Winning spirit returning in Sir Mark Todd's new vocation

There are plenty of cosy semi-sinecures available to Olympic legends. Sir Mark Todd could be spending his days as a feted guest, perhaps plugging a few bits of equipment or teaching the offspring of plutocrats how to ride.

Instead, at the age of 64, he has just dusted down his breeches after exercising a few of his 15 young racehorses, one of which recently banked his first British winner at Leicester. After something of an impromptu journey, this distinctive, rake-like figure is starting to relax into being one of Britain’s newest trainers.

"I could have a nice life doing, not a lot," he smiles. "I don’t know, it’s something in my make-up. I just have to be busy doing something. Finding new challenges."