As a young boy Hughie Morrison was given some sound advice by the late Sir Henry Cecil.
'Go and learn about life before you think about training,' the legendary trainer told the teenager. They proved wise words and ones Morrison reflected on this week as he contemplated the possibility of winning the £1.5million Investec Derby, a race won four times by Cecil.
If Morrison, 58, who worked for a healthcare group and a lighting firm before starting training at 37, can win the 240th running of the historic race with Oisin Murphy-ridden Telecaster, Cecil's advice will have a neat symmetry.
Trainer Hughie Morrison says he is outnumbered in Saturday afternoon’s Investec Derby
They also helped shape Morrison to cope with everything thrown at him.
Two years ago, there seemed a big chance that Morrison would not be in a position to saddle a runner anywhere, let alone in the Derby.
When his moderate filly Our Little Sister tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid at Wolverhampton in January 2017, he potentially faced a minimum two-year ban.
But Morrison fought to clear his name, passionately arguing he was the victim of a 'malicious plot', a scenario supported by the seemingly motive-free, evidence-less doping of a poor performer in a case with no suspicious betting patterns.
An independent BHA disciplinary panel Morrison ultimately concluded the 'on the balance, Mr Morrison was innocent of any involvement' as he was fined £1,000.
Ironically, news about the case emerged two years to the day that Telecaster won the Dante Stakes to emerge as the top British-based Derby hope.
Morrison said: 'It was very traumatic having spent all my life trying to be straight and honest to be accused of something which had absolutely nothing to do with us.
'It was a slight on one's character. I was upset and always will be.'
Morrison reckons fighting his case the cost him £150,000 and also horses. His Berkshire stables contain 70 horses but are no longer full to capacity.
They have also never potentially contained a horse like Telecaster, the son of 2008 Derby winner New Approach sent to Morrison when he a failed to meet his reserve at the 2017 yearling sales.
Morrison had trained Telecaster's dam, 2012 Oaks runner Shirocco Star, and
