Seabiscuit is the true story of the horse of the same name, a physically unimpressive specimen whose big heart took him from abuse and neglect to fame. He won not just race after race and a place in sporting history but also the love of Depression era Americans.

Like all good sports movies, this one starts at the bottom, with a temperamental horse that businessman Jeff Bridges and mustang breaker Chris Cooper suspect may just have what it takes. Add to this mix Tobey Maguire's volatile part-time prize fighter as Seabiscuit's jockey and you have a fairly unlikely combination.

Two-and-a-bit hours in the company of a jockey and his horse is not the most appealing prospect for this critic. So how pleasing to report that I adored it. It's emotional without being sentimental, Randy Newman's music supports and enhances the story, and it looks beautiful. Even the horse seems very pleasant.

Of the biped stars, Tobey Maguire is absolutely convincing and he's supported with predictable aplomb by Bridges and Cooper. It's the first time I've ever had the sense of what it must feel like to be part of the frantic, bruising sport of horse racing, so hats off to writer-director Gary Ross for bringing the action to life so effectively.

It may sound as though I'm damning Seabiscuit with faint praise when I say that it's simply a lovely film, but that's certainly not my intention. Seabiscuit opens in London's West End on Friday 31st October before going nationwide a week later. And I'll take bets that you'll love it.

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