to move on the ground. To holding the breath as the horse gets up, that all limbs are intact. To that flat out, final fence leap. To courage beyond the call of duty.