Lambourn reacts with dismay to 'indefensible' image of Elliott with dead horse

On the face of it, Lambourn – with its Co-op, butchers and pub is much like any other British village, but the road signs and saddle shop soon give the game away.

A historic home of horseracing, Lambourn has produced Grand National, Derby and Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes and continues to be an important player in the industry with nearly 1,000 horses having 15 miles of first-class gallops on which to get match-fit.

Needless to say that is an awful lot of limbs to care for and tend to by a workforce which is understandably appalled by the picture that emerged over the weekend of top Irish trainer Gordon Elliott posing on a dead horse.