Even if you couldn't see the title of the book on the right, I would hardly need to tell most of my readers that the horse in the picture is Desert Orchid (1979-2006), much the most famous grey of recent years, indeed of all time.

Among recent racehorses, his only rivals for fame have been Red Rum and Arkle, though neither, I would contend, was held in quite the same affection as Dessie. Nowhere, perhaps, was this better shown than in his annual appearances at the Cheltenham Festival, scene of his greatest triumph as winner of the 1989 Gold Cup.

On the eve of this year's festival let me urge all his admirers to read a fine new book on his life written by Midge Burridge, breeder and part-owner of Dessie with her late husband Jimmy. For 18 years, she had charge of the horse's 5,000-strong fan club and supervised him in his public appearances and charity work throughout the country. She tells of the personal side of Dessie's life, much of it concerned with his life away from the track.

I confess I read parts of the book with a tear in the eye, as one who knew Dessie - as a friend of the Burridge family - almost from the day of his birth. That I never won a penny through a bet on him was something else to cry about. After a few disastrous punts, I gave up - to everyone else's good fortune, I am sure.

For copies of the book, send cheques for £15.95 (inc. p&p) made out to the D.O.F.C. to Letterbox Cottage, Taston, Oxfordshire, OX7 3JL.