'I've trained a lot of winners - but that's the race I've watched back the most'

Racing fans who can recall the original 'Trigger' from 80-odd years ago must be pretty thin on the ground by now, but the dashing palomino had a glittering film career, co-starred in a TV series and was reputed to be able not only to sit in a chair and sign his own name but also to bow at the sound of applause and control his bowel movements when indoors.

A legend he may have been, but even he was not clever enough to win three Goodwood Cups, three Doncaster Cups, an Ascot Gold Cup and that great racing rarity, a Stayers' Triple Crown. Those amazing exploits were left to his near namesake, who may never have struck up a double act with singing cowboy Roy Rogers but at the very least made a star name out of his trainer Mark Johnston and helped catapult a young Jason Weaver to the top of the bill.

Not that Double Trigger was averse to putting on a show himself. When he first arrived in Middleham, leading work-rider Bobby 'RP' Elliott was so frustrated by his bucking and rearing that he declared the flashy chestnut best suited to Chipperfield's circus.