MICHAEL O’Leary this week gave a revealing interview, ostensibly explaining why he was utilising the services of Davy Russell much less than was once the case, but which also flowed on to the chances of Tiger Roll attempting to become the first horse in history to win three successive Grand Nationals, and his words, not for the first time, caused a stir.

In terms of how he runs his racing empire, O’Leary is, of course, entitled to do whatever he wants. Prioritising the development of the currently sidelined Jack Kennedy as a rider is a sound approach, and redrafting a big personality like Russell as a replacement means having the prospect of ghosts of the past overshadowing the reality of the present.