'We wanted a cafe vibe - much more relaxed but with industry-leading technology'

Something remarkable is happening on the great staying chaser front just around the corner from Warren Street tube station.

Gordon Elliott thinks British trainers duck and dive when placing their top jumpers, yet the evidence on the sizeable screen in a swanky London betting shop seemingly proves him wrong. For any second now, there is set to be what has been billed as a Race of Champions that will feature, among others, Ballabriggs, Rhyme 'N' Reason, Devon Loch and Golden Miller. One is minded to wonder how this is possible, but as you should never look a superstar gift horse in the mouth, let's not give it too much thought.

If there is one sad aspect to the impending clash of the titans, it is that there are only five customers in the Coral shop who might potentially watch it unfold. That does, however, represent three more than the number of folk in a rival establishment around the corner, where an employee could be sighted up a ladder, screwdriver in hand, doing something to the ceiling.