Such remarks are common these days as the 45-year-old seeks tosimmerdown the buzz about his political future even as his travel schedule suggests he has clear national aspirations, perhaps as early as 2016.
They point out that one cause of the new competition is that bookmakers were allowed to set up in Tattersalls, the big-money ring on courses, without serving an apprenticeship in the quids-and-dollars Silver Ring: when these neophytes come to a sticky end, competition will simmerdown.