Tipping point for Epsom: what lies ahead for the declining training centre?

The buzz of industry is missing from Downs House. No heads peer inquisitively over stable doors and the staff, whose early morning chatter added life to the yard, have long been missing.

In this once bustling place, nestled away beside the Derby start, cheers from the stands across the Downs echo through empty boxes. Once home to the legendary Eclipse, they fell into disrepair – forgotten relics of a rich history.

Formerly home to the Mitchell family and stars such as Be Friendly, Attivo and Running Stag, Downs House is emblematic of Epsom's wider issues in recent years.