Travelling circus continues despite the most unusual of circumstances

It is not only high-profile Irish visitors such as Colin Keane who will sacrifice 14 days of quarantine on returning home after riding Siskin in next week's Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Current coronavirus protocol will spare no-one present at the Goresbridge Breeze-Up of a fortnight's forfeit either, but it was an issue most of those who have dutifully manned the boxes on the Tattersalls sales ground over the last few days were taking in their stride.

"You have to isolate - it’s all you can do," said Mark Brennan, who has been to all of the British breeze-up events for Ambrose O'Mullane and Mary Reynolds' Ardglas Stables in Tipperary. "This job has to go on, the circle goes around."

Brennan was accepting, if a little bemused, by all the health and safety, which included wristbands, temperature checks upon entry, and plenty of disinfectant.

"I suppose it feels a lot different but it’s great to be going to the sales," he continued. "We’ve been through lockdown. It’s strict enough coming in, but they’re getting the job done. We’re living through it now and we’ve got to get on with it."

Denise O'Brien, who has her own yearlings back in Ireland but assists Katie Walsh at the sales, was adapting similarly.

Denise O'Brien leading around a valuable Night Of Thunder colt for Greenhills FarmCredit: Laura Green

"The travel has changed this year," she said. "You couldn’t travel in the lorry and most people have come in their own cars, usually just two per car.

"For me, it’s been fine. There aren’t really the restaurants open here, so you’ve got to get takeaway or find somewhere to eat where you aren’t breaking any rules. But it’s stricter in Ireland."

O'Brien said she had noticed that potential buyers were being co-operative through these unusual circumstances.

"It’s pretty much the same [with inspections]," she said. "People might want to stand into them - to get closer to the horse maybe to feel their legs, but they'll ask you first, rather than just doing it."

After a busy month being away from home, it seemed as if she, at least, was looking forward to confinement.

"It’ll be easy enough - there’s always someone who can come and bring you what you need," she said. "The yearlings aren’t going to give out to me anyway!"

Micky Cleere, an old hand at riding breezers, decided to consign under his own name for the first time this year. Although his MC Thoroughbreds business has enjoyed decent fortune with some cheap pinhooks, the former apprentice jockey was hoping this was not his new normal.

Micky Cleere (centre) hopes that the protocols will not be indefiniteCredit: Tattersalls Ireland

"It's definitely odd, wearing face masks, it's weird isnt it?" he said. "But hopefully we'll get this vaccination soon and it'll all be forgotten about.

"You have to wear the mask down to the start of the breeze - I definitely don't like it but it doesn't affect me. We have to wear them at home and you've got to look after the vulnerable, anyway.

"If you can get the horses here in one piece, that's a start. The good ones go and do it, and the bad ones don't."

One mercy for Cleere is that he had something more exciting to look forward to than immediate isolation.

"I'm going to the south of France for a week's holiday," he said. "Then I'll be back, power-hosing rugs, washing out stables and getting ready for it all again."

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