With just a week remaining until the greatest race on British turf, much of the build-up has been culpably diverted to a jockey now depending for a mount on the indulgence not only of the regulators, but also of trainers and owners. For even if Frankie Dettori duly regains his licence next week, the timetable would make it impossible for him to ride before the very eve of the Investec Derby.

Heavy support during the week suggests a new officer is ready for promotion to the elite corps at Ballydoyle.

Since agreeing to part company, last autumn, Frankie Dettori and Godolphin have each been tainted by unexpected scandal. Both, however, are now hoping for a fresh start. Next Monday, Dettori returns from a six-month drugs ban for his first freelance mounts following nearly two decades with Godolphin. In the meantime, however, Sheikh Mohammed’s elite stable – rocked by an eight-year suspension for the trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni, over the administration of anabolic steroids – is itself beginning to stir back into life. Saeed bin Suroor, the trainer who had been leapfrogged by Zarooni prior to his former assistant’s disgrace, hopes to resume business as usual at Newbury on Saturday by winning the JLT Lockinge Stakes for a fifth time.

Cumani colt can prove Classic credentials against dominance of O’Brien contenders

Betting on the Qipco 2,000 Guineas is so skewed towards the two favourites that neither retains any vestige of value.

Jason Collins became the most eminent figure to come out of the mainstream American locker room and admit he is gay

"That's Henry Cecil… he should have retired years ago." The words of a young trainer drifting across the Heath at Newmarket must have stung, but during Cecil's dog days in the Noughties it was not an isolated view.

Never mind that Menorah and Hunt Ball meet at Cheltenham today; or that the National winner is to be boldly returned to the fray at Ayr on Saturday; or even if Sprinter Sacre himself tops the bill at Punchestown next week. Always and unmistakably, Newmarket's first card of the season marks the formal transfer of centre stage from jump to Flat racing.

The horse in question is back in work today, unharmed

Ryan Mania, having been detained a second night in hospital, was discharged in time to head home to Galashiels for a celebration of his breakthrough success in the Grand National. Scans did reveal that the young Scotsman suffered a minor fracture of his C7 vertebra when taking a fall from his very next mount after Auroras Encore, at Hexham on Sunday. But Mania described himself as no more than "a bit tired and sore", having otherwise suffered only soft tissue and ligament damage, and stressed his determination to be riding again sooner rather than later.

Whatever differences may persist between them elsewhere, on Dubai World Cup night at least Coolmore and the Maktoums seem to have become best of enemies. Since finding the prize-money at Meydan too lavish to resist, three years ago, his patrons have sent Aidan O'Brien to the homeland of their traditional antagonists with decorous compliments and sharp racehorses.

Doing something different is trending at racecourses, it seems. It was good to see Kauto Star strutting his new stuff under event rider Laura Collett in the parade ring at Newbury on Saturday, even if his so-called dressage display – a few basic flatwork moves at walk, trot and canter – has as much to do with top-level grand prix work as the Shetland pony grand national franchise that does the rounds of summer horse shows has to events at Aintree. The 13-year-old, though, apparently enjoyed being the focus of adulation as much as he ever did when with Paul Nicholls.

Jockey failed a random drugs test at Longchamp in September