Boris Johnson left the door open for racing to make its coronavirus comeback as he addressed the nation on Sunday night.
All eyes in the sport were on the Prime Minister as he delivered the government’s revisions to the lockdown restrictions designed to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The British Horseracing Authority had pencilled in Newcastle next Friday as the “best-case scenario” for a resumption - with high-profile fixtures provisionally planned for the following two weekends.
And a swift return to action looks a possibility as a result of Johnson’s words, which revised the measures put in place by Downing Street on 20 March.
Whilst stressing that “this is not the time simply to end the lockdown” Johnson did make provision for “a change of emphasis”.
“We said that you should work from home if you can. and only go to work if you must,” he added. “We now need to stress than anyone who can’t work from home - for instance, those in construction or manufacturing - should be actively encouraged to go to work.”
The Betfair exchange reacted positively to his speech - which also permits unlimited exercise from Wednesday - with racing a shade of odds on at 1.95 to return on or before 1 June.
The BHA, which made no comment on Sunday evening, has much to consider as it meets with industry leaders on Monday.
German racing made its restart - it had been in abeyance since 15 March - at Hanover last Thursday, while on Monday three fixtures, spearheaded by a glittering card at ParisLongchamp, mark France’s comeback from a blackout that began two days later.
The picture in Ireland is less positive, with Horse Racing Ireland chiefs set this week to continue talks with the Dublin government in a bid to bring forward a scheduled 29 June resumption date to three weeks earlier.
