Empty stands at Newcastle on Monday© Photo Healy Racing
Monday's resumption of racing in Britain at Newcastle was remarkable in many ways, not least for the fact that all 120 runners stood their ground under the new 72 hour declarations deadline.
Trainers in both Ireland and Britain have long resisted 48 hour declarations so the adding of an extra 24 hours was seen as a potential problem for behind closed doors racing.
On Monday at Newcastle two horses were withdrawn by order of the stewards, one failing to load into the starting stalls and another became fractious.
On Tuesday across the two meetings at Newcastle and Kempton Park there were four non-runners due to a variety of excuses and a further five withdrawals by order of the stewards for failing to load into the stalls.
For this afternoon's two fixtures at Kempton and Yarmouth we already see eight non-runners before racing begins and there is every likelihood that more withdrawals will follow as only two starting stalls handlers are permitted to push horses into the stalls.
All races in the UK are currently limited to just twelve runners with no reserves.
With unsettled weather forecast over the coming days across the UK there is the added possibility of the going changing between declaration time and the day of the race which will test the viability of the 72 hour declarations.
Horse Racing Ireland has opted for a 48 hour declaration deadline for all Irish race meetings taking place behind closed doors. Irish racing is set to resume next week on Monday June 8 at Naas racecourse where the safety limit will be capped at eighteen runners per race.
