HORSE RACING SET TO RESUME IN JUNE, UK AND IRELAND

Newcastle are set to host the first UK horse racing meeting, behind closed doors, since racing was suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak and subsequent lock down. They have a two day meeting planned for 1st / 2nd June where Kempton will join them on the Tuesday with their own two day fixture to get horse racing back underway. 

An eight-race opening fixture is planned for Newcastle's all-weather track if a return to action is approved by the government. Racing in Britain has been suspended since 17 March because of the coronavirus pandemic. The British Horseracing Authority is proposing a total of 18 meetings in the first eight days after it resumes.
Proposed meetings for first week of June 2020.
   1st June; Newcastle
   2nd June; Kempton, Newcastle
   3rd June; Kempton, Great Yarmouth
   4th June; Newcastle, Newmarket
   5th June; Lingfield, Newmarket
   6th June; Lingfield, Newcastle, Newmarket
   7th June; Haydock, Lingfield, Newmarket
   8th June; Chelmsford, Haydock, Lingfield
Flat racing's first two Classics for 2020, the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas, would be held at Newmarket on 6th / 7th June having been scheduled for early May. A proposal to host the Derby / Oaks at Epsom racecourse has been submitted and ought to be run in July while Royal Ascot have already announced they plan to race, albeit behind closed doors, on their original dates Tuesday 16th June – Saturday 20th June although Her Majesty The Queen will not attend for the first time in her 68 year reign.

Irish racing to resume on 8th June.
Irish horse racing is set to resume behind closed doors on 8th June after a two-and-a-half-month absence. Naas looks set to host first Irish meeting upon racing resumption. The Republic's road map to emerge from its coronavirus lock down had previously suggested that the sport would not restart until the end of June at the earliest. However, the date has been moved forward as a result of talks between the government and Horse Racing Ireland.

There has been no racing in Ireland since 24th March. The pandemic has led to the cancellation of number of Ireland's biggest racing festivals, including Punchestown and Fairyhouse, but it is hoped that the Irish Grand National will be integrated into an enhanced autumn schedule. Anticipating a high-profile comeback, with classic action at the Curragh on Friday 12th June featuring the 2,000 Guineas while the 1,000 Guineas will be held 24 hours later. The Irish Derby retains its traditional date at the Curragh on Saturday 27th June as does the Irish Oaks on Saturday 18th July. Irish Champions weekend will take place on September 12th - 13th. While jumps racing should begin again at Limerick on June 22nd.

A range of new protocols will be introduced to ensure that social distancing measures are adhered to as racing resumes. Each fixture will have a dedicated Covid-19 protocol officer who will ensure that only key personnel are present at the meetings, while health and thermal temperature screening will take place on arrival. Mandatory face coverings will be worn by "most" of those in attendance.

MORE FROM AFC WIMBLEDON - LEAGUE ONE, NEW STADIUM, NEWS MAY 2020

No professional sport, even behind closed doors, will be staged in England until 1 June at the earliest, the UK government has announced. So we will have to wait till next month to see if there's any chance of a conclusion to our season in League One. The government has published a 50-page guidance document detailing how England will begin to ease lock down measures. Step two of that plan - which will not be allowed to start before 1 June - includes "permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact". The government's current aim is to introduce step two of its plan on 1 June but only if sufficient progress is made in "successfully controlling the spread of the virus" and the lifting of restrictions could be delayed.
League One Update?
An EFL Board meeting on Wednesday will be followed by a meeting of all Championship clubs - then another involving the 47 clubs from the bottom two leagues. Scrapping the rest of the season in Leagues One / Two is likely to be the most significant topic for discussion in another week of key meetings in the Football League. It is not certain the leagues will be formally ended this week as there are a number of issues that will need to be resolved, not least surrounding promotion and relegation, and the EFL is adamant no decision about the rest of the season has been made. 

New Stadium update, New Plough Lane.

Recent view of the work on the new stadium site has become easier on the eye recently with the grass starting to grow at Plough Lane as the picture here and that at the top of this page begin to show progress continuing. These recent pictures show the pitch taking shape and you can also see progress being made inside the stadium. The season should have ended now of course, and our fate in League One would have been known but as we write this update the uncertainty remains about how much longer the season can be put on hold due to the Coronavirus crisis. At least with these signs of progress at Plough Lane and the prospect of being back at our spiritual home provides a ray of light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Signings, departures, anything...
I've heard that the first team squad will have 14 players out of contract by 30th June. Therefore we were always likely to see a fair number of changes in the summer transfer window however whether we will be able to make wholesale changes in the current climate is unknown. We've been relying on using loan goalkeepers for a few seasons now so unclear if we will keep either of Nathan Trott [West Ham] or Joe Day [Cardiff City] both having been signed till end of the current season leaving us with no first choice having also let Nik Tzanev out on loan to Sutton United. Will be interesting to see how our Irish winger Dylan Connolly fairs upon his return from a loan spell with Bradford City. Of the others who have been on loan this season striker Tommy Wood might be one to look at next season if his period with Tonbridge Angels has been productive.

10 HORSES TO FOLLOW PART THREE - UK [NATIONAL HUNT]

Although jump racing will not take place before 1 July 2020, all flat and jump racecourses will shortly be invited to apply to host fixtures, to demonstrate how they are able to meet the conditions specified in each model. On current planning, it's anticipated that the early stage models for resumption would allow for horses to race behind closed doors under strict conditions at locations which meet specific criteria around risk mitigation and infection control. While we await any sort of restart we've been putting together a number of "horses to follow" lists and this update looks at the National Hunt sphere with the following horses likely to pay their way through the year and into next season. All of them have been added to our horse tracker service. Good luck.

10 HORSES TO FOLLOW PART ONE - IRELAND

10 HORSES TO FOLLOW PART TWO - UK [FLAT]

ANGELS BREATH 
5yo [Trained by Nicky Henderson]
When starting the task of compiling this list Angels Breath was probably the first horse that sprung to mind from last term (pictured above). A Point to Point winner back in the Spring of 2018, before joining the Nicky Henderson stable later in the year, bringing with him a fairly tall reputation. He didn’t disappoint on his debut at Ascot in December, where he comfortably beat the useful Danny Kirwan by four and a half lengths – in a race in which only four flights of hurdles were jumped. That run marked him down as a potentially smart performer in the making, and he soon appeared in the long-range lists for some of the Novices events at the Cheltenham festival before being sidelined by injury. He looks a chaser in the making, and Henderson may well decide to send him over the larger obstacles this season. Last seen back in December 2019, winning a two runner match at Ascot @1/5f whatever his future I feel he will require a minimum of 2m 4f to be seen at his best, and should not be ground dependent when he returns from a season ending injury, but we'll keep him in the list hopefully will be back by November / December this year.

BRIGHT FORECAST
5yo  [Trained by Ben Pauling]
Made giant strides in four starts over hurdles last season, winning a Maiden at Newbury over two miles in November, a Novices race at Leicester over just shy of two miles, was then runner up to the smart Nicky Henderson trained Mister Fisher in a Grade Two Novices event at Haydock, before ending his season with a solid third place at the Cheltenham Festival in the two miles five and a half furlongs Ballymore Novices Hurdle, beaten two lengths and two and a quarter lengths by City Island and Champ. Bright Forecast look every inch a chaser in the making, and I will be very surprised if he fails to reach a decent standard over fences. I think he will be better served by at least 2m 4f than shorter and will be worth a try over further in time as he gains experience, giving him the options of both the JLT Novices Chase and the longer RSA Chase should he prove good enough. A really nice sort to go in to the winter of 2019 with, Bright Forecast acts on both good ground and soft underfoot conditions.

CLONDAW CASTLE
7yo [Trained By Tom George]
Won a couple of small field Novice Chases at Leicester and Huntingdon in the early part of 2019, but found the step in to Grade 1 company at Cheltenham and Aintree a little too much at this stage of his career. He’s not overly raced for a horse of his age, with just the twelve starts under rules, plus two in the Point to Point fields. He’ll start the new season on a mark of 144 over fences, and I am confident that his trainer will find opportunities for him in handicap company during the months ahead. He’s untested over much further than two miles under rules, but his Point win was over three, and I would imagine he maybe given a try over 2m 4f at some stage. Clondaw Castle appears to act on most types of going, and hopefully there will still be some improvement to come.

FUSIL RAFFLES
5yo [Trained by Nicky Henderson]
Winner of the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton and the Champion four-year-old Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, was always going to be a better five and six-year-old as he matured physically and mentally. Entering the senior ranks his performance in landing the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton was followed by a poor run at Kempton (pulled up) and was 11th in this year's Champion Hurdle. Is a beautiful physical specimen will only improve as he becomes more experienced and perhaps being thrown into a Grade 1 contest with limited experience wasn't the ideal campaign but he is with the best trainer to develop into something special in the next season or two. He hurdles very quickly and efficiently, has a high cruising speed and picks up well at the end of his races.

LAKE VIEW LAD
10yo [Trained by Nick Alexander] A long-distance stayer that still has potential for either Aintree and/or Cheltenham, despite blowing out in the Liverpool show piece last year. Lake View Lad was a big gamble for the 2019 Grand National, backed from 33/1 into 14/1, but simply found the pace to hot to handle on the first circuit. In all of his previous 13 chases, he had raced prominently and put his fabulous jumping technique to good use. Previously a huge eye-catching running on third behind Beware The Bear in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, he may have found the big one coming too early on the back of that effort. A typical Trevor Hemmings' staying chaser, plenty of give in the ground and a severe test is what he wants and if it comes up soft will be one to get stuck into.

LISNAGAR OSCAR
6yo  [(pictured left) Trained By Rebecca Curtis]
Has already achieved a fair standard over hurdles, ending the season winning the Stayers Hurdle (50/1) at Cheltenham an improvement on last season having won two and also finishing runner-up twice from six starts. The wins came at Chepstow in January over two miles three and a half furlongs – beating another of this season’s fifty (Dickie Diver) by a head in a driving finish, and the following month when impressively beating Ask Ben by an easy looking ten lengths at Haydock over three miles and half a furlong. The latter win prompted connections to have a crack at the Albert Bartlett at the festival in March, and he didn’t disgrace himself in finishing fifth – beaten over fifteen lengths behind the shock 50/1 scorer Minella Indo, with Dickie Diver on place and around five lengths in front of him that day. At Aintree a few weeks later he once again ran well, but found Champ and Emitom three lengths and seven lengths too good. Lisnargar Oscar is an attractive individual who looks every inch a chaser in the making, and I will be surprised if he doesn’t go straight over fences this term. He stays three miles well, and will probably start off low-key to gain some experience before being raised in class. A likeable type that will continue to pay his way for his talented handler.

MAIN FACT
7yo [Trained by David Pipe]
The incredible Main Fact (pictured above) who fairly bolted up in a valuable hurdle at Uttoxeter when last seen in March. Stepped up in trip to 2m4f for the first time since joining the Pond House team, he travelled supremely well under in-form amateur Fergus Gillard and quickly pulled clear of his rivals to win by an effortless 15 lengths, in the process notching his fifth success on the spin.   This was undoubtedly his best performance to date despite his reassessed rating of 132 and that looks sure to take another considerable hike when the ratings changes are announced tomorrow.  Who knows what the limit of his potential may be, but he clearly loves testing ground and is still thriving.

STICK WITH BILL
6yo (pictured right)[Trained by Harry Whittingham]
This is a very nice, staying, novice hurdler under the care of the shrewd Harry Whittingham. He made his timber topping debut at Chepstow and ran well behind the well regarded Potters Venture, then won two of his five hurdle races to date before ending the season with a second placing to Lieutenant Rocco at Warwick over 2m 3f in February. However, he will only come into his own over three miles, on testing ground on a galloping track.

THE GLANCING QUEEN
6yo Mare [Trained by Alan King (above)]
The Glancing Queen looks a smashing mare for a novice hurdles campaign this season. Trainer Alan King has already gone on record to say that he thinks the world of her and it’s not difficult to see why. The Glancing Queen went on to record two successes in Bumpers last season, and finished 8th in this years Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, behind the Willie Mullins trained Ferny Hollow. She has won on Good ground, and is also well served by soft underfoot conditions. I’ll be very surprised if The Glancing Queen doesn’t prove up with the best of her sex as a novice over timber this season and she should also hold her own with the boys.
THE KING OF MAY
6yo [Trained by Brian Ellison]
It always pays to have a northern-trained horse on your side when making these lists as they tend to be over-priced when meeting their Southern counterparts. I loved the way that The King Of May jumped around Carlisle last time out on his chasing debut and there is bags more to come from this son of High Rock. He has that great combination of speed and stamina and Brian Ellison is a genius at placing young talent to the best of their potential.

10 HORSES TO FOLLOW PART ONE - IRELAND

10 HORSES TO FOLLOW PART TWO - UK [FLAT]

10 HORSES TO FOLLOW PART TWO - UK [FLAT]

Hopefully we will see a return to action here in the UK and a belated start to the Turf flat seasons and somewhat unorthodox calendar likely to be put in place to protect the main Group 1 races and also the Classics (Guineas, Derby, Oaks) these have been rescheduled for July although we expect any racing before then to be without spectators and with maximum of twelve fields. The BHA have also talked about only allowing senior jockeys to begin with so there is much to prepare for before we see a return. In the meantime I've been browsing the UK Trainers and videos of their earlier open days before lock down. Managed to settle on 10 horses that should make their mark in the coming year and all have been added to my 'horse tracker' tool so we can follow this year and next.

Al Madhar

Al Madhar 
[Trained by Richard Hannon]
Not seen since making a winning debut at Newmarket over seven furlongs in July (pictured left), in a maiden contest that has been boosted many times since, with seven of his beaten rivals going on to break their maiden tags at some stage later in the season. Al Madhar showed batting qualities that day, getting the better of Al Suhail by a neck following a sustained duel inside the final furlong. He is a son of the Aga Khan’s sire Siyouni, who is best known for siring the wonderful, multi Group 1 winning filly Laurens, while his dam Phiz – a daughter of Galileo, was a smart middle distance/stayer for John Gosden a few seasons back, winning a maiden over 1m 5f at Lingfield and was also placed in Listed company over the same course and distance. Al Madhar looks open to improvement, and will appreciate a step up in trip to at least ten furlongs, with a try at a mile and a half at some stage looking assured.
Al Qaqaa   [William Haggas]
Beaten over eleven lengths when fourth of fifteen at Newmarket over seven furlongs on his debut in early October, but showed the benefit of that run when beaten narrowly over a furlong further by Stepney Causeway at Chelmsford the following month. Al Qaqaa may not be one of the stable’s leading lights, but is open to progress during 2020, and strikes me as a winner waiting to happen – particularly when given a stiffer test of stamina. He appeared to act well on the surface at Chelmsford, but could well be equally effective on turf – as the lack of experience is sure to have played a part when beaten at Newmarket. A maiden success should come his way with the minimum of fuss before hopefully moving on to something better.
Al Rufaa  [John Gosden]
Got off the mark at the second time of asking at York over seven furlongs, beating the Andrew Balding trained Fox Duty Free by a neck. That win came just nine days after his racecourse debut, when four-and-a-quarter lengths fifth of twelve at Lingfield behind David Simcock’s Rovaniemi. Al Rufaa is a son of one of the sires of the moment – the four times Group 1 winning champion three-year-old Kingman, out of the maiden Cape Cross mare Clarmina. He appeared well suited to seven furlongs at two, but should stay a mile this term, however he may need to learn to settle better during his races if he is to have any chance of staying any further. Should win more races.

Brentford Hope (Richard Hughes)

Brentford Hope  
[Richard Hughes]
Took a Newmarket Maiden over ten furlongs in good style towards the backend of October on his only outing to date, despite showing clear signs of inexperience (pictured right). Held up, he made headway approaching the three-furlong pole, and led on the bit with a furlong to run – before quickening away to comfortably account for Princess Bride by five lengths. It was a good education, and a ride perfectly executed by Jamie Spencer, with hopefully plenty more to come. Brentford Hope is a son of Camelot, and will have no trouble staying at least another couple of furlongs. He holds an early entry in the Irish Derby, but will need to step up significantly if he was to take up that entry. However, there is lots to look forward to for his trainer Richard Hughes and owners Bernardine and Sean Mulryan, and he is already looking a fair purchase at 130k euro from the Arqana Breeze up sales in May.
Custodian  [Richard Fahey]
First foal of the Elnadim mare Zuhoor Baynoona (also trained by Fahey) and from the first crop of the four times Group 1 winner Muhaarar, so boasts a pedigree all about speed. Custodian got off the mark at the second time of asking when taking a Novices event at Pontefract in August in fair style by three lengths from the Karl Burke trained Ainsdale (who went on to win three times later in the season – improving to a mark of 98), that followed a debut at Ayr that was not without promise in a race that also produced a couple of future winners. I’m not certain why Custodian didn’t race after August, but he remains open to further improvement during his second season, with distances of around six furlongs always likely to prove ideal. He may well be one for a handicap campaign in the North at that trip.
Emissary  [Hugo Palmer]
Emissary is by Kingman, from the Sadler’s Wells mare Soviet Moon – whose best offspring to date (by some way) is the 2010 Epsom Derby winner Workforce. He also has a full sister, the lightly raced Strelka – winner of a Novices event at Kempton over a mile and a half from four starts for Ralph Beckett. Emissary was successful on his only outing last term, when taking a nine and a half furlongs contest at Wolverhampton in the second week of October. The form of the race doesn’t appear anything out of the ordinary, but there was much to like about the manner of the win, and he looked to have more in hand than the two-and-a-quarter length winning margin suggested. Emissary looks open to improvement over middle distances at three, and should be equally at home on turf or an artificial surface. It will be disappointing if this nicely bred colt cannot add to his winning tally.

First Receiver  [Sir Michael Stoute]
A Royal bred colt by the Epsom Derby winner of 2008 New Approach, out of Her Majesty’s mare Touchline who was twice placed in Listed company over seven furlongs and a mile. First Receiver had two outings as a juvenile, and ran well in both. He finished third on his debut at Newmarket in July over seven furlongs behind Al Madhar in a race that the form has been franked since on a number of occasions. While on his second run – some four months later, he was beaten just half a length at Kempton over a mile by the Godolphin runner First View, who was following up a win at the track the previous month. I would imagine First Receiver would start his season off over a mile in Maiden or Novice company, but may well make up into a nice handicapper over ten furlongs with a bit more experience behind him. He has the added bonus of acting on both turf and an artificial surface.
Higher Kingdom  [Archie Watson]
A once raced son of Kingman, who must have been expected to run well on his racecourse debut judging by the betting. Starting a well backed 8/11 favourite he didn’t disappoint his supporters, always travelling well and quickening clear inside the final furlong of a seven furlongs Novices event at Kempton in October – beating the William Haggas trained Star Of Wells by a comfortable looking four lengths. He looks open to improvement at three, and may well be much better than the bare form of the race. Higher Kingdom is a half-brother to four individual winners, including a couple of Listed winners in France, and it would be nice to think that he could progress to that sort of level with a bit more experience behind him. Distances of around a mile should suit, and it will be a major disappointment if he cannot add to his winning tally over the coming months.
Raining Fire 
[James Fanshawe]
(pictured right) A half brother to useful winners Colonial Classic (8.5-12f), Flaming Marvel (12-14f) and Sleeping Lion (11-14.5f) who hinted at ability on debut in a 10f novice event at Newbury last May won by subsequent St Leger winner Logician, making some late gains from off the pace to finish ninth. He wasn’t seen again (gelded in interim) until contesting a 9.5f novice event at Wolverhampton five months later, waited with and unable to muster the speed to get on terms with the principals as he came home in sixth behind Nsnas. He signed off with a second place finish in a four-runner 12f novice event back at Wolverhampton 11 days later (hooded), waited with and shaken up with half a mile left to run, outpaced three furlongs out but responding well in the home straight to take second close home behind Bye Bye Lady (beaten 1 length). This gelding looked very much a work in progress last year, suited by the step up in distance last time though circumstances not really conducive to making it a thorough test at the trip. Handed an opening mark of 75 and likely to return a more rounded individual, he should do well in 12/14f handicaps this term.
Tiempo Vuela 
[trainer John Gosden]
Nice 3yo filly who put up a very likeable performance on her only start last term, when taking a Novices Stakes over the straight mile at Newcastle in October, travelling well throughout and quickening away inside the final furlong to pull three lengths clear of the Mark Johnston trained Tulip Fields – despite drifting left in the latter stages. It rates as fairly smart form, as the runner up already had a rating of 81 and Tiempo Vuela appeared far superior. She is bred to be suited to middle distances at three, being by Lope De Vega out of a mare that won over 1m 5f. She strikes me as a smashing filly to take into the forthcoming season, and can only improve as she gains experience.

10 HORSES TO FOLLOW PART ONE - IRELAND

10 HORSES TO FOLLOW PART TWO - UK [FLAT]

Part three, which will feature National Hunt (Uk) horses to follow will be updated in the next week, although NH Racing is not planned until July 1st at the earliest.

MAY BANK HOLIDAY - 75th ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY

Last year the UK Government changed the first Bank Holiday in May from it's usual place on Monday 4th to the Friday 8th May 2020 to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. The last time this holiday was changed was for the 50th anniversary back in 1995.

Today is the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) and it’s a great day to thank a veteran. This year VE Day is a public holiday celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces. On this day in 1945, more than a million people celebrated in the streets of the United Kingdom to mark the end of the European part of the war. In London, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the palace before cheering crowds.

There are many parallels between the struggles of the Second World War and what we are going through today. We look to our Second World War generation to learn from their experiences, and we continue our work to protect them from the threat we currently face. 

Join us on Friday 8 May as we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the entire Second World War generation, from British, Commonwealth and Allied Forces to evacuees and those who served on the home front. As we face some of the most challenging times since the end of the Second World War, now more than ever it is important to unite in recognition of service to the nation, just as communities did 75 years ago. The Royal British Legion will be broadcasting a live webcast from 11:15 on Friday and you can follow that by clicking on the banner link above. There were a number of different events planned that have of course had to be revised, and while the online remembrance will not be quite the same it would still be great to be involved and help support the work that the Legion continue to do all year round for our servicemen/women. Later in the evening at around 9pm on Friday join in for a UK-wide rendition of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ 

Upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales

NFL CONFIRMS FATE OF LONDON 2020 INTERNATIONAL SERIES FIXTURES

The NFL has cancelled the International Series scheduled to take place in London and Mexico City later this year. All four games in London 2020 would have been shared between Wembley and Tottenham there should have been two fixtures involving the Jacksonville Jaguars which would have been scheduled for Wembley, with two more matches due to be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The London games were set for autumn 2020, but no firm dates had been set. It will be the first time an NFL regular season game has not been played in London since 2006. They will now be held in the US after organisers decided it was impossible to arrange games in a different continent because of the coronavirus pandemic.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made the decision after consultation with a number of stakeholders including clubs, local governments and medical authorities. The NFL had also been planning to play one game at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico, but that too will now take place in the USA.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "While the NFL's many fans in London, the UK and Europe will obviously be disappointed by this news, it is absolutely the right decision to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the sport. I know that the NFL remains fully committed to London and I look forward to welcoming NFL teams back to the capital in 2021." while Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said they "fully appreciate the difficult decision that the NFL has had to make".

Mark Burrows, The FA's Chief Operating Officer, said: "Wembley Stadium has had the privilege of hosting NFL games for the past 13 consecutive seasons, and they are undoubtedly one of the highlights of the stadium's calendar. We were of course looking forward to welcoming teams back to Wembley this autumn - in particular, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were due to be the first NFL team to play back-to-back international games here in London. However, we understand the challenges that sports across the world are facing as a result of this crisis and, as a valued partner, we fully support the NFL in their decision to schedule all games in the US this year. We wish them every success for the new season and stand ready to welcome the NFL back to our iconic venue in the near future."

This news is hardly unexpected given no-one knows when top-level sport will be played in the United Kingdom - and when it is, it will almost certainly be behind closed doors for the remainder of 2020 at least. However, it is another financial blow to both Tottenham and the Football Association, given the games have proved themselves to be useful money-spinners over the years.

10 HORSES TO FOLLOW (When Flat Racing Restarts) PART ONE - IRELAND

While looking to pass the time while under the recent lock down, and with no actual racing taking place in UK or Ireland, we thought that we'd have a look at some horses to follow for when the racing begins. Shall be updating three different posts for both Flat racing and National Hunt rules, this one will focus on the Irish Trainers and I've been reading up on their stable notes, as well as Timeform and other publications. At time of writing racing is currently suspended but we've included mention of possible Group One entries as we are to understand that ever effort is being made to ensure that races such as the Guineas, Derby and Oaks are re-scheduled. Also note that we've only selected a few trainers, the likes of Aiden O'Brien is only omitted as they have 100's of high class horses and it would take an age (and possibly a blog in their own right) to go through them all.
Jim Bolger

Fiscal Rules – He was beaten a head by Wichita on his only start to date over seven furlongs at the Curragh in late August. A son of Make Believe, he hasn’t been seen since but holds entries in various big races like the Guineas. He looks a sure-fire maiden winner and a high-class prospect in the making. 
Moments Linger – She could have a good handicap mark by accident. She’s a three-year-old daughter of Dawn Approach and wasn’t beaten far on debut at Dundalk, where she was beaten by Ickworth, who also beat her in a Listed race at the Curragh on her last start. Rated 84, she’s got an entry in the Irish 1000 Guineas, so it will be interesting to see the route she goes.
Ten Year Ticket – He’s by Rock Of Gibraltar and won at a big price on debut at the Curragh, beating Tiger Moth, and he looks a smart prospect going forward. The fact he’s a gelding means he won’t be campaigned down the obvious races and he should be able to make hay on the back of that debut win.

Dermot Weld

Emiyn - A sure-fire maiden winner for the yard is Emiyn. He ran a lovely race at the only turf meeting held this year at Naas. It looked a well-contested race and he had a wide draw and travelled extremely well into the race. On a day when the yard had three of four strongly fancied runners, he was the only one to run well. He holds an Irish Guineas entry which is a nod to the esteem he’s held in at home although we will have to wait and see if the Classics can be saved in Ireland as the BHA appear to be doing over in the UK.
Shekhem - Of the younger generation a colt to keep on your side is Shekhem. He belongs to the Aga Khan and ran a huge race to finish second in the Beresford Stakes in the autumn. He ran with the choke out on the round mile track there, which is downhill all the way, and was still only caught late on by Inch Free. He’d previously won a maiden at Listowel nicely and he’s one to have on your side in the better races moving forward.

Joseph O’Brien

Big Call - I’d always be inclined to give a horse of his who wins first time out a huge upgrade as they tend to be green and learning their job. If they win on debut they tend to be start. A horse who fits that bill is Big Call who win at Limerick at the back-end of the year having missed the start. He had 10 or 12 horses in front of him own the relatively short home straight there but when he was asked for his effort he picked up really well to win by three lengths. The second horse, Hong Kong, has a rating of around 90 for the Ballydoyle team and gives the form a strong look. The ground was very testing but I loved the way he did it and he’s a very promising son of American Pharoah.
Buckhurst - Among the older horses I’m mad about Buckhurst. We haven’t seen the best of him yet, he’s been minded by Joseph, and beat Sir Dragonet at the Curragh in August. He’s won three of his six starts and finished second to Norway in a Group Three on his final start. That was run on the inside track at Leopardstown and he had to work hard all the way round on the outside of the field and you can upgrade that run. There’s definitely more to come from him.
Crossfirehurricane – He has won his three starts to date, the last two at Dundalk. He’s a son of Kitten’s Joy who is already a Listed winner and there should be more to come as he goes up in trip on good ground. But given the year it is if there’s more polytrack racing that would very much suit him too.

Johnny Murtagh

Know It All – She’s a filly by Lord Kanaloa, which is interesting breeding. He’s a Japanese sire and won in Hong Kong, while he was Japanese horse of the year – he only got better with age and he’s the sire of Almond Eye. Know It All won a winners’ race at the Curragh on her second start, but it was her run behind New York Girl in a Group Three on her final start at two that confirmed her as a high-class prospect. She travelled strongly throughout in a handy position but took it up a long way from home on testing ground. Inside the furlong pole she was a couple of lengths clear but she got tired and was run down to be beaten a neck and half a length. I think she was the best filly in the race, it was just the way it was run left her vulnerable to closers. She looks smart and there’s more to come from her.
Springbank – He’s a very well-bred Galileo. His dam was a multiple Group Three-winning mare and if you go back to his first start at the Curragh, where he was a two lengths third to Wichita, he has the look of a very well handicapped horse off a mark of 78. His next two starts were on heavy and he didn’t run badly on his last start at Leopardstown, where he was beaten nine lengths by Celtic High King. He’s bred to improve with age, he’s a full brother to Expressionism who won over 1m 4f, and given the promise he showed on his debut he’s worth following in middle-distance handicaps.

Further blogs focusing on Uk Flat horses and also National Hunt selections will appear soon, there will be no NH racing till at least July according to a statement from the British Racehorse Association.

MAY 2020 UPDATE ... #2 'SELF ISOLATION, THE STORY CONTINUES'.

As we enter May 2020 and are still following HM Government advice on lock-down although the numbers being published each day suggest we have peaked, it would be ill advised to think that we'll be allowed out 'en masse' any time soon. As this blog tends to focus on two primary activities most of the year we have a look at the latest situation for both the UK Football leagues, of which we have an interest in League One for AFC Wimbledon. And also the equine interest in Flat / NH Horse racing which is currently curtailed and unlikely to return in the short term and even then would surely be without on track spectators. We do miss out sports, a regular attendee and had plans to celebrate my own birthday as I have for the past twenty years by visiting Ascot, but that can wait.  

Football
Recently UEFA provided an update on plans to finish the 2019-20 season to all its 55 national associations with European football's governing body still hoping to end the campaign in August, although with every league bar Belarus still suspended there are doubts over whether that deadline can be met. The continuing uncertainty over the spread of coronavirus is creating major issues, with some leagues - including Germany and Denmark - talking optimistically about a resumption next month, while others - England among them - believe it will be June at the earliest before they can play games, and some Premier League clubs feel it will be longer than that.

UEFA are still planning for a June restart across its leagues but says in "special cases" some could be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Each involved a June start, with the Champions League final planned for 29th August. However, the uncertainty over when football can restart has made detailed planning impossible and for the first time, UEFA has accepted completing the season in some countries may not be possible. "There was a strong recommendation given to finish domestic top division and cup competitions, but some special cases will be heard once guidelines concerning participation to European competitions - in case of a cancelled league - have been developed".

From a personal point of view as an AFC Wimbledon supporter there is a chance that League One will continue with games being live streamed somehow, we await further news on this with nine games to play that will decide if we stay up or not. The National League have also announced that their board had urged clubs in its three divisions to vote in favour of ending the regular season without further games because of coronavirus. The league said there was a "clear majority of clubs in favour" from the almost 90% of responses returned. Further discussions on what this means for promotion and relegation are still to be held but it would clear the way for their seasons to start again on time for the 2020/21 season.

Horse Racing
British Horseracing Authority's "best-case scenario" planning for a resumption of UK Flat racing includes a Guineas meeting in early June and the Derby and Oaks run in early July. With racing currently suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, the season's first four Classics have been delayed from their usual slots in the calendar. However, the sport's 'Resumption of Racing Group' is working to draw up provisional plans for when racing is able to return, with "a phased approach" to racing behind closed doors anticipated in the immediate stages. Royal Ascot is currently still due to take place in its traditional mid-June slot, the meeting could be sandwiched by the Classic cards, although all plans very much depend on racing being given the go-ahead to resume. We've missed out on my birthday meeting at Ascot in April and looks unlikely that we'll be at Sandown for their end May card that featured the Brigadier Gerard Stakes either.

National Hunt jumps racing is currently scheduled to recommence on July 1st and the BHA is planning to base those fixtures on the original programme book, although "trainers are currently being asked for details of the horses they expect to have ready to run at that time so that appropriate revisions to the programme can be made".

We've planned some "10 to follow" lists for UK and Ireland, across both codes and while the season has been truncated we still think there's a few winners to be had amongst them in the future. Hopefully they'll be published in the next week.