'I was scared' - Jo Davis puts fears behind her with the help of a 'naughty boy'

Newbury's maiden hurdle on Friday looked solid enough having been won by the well-regarded Dan Skelton inmate My Drogo with Sir Sholokhov a promising newcomer for Harry Whittington in third, ahead of Sprinter Sacre's brother Flinteur Sacre who was too keen as the 2-5 favourite.

The outlier among the top four was the second-placed finish of 200-1 shot Saggazza. He had been beaten 180 lengths on his previous three starts, but trainer Jo Davis has long thought the world of him, telling me in September last year that he was potentially the best horse she had ever trained.

An under-the-weather yard, allergy to ryegrass and an attitude that makes Bart Simpson look like an angel prevented that talent from flourishing.