Racing's vulnerability to the economic climate is plain. For the first time in 11 years, the principal Newmarket yearling sale last week did not produce a single million-pound horse but the action lower down the scale featured a fascinating figure. Harry Findlay, a one-man publicity machine for jump racing last winter, has spread his ebullient presence to the Flat.

Findlay, co-owner of the Gold Cup winner, Denman, watched another of his aspirant chasers, Herecomesthetruth, win impressively at Chepstow on Saturday before disclosing the extent of his new affiliations. “I bought nine yearlings at Tattersalls and 22 the previous week at Goffs,” he explained. “The top end of the market is mad but you can get bargains for less than 100 grand. I'm doing the Flat instead of the punting.”

The thought of Findlay scaling down his legendary gambling will bring varied reactions in the bookmaking fraternity but his involvement can only enliven the summer code. He is not entirely new to it, but racing has evidently snared his year-round interest.

“It's so different from dog racing and everything else I've been involved in,” Findlay said. “People have been so nice to me - everyone wants to help.” Quite a few will be keen for some of Findlay's action, of course, and a number of British trainers are to benefit from his latest spending.

So, too, is his mother, Maggie, in whose name the horses run. Sprightly on her walking sticks at Chepstow, she was watched over fondly by Harry. “She thinks she's 30 again,” he said. “Chepstow today, Wimbledon dogs tonight and Goodwood tomorrow. She can't get enough of it all.”

Another owner who mixes the codes, Scotsman Thomas Barr, now has a Derby candidate as well as a Champion Hurdle hope. Barr's Osana was second in the Champion in March and will follow that route again but Kite Wood is joint-favourite in some Derby betting after winning the Deloitte Autumn Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.