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But that love is also shared with Mrs Abbott, who he affectionately nicknames "meerkat".

Most of his colleagues affectionately call him “abuelo” — Spanish for grandfather.

But he said Galopin Des Champs - affectionately nicknamed "the good one" by stable staff - will rank as the best of them all if he wins the Cheltenham Festival showpiece on Friday.

Mykola, who commands a company of airborne assault troops, spoke affectionately about the capabilities of their Stryker armoured vehicles, supplied by the Americans.

His aunt Miva, he affectionately says, would take him to church on Sundays and he remembers at 7 or 8 years old falling asleep in the pews during those Baptist sermons.