GUY Henderson, the chief executive of Ascot, and his wife Sophie host a pre-race lunch each day of Ascot and I was honoured to be included on the guest list for the opening day of racing. The event is held in the Royal Lodge, opposite the main entrance to the racecourse, and features exquisite food and a most cosmopolitan group of guests.

Among those at my table was a quiet Richard Fahey, whose attention no doubt was on the first race of the day, the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes. He excused himself early and headed off to saddle Ribchester, the best miler in Europe and already winner this year of the Lockinge Stakes. As it transpired Fahey, who was the subject of our feature article last week, had nothing to worry about and the son of Iffraaj cemented his growing reputation.