HANDS up anyone who knows the thread that links today’s Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup with tomorrow’s JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National, Tom Taaffe with John Gosden, and Paul Townend with Frankie Dettori.

While everyone knows Bjorn Nielsen as the owner-breeder of all-conquering stayer Stradivarius, who is expected to make it 11 wins on the bounce at Ascot next Saturday afternoon, it might surprise some to be reminded that Nielsen’s black jacket adorned Townend when the Cork pilot booted the Taaffe-trained Treacle to a neck triumph in the Limerick feature eight years ago.