Attitude taken towards Ascot shows challenges racing faces in resumption bid

Last week's grilling of Ascot's director of racing and public affairs Nick Smith on Radio 4's Today programme was another graphic illustration of the difficulty British racing faces in its attempts to return to some form of action as quickly as possible.

Ascot's announcement last week that the royal meeting could not be held as a public event was perfectly transparent and well expressed.

The course made it clear it might be "possible" to run the meeting behind closed doors during its usual slot in June but only with the approval of the BHA and, far more importantly, the government.