Success of Champions Day fails to dispel blues over fate of summer stars

Three days before the Gold Cup, an advance going bulletin is issued by the Cheltenham clerk of the course. It reads as follows: “The ground is firm, hard in places. There are no plans to water the course.”

It isn’t difficult to envisage the reaction from jump racing’s fraternity. Even Nicky Henderson, who seems to have row upon row of top-of-the-ground horses at Seven Barrows, would be cursing in his sleep.

With good reason, too. Jump racing is a winter sport, played out in winter conditions. The best horse might still win a fast-ground Gold Cup, although the chances are a nimble Flat-bred convert to jumps racing would skittle away from all those giant stores to spring a mild surprise.