The Futurity as a one-off will have novelty value - but it must remain a one-off

In a perhaps futile attempt to look on the bright side, Saturday's Vertem Futurity Trophy will at least have a strange novelty value. What it won't have is more than a single runner based anywhere but Ballydoyle. The great hope is that once the latest renewal of Britain's final Group 1 is done and dusted, the novelty will not be repeated.

It is key to stress that neither Aidan O'Brien nor his owners have done anything wrong. It is absolutely within their right to enter and run as many horses as they so wish. We might not be set for much of a race but we would be set for much less of one without O'Brien and Coolmore.

It is, however, difficult to view this situation with much enthusiasm. That just a single British trainer has chosen to support the only British Group 1 open to two-year-old colts and geldings over a mile seems remarkable – particularly given how loudly horsemen were complaining about Arena Racing Company prize-money earlier in the year. Doncaster must be disappointed, as will bookmakers.