It’s 11am on a Thursday and Ireland’s summer weather is living up to its notoriously fickle reputation. The gallops at Ballydoyle are enveloped in a fine damp mist and racehorse trainer Aidan O’Brien stands trackside intently analysing a group of two-year-old colts charge past.

First gallop done, the group of 45 horses turns back then proceeds past the 54-year-old in a single line. “OK, gentle again: good man, Aaron. Thank you, Steve. Thank you, Camilla, good girl …” His voice metronome-like, O’Brien name-checks every rider without missing a beat.