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.