'I had anxiety, panic attacks... I couldn't speak to anyone'

This article, exclusive to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers, was originally written in May and sees Racing Writer of the Year Peter Thomas catch up with the dual Derby-winning trainer

It's 9.15am and Peter Chapple-Hyam is taking the first puff on his ninth cigarette of the morning. "I like smoking," he shrugs, "but I wouldn't have had as many as this if you hadn't been here." I try not to take it personally.

He drums his fingers on the desk, fiddles with his lighter, twiddles his pen, pours a second cup of coffee and opens the pack of ten to reveal the one remaining ciggie. It's the tail end of his self-imposed ration, but he's taking the shortage well. It's not my fault, apparently. He lives on his nerves, he confesses, although nowhere near as badly as he used to, back in the days when he was the trainer of the moment, with a hundred horses in his yard, two Derby wins under his belt and a future that seemed boundless.