'It is wrong to think racing will have less support from the royal family'

There will be real poignancy at the Autumn Horses In Training Sale at Tattersalls in three weeks' time, when a dozen horses who carried the colours of the Queen this season are due to be offered.

The decision to sell is unrelated to Her Majesty's death last month – there would usually be a reduction of the royal racing team at around this time of year and a similar number went under the hammer in the second half of last year – but for those who realise the significance of the names in the catalogue, it will feel like another moment of parting.

It may also be the cause of some nervousness among those who are keenly aware of the many benefits that flowed to racing from the Queen's highly visible support over almost the whole of the post-war period. What happens next? Would it be rash for the sport to hope that it can be backed to anything like the same degree by King Charles, who has a nearly endless list of calls upon his attention?