How a £2m coronavirus market became one of Betfair's most watched ever

For the past week the daily ritual for an increasingly significant number of people each day has been to wake up, get out their phone and head straight to Betfair to inspect the latest developments on its Will Racing Go Ahead? market for the Cheltenham Festival.

Tucked away in the normally sleepy horseracing specials section of the exchange, the market has rapidly become a must-visit destination for individuals seeking quasi-guidance on the future of this year's festival, with £2.1 million traded on the outcome.

Summing up the feelings of many, one Twitter user wrote on Tuesday: "The first thing I look for waking up in the morning . . . in a strange way I'll miss this market next week."