Twelve to follow

Few experiences in racing are as guaranteed to cheer you up as a visit to Oliver Sherwood’s lovely yard in Upper Lambourn. Trying vainly to match strides with Oliver back and forth across the Mandown schooling grounds on a frosty morning last week, as Leighton Aspell, Sam Jones and stable conditional Tom Garner polished the jumping skills of the Rhonehurst inhabitants, it was hard to believe from his still almost boyish enthusiasm and energy that this is a man who nearly qualifies for the ‘veteran’ label.