Forget British racing's equine talent drain - it's losing more and more top jockeys that really worries me

It’s somewhat in keeping with British racing at the moment that the line-up for Saturday’s Shergar Cup doesn’t quite seem to have the huge star appeal to which we’ve become accustomed. After all, we’ll seemingly have to get used to seeing less of even our homegrown stars in the saddle.

Goodwood provided a timely reminder of Richard Kingscote’s talent when he led his rivals a merry dance aboard Qirat in the Sussex Stakes, while David Probert was also among the Group winners courtesy of Coppull in the Richmond Stakes. Both have ridden more than 1,000 winners in Britain during careers that have stood the test of time yet have decided to change direction and head to Hong Kong.

A lot is written about the talent drain in terms of horses abroad, but we should be asking more about what can be done to keep the best riders on British soil. I always felt as though Andrea Atzeni, one of the most naturally gifted riders of his generation and a jockey for the big occasion, was allowed to slip away from Britain far too quietly a few years ago.