Let's hope a brighter future can emerge from the mess

Walking past a pub the other day I spotted a quote attributed to Winston Churchill scrawled on the board outside. 'If you're going through hell, keep going!' it beseeched, and I, being infernally parched, heeded its encouragement to down an invigorating mug of ale.

As I stood with my pint, I considered that the old war horse's stirring dictum (although subsequent research suggests it is of dubious provenance) could be considered to have a secondary meaning beyond its obvious rallying call. It could be taken to mean that out of adversity can come achievement; that hardship and struggle can in fact prove the catalyst for good.

That must be the hope of all with racing's interests at heart following the release of the review of the sport's disciplinary and licensing processes by Christopher Quinlan QC. This report (full disclosure: I was one of dozens interviewed for the review) has come about in this form and at this speed because of the often shambolic events of recent months, which have seen major integrity convictions quashed and the sport's judicial functions embarrassingly undermined.