(TV pundit with Francome on Channel 4 Racing)

“EVERYBODY knows about his brilliance in the saddle, but John has many other qualities. One of the lots at a charity auction was a round of golf with John, and it was bought by a lady from Fakenham.

“On the appointed day John drove all the way there from Lambourn – only to find the lady had completely forgotten about it. He’d spent nine hours in his car, but he drove back there two weeks later and played the round with her. That’s the sort of bloke he is.”