WHEN the coronavirus pandemic emerged in the early months of 2020, few could have imagined the disruption it would cause to almost every single aspect of human endeavour.

Horse racing was thrust firmly into the spectrum of public opprobrium when the 2020 Cheltenham Festival became the poster boy for dithering on the road to the original lockdown. When this insidious virus started to gain a significant foothold among the masses, the sight of people milling together in large crowds made for uncomfortable viewing. The UK lockdown was announced just days after the 2020 Festival had ended but questions persisted as to why it had gone ahead in the first place. And when you’re explaining, you’re losing.