Graham Wylie, racehorse owner, revels in the fast lane after Sandown Park victory

There were fears that Wylie, a technology tycoon, who has been a regular entry in the Sunday Times Rich List for a decade, had become disenchanted with the racing game following the four-year disqualification of his trainer Howard Johnson last August. The BHA found Johnson guilty of running a horse, who had been ‘de-nerved’ in one leg, and Wylie publicly declared “they treated Howard like a criminal, and he’s not.”

When Johnson did not appeal against his ban, it left Wylie with 60 horses, and a key decision to make, though having already sent six horses to Nicholls, his mind was half made up. In the event, he dispersed almost half his racing stock at the sales and kept the rest.

“I chose the best trainer in England and the best in Ireland,” he declared. He sent 12 to Nicholls, and seven to Willie Mullins in Co Carlow. “And, I’ve also got another 18 in a field somewhere,” he reported.

Wylie has not been to visit Mullins as yet, but he has several times travelled to Ditcheat, and been impressed with what he has seen. He has also been quick to acknowledge that throwing hundreds of thousands of pounds at agents and trainers in an attempt to purchase quality horses does not necessarily always pay off.

“It may minimise your risk, but it is no guarantee that you will get a champion,” he said. Inglis Drever, who won Wylie and his wife Andrea three Ladbrokes World Hurdles, cost £100,000, which was a modest amount for what he went on to achieve at Cheltenham.

Having made that point, he will also keep on buying horses. “I recently bought one in partnership with Andy Stewart, and it has already won for us. I’ve always had the passion for racing,” he explained. That is good news for the sport.

Nicky Henderson, racehorse trainer, provides a Cheltenham Festival hint with Bobs Worth

At the weekend, the most significant move came for the Nicky Henderson-trained Bobs Worth, who shortened to 5-1 (from
6-1) for the RSA Chase, even though he had been beaten five and a quarter lengths by Grands Crus in the Feltham Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. And there was a reason.

Clearly, Henderson believes there is nothing to lose. It may all count on the big occasion.

New-look McCririck is wasted on Channel 4 subs' bench

You may have missed it, but John McCririck underwent what is termed ‘a makeover’ during the week.

The mutton-chops were given a trim, hair slicked back under a fashionable Aussie bush hat, and somebody stumped up for a navy Saville Row pinstripe. He’d also had a wash.

It has been pointed out that Racing For Change could probably spend racing’s dwindling finances more wisely. But I’m not so sure.

As much as Channel 4 try easing their ageing star out of the picture, they cannot escape the fact that he is still the most recognisable face in racing. And that includes Dettori, McCoy, Cecil, etc.

Racing For Change’s next move is to remind Channel 4 of that fact, and to demand they take him off the bench (where he spends the majority of Saturdays). But only if he wears his new wardrobe.