BRITISH racing goes into the 2016 Cheltenham Festival on happier terms with itself than for many a year, following last week’s announcement of the government’s intention of establishing a racing right to replace a levy, now long past its sell-by date.

Under the assured leadership of Nick Rust, the British Horseracing Authority seems to be getting its act together at last, though the assembled mandarins at last week’s Industry Updates (another welcome Rust initiative) were at pains not to appear triumphalist in any way.