I’M often critical about how racing’s grassroots supporters, primarily punters, but also racegoers, are often ignored in the grand scheme of things, so it was a most pleasant surprise to find that an opportunity to watch leading contenders work at Newbury Racecourse ahead of the newly enshrined Ladbrokes Winter Carnival also included the track’s annual members as well as members of the press, which made for a much more convivial occasion, and is a precedent I’d love to see extended to many other big races.

It’s par for the course, so to speak, to get an invite to talk to trainers in the run up to major events, with the Cheltenham Festival entailing a string of media days in the run up to the main event, but it’s almost unheard of for the public to get the same sort of privilege, and while access to the trainers and jockeys is strictly limited, the idea appears an excellent one, and was well supported by the invitees.