ITV figures a big worry for Flat fans as jumpers gallop clear in popularity race

There is, as yet, no news from Netflix, nor any of the major streaming platforms. We wait to see if Flat racing will get its own take on the Drive To Survive series that has done so much to bring new fans to Formula One. As we begin a new year, it is apparent the sport might be in need of such external assistance.

It emerged in November that multiple parties have been making presentations to Netflix and others, seeking to persuade them horseracing could deliver the sort of fascinating content that has made Drive To Survive so popular. There have been meetings at the Breeders' Cup and elsewhere, but no white smoke has been sighted.

That is not necessarily surprising. Even if a programme is made without investment from a broadcast partner, it cannot always be guaranteed the programme will find the sort of home that would make it likely to secure a large audience. The television world is notoriously tough.