'Dad can be a grumpy old bugger at times - but he has all those years of experience and you'd be a fool not to use that'

Mick and Jack Channon are presumably on their best behaviour this morning, given that they have people round, but this is not one of those father-son situations where anybody would expect harmony to be the default position.

Of course, there's mutual respect and familial bonding, but there are decisions to be made every five minutes and strong opinions to be considered, so serenity is unlikely to be the order of the day, especially given that Mick Channon is one of the two people involved and he's just found out that he got three points on his licence for doing 80mph on the way to Doncaster.

Now, anybody who knows Mick will tell you that diplomacy is not his forte. His salty turn of phrase is moderated for no man (or woman, except possibly the late Queen, from whom he bought this yard) and he's never afraid to share his rough-hewn wisdom – the rougher the better. But this morning he's keen to point out that he's now very much not in charge at West Ilsley Stables and is happy to leave the calls to his son. Jack holds the licence, after all, and it wouldn't be fair on him if his old man were to cling grimly to power.