Racing demons

In Bucharest recently I encountered some Romanian proverbs. ‘Always eat the end of the bread: your mother-in-law will love you,’ said one. And, more to my liking: ‘Always empty the last drops out of a bottle into your glass: people will like you.’

Sometimes people in racing, facing the strains for our pleasure, find themselves tilting the bottle a little too often. It was sad for Timmy Murphy, for example, after his skilful, patient Grand National-winning ride on Comply or Die that his triumph was clouded by most commentators presenting it as a redemption from the months he spent in prison back in 2002 after drunken behaviour aboard an airliner.

Timmy has told the story of his one-time alcoholism in a searing autobiography so he has learnt to live with people raking over the incident. But after forswearing drink he redeemed himself long ago with his riding. Others beat it, too, such as Gold Cup-winning jockey Bobby Beasley.