'I am fascinated by the medical applications of genetics'

Andrew Black was the creator, founding father and spiritual guardian of Betfair. It is Black who in the last 16 years changed the face of betting more radically than anyone else since Roman punters took a load of denarii to the Coliseum for the all-weather chariot-racing card.

On arrival at his Chasemore Farm Stud in Surrey you take in the classic and idyllic view of post and railed acres, noting just a faint hum from the M25 not far across the fields.

Experience tells you how happy a place is from the welcome. Sophie bounces out of the stud office all smiles and says: “I’ll go and find him. I think he's playing pinball.”