"It’s a nice game once you play it nice and handy.” Jimmy Mangan’s appraisal of our sport hasn’t changed since the last time he did this very piece just over seven years ago. Still breeding, buying, selling, handling, training, owning. Still laughing, telling stories, meeting new people. Still wearing that iconic hat. Still enjoying it.

Winning Grand Nationals and Grade 1s from a yard miniscule in size compared to the big players probably helped the enjoyment along the way, but it’s the simple cumulative day-to-day process that comes with a life devoted to National Hunt racing that has Mangan so content.