In this ‘Titanic enterprise’, Simon Sebag Montefiore is not afraid to suggest that something of what made the Romanovs powerful remains in the Russian psyche and Russian leadership today, writes Mary Leland.

SHE ran. That’s the marvellous thing. She ran. He told her to vacuum his car.

Owner Major Ivan Straker is under no illusions about what it takes to win the Martell Grand National, having watched his The Tsarevich finish second to Maori Venture in 1987.