How racing is working to avoid looming Brexit cliff edge

The vast majority of racegoers at the Cheltenham Festival would have been blissfully unaware of it, but the meeting was also the scene of some intense political lobbying this month.

Culture secretary Matt Hancock and sports minister Tracey Crouch both made visits to the course, but they were not the only high-level political figures to do so – nor was the British government the only administration represented.

Ireland's minister for agriculture, food and the marine Michael Creed was at Cheltenham on Gold Cup day to meet racing leaders from across Europe, as was Phil Hogan, the European commissioner for agriculture and rural development.