Ann Duffield, formerly Ann Swinbank, has been training for many years but only with modest success. Over the past five flat seasons until 2005 she had never reached double figures, either for winners or strike rate. Then in 2005 she trained 18 winners at 12% and in 2006 she has already scored 14 times at 18%.

What’s changed? Well, the most significant thing is surely that hubby has been at home and lending a hand. George Duffield’s long and dignified association with the superb Sir Mark Prescott was finally bought to an end by injury in 2005. Interestingly one or two of Sir Mark’s owners have now got a horse with Ann Duffield.