James Moore: Houses for courses might be the only way

Outlook Happy days for Sir Christopher Gent. The former Vodafone boss is something of a horse racing aficionado (the company sponsored the Derby when he was in charge) and Newbury Racecourse, which was his local track, has finally won permission for a housing development on the home straight.

The initial reaction of turfistes to this is likely to be horror, particularly given Newbury's status as one of the best, and fairest, tracks in the country.

Still, a turfiste of Sir Christopher's means could easily afford a penthouse when it is complete without having to think too hard about it.

Purists without this compensation are faced with an unpleasant reality: given the sport's funding crisis it's either more of this sort of thing or more situations like the one at Folkestone, which faces closure if a similar development remains mired in planning hell.