Bolder jockeys and calmer horses: the pandemic's hidden impact on racing results

As we endure another lockdown with Covid-19 continuing to wreak havoc on everyday life, the vaccination programme appears to be the only real hope of an end to the madness.

The pandemic has affected all walks of life, but sport carried on regardless after the initial blank period from late March until June, and is doing so again under the latest guidance.

The obvious lack of paying spectators appears, on the face of it, to be the only difference, but it has been commented upon recently that the English Premier League winners for 2020-21 would need an asterisk placed beside their name on the roll of honour as winning the title without having to overcome the hostility of crowds – especially away from home – demeans the achievement.