In 2012 Department of Agriculture inspectors raided Philip Fenton's yard and found unlicensed medicines, including an anabolic steroid. That year they also found unlicensed medicines, including an anabolic steroid, when raiding Pat Hughes's premises. Now, in 2020, we're told the department won't assist the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) with random inspections. Racing's fight against doping has always struggled for credibility. But it looks like the situation is getting worse.

Having Cork Racecourse being used as a test centre for coronavirus is really positive and as manager of the track along with Tipperary, it was a very easy decision to make the facility available for such vital work in these most testing times.