Protracted pictures dispute may take a while to resolve

Not too long ago, or in the dim and distant past depending on your age and outlook, this week featured one of the most exciting days of the year.

The Thursday before the Lincoln marked the start of the Flat and the tantalising prospect that the next Mill Reef or Brigadier Gerard, Shergar or Dancing Brave could be in a stable somewhere, their name possibly just known to a few people.

Things have moved on and now the sight of Flat horses at Doncaster in spring following a winter of jump racing is not quite so jarring as it used to be thanks to the all-weather.