IF Saturday afternoon ascended into a racing day to remember, it began with a very sad hour, wakening up to the news of the death of the popular grey Roy Rocket, trained in Newmarket by John Berry and remembered with such beautiful writing by Emma Berry.

“But to go to the races with him, to Brighton especially, was to remember that racing, as much as it is about deciding who’s best, is also about entertainment. Without people enjoying it, and continuing to support the sport or perhaps even becoming an owner or breeder, we would have nothing.”