I haven't the foggiest! Why it's so important for racing to try to learn something from those dismal days after Christmas

We got our share of surprises over the festive period, as you surely noticed. There was Solness making all at Leopardstown despite odds of 28-1 and Soul Icon (16-1) shrugging off a heavy Sandown defeat to land the Desert Orchid.

But the outcome that really stunned me came when I asked readers this question: should races take place in fog? Like almost all racing-related questions, it's a tricky one with several different perspectives to be considered, but I took it for granted that our audience would insist on the vital importance of being able to see the races.

Instead, the 'Yes' option romped home with 74 per cent of the vote. Only a quarter of those who took part felt that visibility was a fundamental issue when considering whether racing can go ahead.