IT was the sort of May day that would put a smile on a gravestone. Filming Rodrigo De Triano, the Derby favourite, and his less fancied stable companion Dr Devious in their final big race work at Manton, the famous training yard in Wiltshire.

The important moment, due to catching arty shots of the magnificent country estate in the early morning sunshine, was nearly missed. A one-mile hard-track drive to film the gallop and a 400-yard sprint across grass, long and wide enough for a jumbo jet to land on, turf which has never seen the plough,was the unwelcome crew challenge.