'We need to be more self-confident' - Ascot's new boss has strong words for the racecourse and racing

Ascot showed belief in Felicity Barnard when elevating her to the position of chief executive. Barnard now wants Ascot to have more belief in itself. She also thinks British racing needs to march with more spring in its step and is keen for the sport's marketing to increasingly revolve around horses. 

Barnard is saying what many will consider to be all the right things. As leader of the world's most famous racecourse, she must now turn words into action.

A Les Miserables poster hangs on the office wall of a theatre lover who in June will be charged with putting on racing's biggest show. Responsibility for staging Royal Ascot now belongs with Barnard, who remains Ascot's commercial director pending the appointment of her successor. Until that happens, she will carry out two roles, the most important of them being chief executive of a racecourse her predecessor Alastair Warwick left for personal reasons at the end of last year.