Welsh Grand National decision 'a sickener' blasts on-course bookie

On-course bookmaker Jimmy Lovell has described the decision to force Chepstow’s Welsh Grand National meeting behind closed doors as “more than a financial blow” and “a sickener”.

The Welsh government announced late on Monday night that all sports events would go behind closed doors from December 26 with no official end date in response to a surge in Covid-19 cases driven by the spread of the Omicron variant.

And on Wednesday further restrictions from December 26 were announced by first minister Mark Drakeford, with groups of no more than six people permitted to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants, and two-metre social distancing rules to return.