Racing across England will continue behind closed doors despite the national lockdown which starts on Thursday. All elite sports including football and rugby are being treated the same way.

It’s a carbon copy of what’s happened in Wales during our lockdown which is due to end this weekend.

It’s huge relief for the racing industry because revenue will still be generated from media rights payments. The sport has already lost millions of pounds from a lack of ticket sales, hospitality, conferences, weddings, restaurant bookings, bar sales, etc.

On the track, it’s been a successful period for a number of Welsh jockeys.

Charlie Price won aboard the Tim Vaughan trained Spectator at Chepstow last week and James Bowen was successful at the same meeting when Wayfinder scored for Pembrokeshire trainer Rebecca Curtis.

Sean Bowen rode a double at Newton Abbot for trainer Harry Fry on Mille Sussurri and the very smart prospect Metier. He then went to Wetherby on Saturday to ride Hear No Evil for Irish trainer Noel Kelly – it was a worthwhile trip because the gelding won at odds of 16-1.

Lorcan Williams, who is based with eleven times champion trainer Paul Nicholls, won with Stage Star at Chepstow but came home empty handed from a long journey to Ayr on Saturday.

Vale of Glamorgan based Isabel Williams was also in the Winners’ Enclosure at Newton Abbot when Memphis Bell completed a four timer following victories at Fontwell Park and twice at Ffos Las. The six-year-old mare has been a real star for her Irish based owner Billy Bates.

Connor Brace got on the scoresheet when Bathiva won easily at Huntingdon on Sunday for his retained trainer Fergal O’Brien.

There was some sad news at the weekend. It was announced that The New One had passed away after a bout of colic. He was a proper equine star trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies.

The 12-year-old won more than £1 million in prize money in a seven-year career. His successes included four Haydock Park Champion Hurdle Trials and three International Hurdles at Cheltenham. Welsh racegoers witnessed his superb qualities when he won the 2017 Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las.

Our next fixture at Chepstow is on Monday 9th November. There’s also a meeting at Ffos Las on Sunday. Both fixtures are live on Sky Sports Racing. No owners are allowed to attend Sunday’s fixture at Ffos Las and we are still waiting to hear from the Welsh Government for the rules concerning owners going to Chepstow on Monday.

The meeting at Chepstow has been sponsored by one the most well known owners in jump racing, Andy Stewart. Andy has owned plenty of top class horses including Big Bucks who won the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival four times in succession.