'Palace Pier had not even run when the race was last staged in 2019'

Crowds are coming back, (slightly) better prize-money could be coming back and now the Lockinge is back, with star turn Palace Pier in the line-up – reasons to be cheerful indeed.

Before we come over all Ian Dury, it is worth remembering there will be no spectators on any course in Britain or Ireland on Saturday and that ears are still echoing to the latest warning we risk becoming a 'nursery' as our equine talent flows overseas.

But the turnstiles will start clicking on Monday, and the trickle that starts at Carlisle and Redcar that afternoon should become a flood by midsummer.