I recall Michael Dickinson, long after he'd retired, talking about a sports scientist visiting the yard to watch the horses train. Afterwards, says Michael, he said something like, "What was that all about? Call that training? They're athletes and need to be worked much harder."
MD took the advice on board and the rest, as Charlie Nicholas would say, is geography.
Also, earlier this year after going through a rich spell, Alan King revealed he'd reverted to more old-fashioned methods, working them harder on uphill gallops.
Just as Charlie was taking over, Mark was wont to talk about how Charlie was the brains of the operation so I was holding out major hopes for him.
Alas...
At least Deirdre won summat at the Olympics.