My take on the High Definition saga which rocked the Derby during the week

As ageing processes go, the front page of Wednesday's Racing Post is up there with Matt Le Blanc. The headline: "O'Brien crystal clear on High Definition". The story beneath: all about High Definition and how an end-to-end gallop in the Derby was going to play to the strengths of the colt who had spent six months at the summit of the market. The writer: yours truly.

By 5pm on Wednesday that front page looked as bad as High Definition has at halfway in every one of his races so far. So, if you wouldn't mind, let me explain.

Aidan O'Brien, between 3pm and 3.30pm on Tuesday, was speaking via Zoom as part of the Jockey Club's build-up to the Cazoo Derby. It was the Daily Mail's Marcus Townend who put the following question to him: "High Definition has characterised his runs with very strong finishes in all his starts, but obviously there were little bits of flat spots in all of them. Is that a concern for you in the context of the Derby or do you think it is nullified by the extra distance he will run over on Saturday?"