The screams were maniacal. Maddy was shaking as much as Fran, as Saratoga Sun and Jefferson Jet matched each other stride for glossy stride. Then the apricot colours parted company.

The nineteen runners streamed below them like a multi-coloured banner, the noise, the heat, the wild energy, becoming a living force. They flashed past the winning post in a blur. Top hats were thrown in the air as the crescendo of noise echoed and repeated across the downs in a nonstop ocean of sound.

‘Who won?’ Fran opened her eyes, rocked by the rush of people from the stand. ‘Who bloody won?’

‘One of them,’ Maddy said, dry mouthed, drained of all emotion. She scrabbled for her race card again. ‘Whoever was wearing the all-black cap …’

With a scream of delight, Fran vaulted the seats in front of her, and clutching the cartwheel hat, disappeared into the scrum for the Winner’s Enclosure.

Maddy stood, surrounded only by those who had lost a serious amount of money on the other horses, and wiped away her tears on the back of her hand. Saratoga Sun had won The Derby.

Maddy watched the presentation on the screen. Diana and Gareth were delirious, and Mitchell D’Arcy clanked his jewellery and flashed his teeth in delight. Richard, interviewed by Channel Four, was incoherent, and Luke, bravely agreeing to talk about the jocking off, was philosophical.

As the atmosphere began to calm, and the racegoers realised there were still three races to go, Maddy drifted towards the Champagne Bar.

Amidst the silks and satins and sea of morning coats, the Milton St John trainers were out in force. Some jockeys, their duties over, were recounting to their connections how they lost. Both Luke and Richard were riding in the rest of the afternoon’s races, so weren’t in evidence.

Scanning the bar for Drew, Maddy accidentally caught Diana’s eye. ‘Congratulations.’

‘Maddy, darling!’ Diana hobbled towards her as fast as the skin-tight dress would allow, and clashed cheeks. ‘You were right all the time. Richard was pure perfection. I’m so glad I listened to you.’

‘Oh, I hardly think –’

‘Nonsense!’ Diana’s eyes glittered. ‘I’ve had the winner of The Derby, thanks to you. You put me on the right track. I should have realised that no one knew Saratoga better than Richard.’

How conveniently people turn things around, Maddy thought. Saratoga Sun would have probably won anyway. Still, if Diana had convinced herself that she had made the training decision of the century, who was she to argue? And of course, it was absolutely wonderful for Fran and Richard.

‘Marnie!’ Mitchell D’Arcy swayed towards them, shining brightly. ‘This is a day in a million, and it’s all thanks to this lovely lady.’ He gave Diana’s tightly clad silk bottom a pat. ‘I love this lady, Marnie. Di is my princess.’