In a sport of marginal gains, this jockeys' psychologist has a big role to play

How intriguing to see a performance psychologist on the list to address this week's World Horse Welfare annual conference. Charlie Unwin, I read in the programme, is a former athlete and platoon commander who now works with medal-winning Olympians, equestrians among them; he gets their heads straight, as it were, so they can be the best possible version of themselves when it matters most.

An accomplished rider, Unwin has not done a great deal of work with racing people but, as we chat, he appears interested in changing that and sees plenty of scope for jockeys to be helped by people with his particular skills. They operate under constant pressure, in the saddle and out of it, and make split-second decisions that lead to glory or disaster for them and their employers. Such people need all the help they can get.

"My key premise is: better humans, better horses," Unwin says. "I spend a lot of time working with riders, looking at them at their best and their worst and the impact that has on what they're trying to achieve, and how it affects the horses."