'You say there's an intrinsic link between racing and gambling - but it was the same for snooker and smoking and they found a way forward'

The enactment of the Gambling Regulation Bill in October saw Ireland's gambling sector finally keel over a precipice on which it had been teetering for many years, with the transformative legislation heralding swingeing reform – and a precarious period ahead for Irish racing.

The new landscape for the industry will gradually sharpen into focus over the coming months as the full might of the bill phases into practice.

One of the most revolutionary elements of the bill is the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (Grai), a new statutory body that is essentially a custodian of the legislation, responsible for the licensing and regulation of gambling in Ireland and entrusted with comprehensive, far-reaching capabilities to regulate the sector.