Love conquers all as Royal Ascot week lifts the heart in its old familiar way

Frankie and Johnny, as the old song goes, were lovers. Now Signor Dettori and Mr Gosden are not that close, but it's fair to say they enjoy a very productive relationship, which blossomed anew through the five days of Royal Ascot.

Perhaps they are the odd couple of racing – and if no-one has mentioned that before then there's a copyright lawyer who can expect a call – with the big, patrician Gosden a sensible and solid influence, always ready with the right word at the right time, and the effervescent Dettori a livewire always in danger of blowing a fuse, leaping off horses, kissing the television camera, running around like a five-year-old hopped up on Haribo.

If opposites attract – and no-one should take a short price about that misleading old saw – then these two go together like lager and exorbitant racecourse bar prices. Their relationship simmered away throughout the meeting, their week mirroring the course of true love, things not always going smoothly but generally tip-top. And, like the silly business of falling in love, it all started so well.