Risk-averse racing? You can blame Aidan O'Brien for that development

Have we all become too risk averse? That would certainly be the opinion of leading owner Cot Campbell, who has complained people no longer run their horses often enough.

Campbell, founder of US syndicate Dogwood Stable, which owned 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice among others, has bemoaned the modern trend to race horses sparingly, saying elite trainers have “set the tone for this extreme competitive wariness”.

The owner goes on to praise the campaign of US Navy Flag who (shock, horror) raced an outrageous 11 times as a juvenile this year.