Snow-gate now flu-gate but show rolls on in Valley of the Racehorse

Lambourn was battered by heavy winds on Wednesday night, but trainers tucked up in bed before the gusts were in store for a nasty surprise in the morning.

Forget the odd loose fence panel or recycling bins devoid of lids, the news Britain had been hit by of an outbreak of equine influenza had far more worrying consequences.

Worse still, in the Valley of the Racehorse, which champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson has called home for most of his life, horses from different strings are never far apart, either at home or on the gallops.