How the best maiden hurdle run at Hexham embodies what we might soon lose

Some losses are so painful that you hesitate to bring them up even years later for fear of reopening old wounds.

So apologies if Friday's fifth anniversary is still too soon to reflect on the pocket-draining memory of the unluckiest of bets.

It was easy to fancy Marquis Of Carabas, who had kept on well when runner-up on his hurdling debut at Southwell and looked sure to be suited by the much stiffer two miles at Hexham.