Goldikova's greatest hits album epitomises what it takes to be a true great

There's no real upside to the death of an old favourite – be it a singer or a racehorse – but at least the passing of Goldikova this week gave us an excuse to trawl the Racing Post database for the horsey equivalent of a greatest hits album. Actually, it was more of a double album, with a gatefold sleeve and a free poster, and the most impressive part was that she was still winning top races in her fifth season.

That takes not only a sporting owner but also what trainer Freddy Head described as a horse "made of steel". Because that's the reality of greatness: they have to be more than just talented, and the list of animals who 'would have been great if only…' is as long as your arm.

As a reminder of this, in our Popping the Questions feature last weekend, old-timey jump jockey Colin Brown declared that an old favourite called Combs Ditch "would have been as good as Desert Orchid but often had problems after his races", which is why only other old-timey people like me still remember him.