Closed-door racing a possibility for Ireland

Racing in Ireland seems sure to be curtailed, perhaps with meetings taking place behind closed doors — after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the imminent closure of all schools and colleges and a ban on outdoor gatherings of 500 people or more, initially until March 29.

Racing is braced for an anticipated Government update as measures to tackle the coronavirus continue.

In Britain, high-profile soccer matches involving European clubs have already suffered widespread cancellations, and Wednesday’s Premier League fixture between Manchester City and Arsenal was postponed.

Depending on the nature of new advice set to be issued by Government on Thursday, in British racing the focus is sure to switch next to the possibility of postponing next month’s Grand National meeting at Aintree — or placing major crowd restrictions on it.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to confirm the next policy move after a lunchtime Cobra meeting.