Raise a festive glass to Reveley, the toast of French jump racing

If you have ever wondered why the tax year begins and ends in April in Britain, then look no further than the example of near neighbour France to see the effect of the logical alternative.

Every company must close its accounts there for December 31, meaning the office Christmas party is unheard of.

The race to be crowned champion jockey also reaches the finishing line at the end of the calendar year and, while the record-breaking efforts of Pierre-Charles Boudot on the Flat are rightly generating plenty of headlines – the 24-year-old will shortly cross the 300-winner threshold – now is also the time to celebrate the achievements of James Reveley, who will become the first foreign-born jockey to win the jumping crown since the inaugural Cravache d’Or was awarded in 1958.