Richard Forristal: a great ride - but McNamara was allowed to do what he wanted

There’s an old weighing room maxim that suggests any time you make the running and get beaten you’ve gone too quick.

It is an oversimplified theory, of course, but the sentiment holds true. If all the horses in a given race are of a similar level of ability, carrying the same weight on decent ground, then the onus is on the jockey in front to set the fractions to suit himself.

Ultimately, it is an idealised tool senior riders deploy to illustrate how to get from pillar to post in the most efficient way, settling into a rhythm and quickening the pace just enough at the right times to keep those trying to close you down at arm’s length.