British horse racing is comparable to the Premier League in terms of international popularity.
But while top-flight football is yet to agree on a return date, racing gets underway again on Monday, behind closed doors but a welcome return after lockdown since March 17 due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The all-weather Newcastle course stages the opening meeting and there is already anticipation and excitement among trainers, owners and fans worldwide.
It’s not surprising to see a flood of entries for Monday, a rare spotlight on the track in the north-east of the UK.
But after the novelty of racing's return, the real action gets underway at Newmarket a few days later with two British Classics, the 2000 and 1000 Guineas.
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby is one of the trainers anxiously looking forward for the opening Classic as he unleashes last year’s champion juvenile Pinatubo in the 2000 Guineas.
The Shamardal colt is undefeated in six starts and is the favourite for both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby.
“The races are coming thick and fast and we'll have to see what comes to the table,” Appleby said of the Guineas meeting.
“If Pinatubo wins the Guineas by three or four lengths we would probably look at the St James's Palace [at Royal Ascot on June 20] but if he just wins or, God forbid, gets beat then it could suggest a step up in trip will suit him.”
Pinatubo’s victories include the Group 1s National Stakes at the Curragh and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. However, the colt hasn’t run beyond seven furlongs.
“I don't see the trip as a problem either because he's got natural pace,” Appleby said.
“He showed that in the final half-furlong of the Dewhurst. It was definitely a challenge after a long season but he rose to it.
“We're delighted with the way he's strengthened and I think people will be pleasantly surprised by what they see at Newmarket. I'd rather have a neat-sized and balanced horse for the early Classics.
“He's the ultimate professional. He's like any top-level sportsman. You generally don't see them fretting coming into championship competitions and it's often the cool, calm characters who are able to turn up with their A-game on the big days.
“Pinatubo is the same. He does not light you up too much in the mornings but he's professional. He goes about his business and does what's asked of him. He's met every challenge we've set him so far.
Temperament
“Outside of that I don’t want to sound too confident but he’s pleasing us. He’s the highest rated two-year-old we’ve seen for the last 25 years.
“He looks great, has won on all ground conditions and more importantly won on that track so we’re in the fortunate position where he ticks a lot of boxes going into the race. Let’s hope we see the Pinatubo we saw as a two-year-old.”
Appleby is pleased with the colt’s preparation, having taken him to Chelmsford with the stable jockey William Buick going round with a couple of lead horses.
“There's progression left in him,” Buick said as he singled out Pinatubo as the best two-year-old he's ever ridden.
“He's a joy to ride and has the temperament to go with it. He's very adaptable too.”
Trainers across the country have had to adjust the way they prepare their stable stars but Appleby said he never planned to give Pinatubo a prep run.
“We all knew what the picture was going into March,” he said. “We knew it was going to become challenging and that we may have to slow down. I didn't push him as early as you sometimes need to.”
Appleby does not plan to provide a pacemaker for Pinatubo but said Al Suhail, runner-up in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket last season, could take his chance alongside his stable star.
“The plan is to run him,” he added. “He’s exciting and he'll be a player but we'll see more improvement when he steps up in trip.”
Appleby runs Ghaiyyath in the Coronation Cup on Friday and Listed winner Summer Romance in 1,000 Guineas two days later.
