I told you that starting large fields under NH rules under present arrangements in Britain was impossible and that Cheltenham 2025 would prove the point. It did. It proved that a process invented by Jamie Stier in 2014 (with the objective of improving the time-keeping of Race Starts) would cause chaos – and it did and it does and it always will. Hence inevitable False Starts. Stier said he would think about restoring the old system, but he made no effort to do so.

His successor Brant Dunshea, was warned about the pitfalls, and the False Starts continued to increase and multiply. What steps did he take? None – and Cheltenham 2025 was the most False-Start-ridden Cheltenham Festival in history. The only response from the BHA was a press release congratulating the BHA on the steps taken to reduce start times by a very small percent and urging it to keep up the good work. Cheeky cowards! No mention so far of False Starts.

What now? Now we look forward to Aintree and the National. Thereafter I look forward to the opportunity to put on my wellies and show the wretched Dunshea how the job should be done. I would also like to have a few words with the actual starters, a chance to blame them for accepting instructions which can do nothing but harm to British Racing – without protesting. I know the difficulty of challenging a dedicated idiot, but someone has got to do it before the idiot brings the sport to its knees. What about a joint approach to the very top of the tree – as soon as the vacancy at the top is filled? If ever!

Why do you think our Flat Racing doesn’t suffer from False Starts? Because those involved have not been poisoned by certain gentlemen whose names will live in history as very bad people that should have been nipped in the bud. I volunteer – me and my wellies can put this matter to bed in ten minutes. Let’s see what happens at Aintree.