The William Buicks and Rachel Blackmores of the future – or maybe they will switch to eventing later on? – will be in action in the Shetland Pony Grand National this morning, which kicks off today’s action at 10.30am in the main arena.

More than 30 diminutive jockeys have gone to professional careers, including the 2016 champion Flat jockey Jim Crowley and leading National Hunt jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, whose younger brother Ted will be racing here.

The field today includes Nancy Greatrex, daughter of trainer Warren and niece of former Badminton runner-up Polly Stockton, Hetty Roddis, who will be proudly wearing the A Plus Tard colours Rachel Blackmore carried to victory in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup and Charlie Harrison-Gigney, who will be wearing the purple colours of his late mentor, Georgie Campbell.

Over the years, the Shetland Pony Grand National, which is organised by Sebastian Garner, has raised more than £250,000 for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, the charity set up by the 1971 Grand national-winning jockey.