'We might be surprised about the racecourses that go - it's a precarious time'

The dangers in making any assumptions during the Covid-19 pandemic were never better illustrated than during an emotionally taxing 24 hours last week.

Until Monday afternoon, it appeared that Ireland was heading for the most severe state of lockdown possible with racing set to be stalled entirely for a second time, fears only allayed when the government rejected a recommendation from its national health advisory body.

Fast-forward 24 hours and it emerged that, within the health body's proposal, there was specific mention of racing continuing behind closed doors even if the most restrictive measures were enforced. In the space of a day, Irish racing went from the brink of a catastrophic shutdown to having its product – albeit a sub-optimal version – secured for what looks the next six to nine months.