Redvers glee a reminder of the sport's abundant riches

Last week Qatar Racing manager David Redvers won his first point-to-point, having been placed earlier this season. There's nothing hugely surprising about that – as joint Master of the Ledbury hunt he's clearly an accomplished horseman and rode in points in his 20s.

What did come as a shock was his proclamation that winning a Cothelstone novice riders' race was more exhilarating than completing the Mongol Derby.

The Mongol Derby, if you haven't heard of it, is the world's longest and toughest horse race – covering 1,000km over several days on not terribly well-trained horses, racing along a route marked by 25 Urtuus (horse stations) and fending for yourself on the Mongolian Steppe in between.