Looking on the bright side, there will never be a better Christmas to study form

At Christmas it's comforting to reminisce about the good old days, which for many of us were last week, before things turned really grim.

Was it only last Monday I managed a first racecourse visit for nine months, sipping a pint at Plumpton – while seated and socially distanced of course – with the streaks of winter sunlight spreading over the Sussex hills and glinting off the foam, safe in the knowledge I had been verified healthy by not one, but two temperature checks since I'd left home?

Spurs were top of the Premier League, Mayo were on their way to the All-Ireland final and I'd managed to back a winner. I was even able to muster a wry smile as various beasts I'd lumbered with my cash puffed their way up the hill and back to the stands in their own time.