'I just love seeing the horses, jockeys and trainers in person - and I can't wait to watch Jonbon'

There is a brief moment by the parade ring on a freezing cold Tingle Creek day at Sandown that offers some much-needed optimism for the future of the sport. A young boy is standing motionless next to his grandmother, totally transfixed as Jonbon walks past before the feature race.

His name is Cian O'Sullivan and he belongs to the mythical next generation British racing is so desperate to attract. Under the banner of Project Beacon, the sport's leaders are trying to understand how the sport can retain existing customers, while at the same time attracting new fans such as O'Sullivan. Key to that will be making sure the biggest days, racing's shop windows, deliver.

"I got into racing through my grandpa," O'Sullivan, 12, had told me earlier in the day. "I've been able to go to stables like Seven Barrows and see good horses because I live close to Lambourn. I watch ITV Racing when the big meetings are on at the weekend and try to go to a few too. I normally come here for the Tingle Creek every year. It's become a tradition. I just love seeing the horses, jockeys and trainers in person – and I can't wait to watch Jonbon."