THE love for the Gold Cup was professed unequivocally in the opening stages of the ITV Racing show on Thursday. One had to feel a little for Jason Weaver, proudly telling the viewers he had won the Gold Cup. Only to be immediately followed on screen by five-time winner Johnny Murtagh! The first love of the day would soon be enveloped by a very public adoration of one little 48-year-old Italian man. Gold Cup day 2019 will be Frankie day forevermore.

The show started with a nice piece with the press corps who went over the stories of the week so far; unfortunately for them, the biggest story of the week was pending.