'I'm only 29 and ambitious – I'm very conscious there's a lot left to be done'

It is as if he has suddenly stirred from the most lucid dream he ever had. He has total recall; every detail is vivid and clearly defined. The entire piece seeming to unfold in slow motion, allowing him to absorb every nuance.

Unlike dreams, however, these images will never fade. Ten days on from Masar’s Derby triumph and William Buick remains in something of a trance. His thoughts drift back to that career-defining afternoon, when everything went so perfectly that it seemed too good to be true. But there on the mantelpiece in his living room sits irrefutable proof. The Derby trophy takes pride of place.

“It still feels a bit surreal,” the jockey says with a gentle shake of his head. “It hasn't completely sunk in yet, probably because we move on so quickly in this game. There is always the next race, the next important horse, but that’s how it is in sport. The more you win, the more you are expected to win.”