Emotional Bailey moved to tears as Charbel finally has his day in the sun

A series of random elements must align to deliver a memorable racing experience. But they did not bode well en route to Huntingdon on Sunday.

Racegoers drove through torrential rain and gale force winds, yet at the venue itself all was well for the track's biggest raceday. The sun showed its face, prize-money in excess of £150,000 drew competitive fields, and the pre-race torrent of Christmas carols left a large crowd feeling festive. There was a perceptible sense of goodwill.

Yet those ingredients alone are insufficient. Racing is always beholden to horses to carry the show. Altior underlined the point at Sandown the previous day, and while Charbel is not in his league – who else is, after all? – his victory in the Peterborough Chase, run this year as the Tattersalls Ireland Edredon Bleu Chase, was the outcome most racegoers yearned.

Jockeys line up at the start for the 3m novice handicap chase at HuntingdonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Half of that was down to Charbel being sent off a well-backed 13-8 favourite. The other half was down to the raw injustice that a horse of his calibre had until now been prevented from winning a race of this quality.

A beginners' chase at Uttoxeter and a Chepstow handicap constituted an insulting haul for the horse who was still leading Altior when he fell two out in the Arkle 21 months ago.