Jonathan Harding: revised Pattern proves necessity is the mother of invention

The coronavirus pandemic has left a mark on every industry and like ink dropped in a bowl of water, its effects will take time to dissipate.

Still, racing continues its journey towards normality at Kempton on Wednesday with the first Group race of the season, the Classic Trial, which marks the beginning of an imaginative new Pattern schedule.

Necessity has always been the mother of invention, but nonetheless, the BHA Flat Pattern committee faced a daunting task to provide a revised programme with credibility for the breeding industry and sensible time frames for trainers to prime their biggest stars.