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But it was a ruse to get to a tweaked version of Aerosmith’s “Back in the Saddle,” which Black rocked out on, running through the audience, and high kicking after being joined by Gardner, Kenan Thompson and Marcello Hernández and a seven-person marching band.

Paul understood these risks, and was an active member of the cycling group Paris en Selle - Paris in the Saddle.

Meanwhile, despite Soboroff being in the saddle as recovery czar, the Bass administration wanted to hire a private disaster recovery firm.

Speaking before the event, the 44-year-old said he was unsure how he would feel when he got back in the saddle, but described the build-up to Sunday's ride as positive.

Analysis of the skeleton inside the lead coffin revealed it to be of a man aged about 35, who suffered from bone tuberculosis in his neck and head, and spent a lot of time in the saddle.