Prepare to be won over by Hanover and join the German racing fan club

German racing enthusiasts form a small but spirited subdivision of the sport's fan base in Britain and Ireland. We have posters of Monsun on our bedroom walls, wear Sea The Moon t-shirts and bang on to anyone who will listen that the real reason for Galileo's brilliance is his Rhineland roots.

Germany given go-ahead for behind-closed-doors meeting at Hanover on Thursday

With Germany set to become the first major European racing nation to get back to action after lockdown with a 12-race card at Hanover on Thursday, we can feel a little smug now that everyone else will be showing an interest in our area of expertise. Almost as pleased as German citizens must feel with themselves for having squashed the curve of coronavirus infections with typical Teutonic efficiency.

Three Listed contests headline the Hanover meeting – a sprint over 6½f at 2.30 local time (1.30 BST), a mile event for fillies and mares at 4.00 (3.00 BST) and another race for the Fräuleins over 1m2f at 6.00 (5.00 BST).

Big Boots, Namos and Zargun, who finished third, fourth and fifth behind Royal Intervention in Germany's premier test of speed, the Goldene Peitsche, last August are among the leading contenders in the sprint.

Axana, narrowly beaten when second in the German 1,000 Guineas and an impressive Hamburg Group 3 winner last summer, brings a touch of class to the earlier Listed race for fillies and mares.

It should be between Durance and Satomi, third and fourth in the German Oaks in August, in the longer Listed event. Both have shown themselves to be a cut above this level – Durance when an unlucky in running second in the EP Taylor Stakes, and Satomi when sixth in the Prix de Royallieu, less than five lengths behind Anapurna.

A generous helping of maiden races provide further intrigue at Hanover. The curtain-raiser over 7f at 2.00 (1.00 BST) features More No Never, fifth behind Germany's champion two-year-old and horse of the year Rubaiyat in Group 3 company last term.

Hanover Thursday card

Two well-bred newcomers highlight the fillies' maiden over a mile at 3.30 (2.30 BST) – Amabalis, whose dam is German 1,000 Guineas winner Akua'da, and Pleasant Company, by Siyouni out of dual Listed scorer Peace Society.

Tricky handicaps with maximum fields make up the rest of the card. Coming to an informed decision about the potential winner will require a fair bit of time dedicated to the study of unfamiliar form, but during self-isolation that might be preferable to rearranging the sock drawer for the fourth time.

Purses for winning connections are pitifully low, running at 50 per cent during a six-week transitional programme.

However, a venture going by the name Wetten Dass...? [Bet on it..?] has sought 100 people to commit to placing a €50 wager in all of the 200-odd races scheduled in Germany between now and June 15, in order to generate more than €1 million for betting pools and in turn boost the sport's funding.

The challenge, which would surely bring GambleAware's directors in Britain out in a cold sweat, has successfully met its target with former Bundesliga star and prominent owner Klaus Allofs last week making it a round 100 supporters.

Enjoyment of German racing, with its quaintly anachronistic focus on soundness and stamina, does not demand such a deep investment, of course.

Why not give it a whirl while it's the only show in town? New members of the fan club are always welcome.

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Making it pay all over the world: the intricacies of the international scene

Epic moments: relive some of the great performances over jumps and on the Flat

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