Pyrenean paradise results in TV torment for absent devotee

Strong and differing views about ITV's future racing coverage are high on the news agenda of the racing press, but as an owner on an overseas trip with a weekday runner at Ayr, the only immediate burning media question is "how the hell am I going to see the race?"

I've got a good track record of watching my horses in person and I still get frustrated when I have to miss one in action. I don't even like viewing it on the big screen in the parade ring when I can be trackside to see the race unfold in full, unfiltered, Shemilt-vision. I especially don't like missing a race when, in the case of Aventinus, he was expected to win his maiden at the third time of asking as short-priced favourite.

To be fair, a diversion at late notice from the two-year-old Zoffany colt's preferred engagement at Ascot to search out softer ground in Scotland made the trip for the rest of the largely south-east-based Seventh Lap Racing syndicate impractical as well. But I know if I'd been at home I would have been sorely tempted to travel the 400 miles to Ayr to avoid missing out on a much-needed win. Obsessive, probably.