'If it wasn't for racing, I don't know what I'd have done - it was a lifesaver'

Have you heard the one about the Westmeath stonemason, the trickster from Tipperary and the octogenarian from Reading?

Like so many of us, these loyal supporters of Irish and British racing have been cooped up like laying hens since Covid-19 turned our racecourses into bleak places last spring. Bar the odd isolated moment in Britain, racing has now been devoid of spectators for more than ten months.

But, while we can’t see the joy of those watching, the sport is still providing an invaluable outlet for its devotees in tough times.