FLAT and National Hunt racing, with so many different elements, each have one race above all others as the Holy Grail. The Derby and the Gold Cup are the races every involved with racehorses wants to breed, sell, own, train or ride.

It is much harder to find a Gold Cup winner. You have a few more chances than the one shot at the Derby, but think of the six or seven-year path to Cheltenham’s golden prize. Think of every racetrack trod, every schooling session, every hurdle, every fence jumped.