First and foremost, our thoughts are with those families who have lost loved ones through the invisible enemy that is the Coronavirus.

And while life carried on at Barbury through the lockdown, the racing calendar now has a totally new look, which has caused a major reshuffle in plans for the horses.

Rain was virtually non-existent during May, which made it almost impossible to get on the grass gallops, so the 2020 Flat season really only started in June.

I won nearly £650,000 in prize money last year, my best ever total, and I’ve again got around 45 horses for the level as we attempt to play catch-up.

The likes of Trueshan, who remains exciting after a promising return at the Guineas meeting, gives us hope of competing with the big battalions at the major festivals, while there is also been early encouragement from the two-year-olds we have already launched.,

And supported by Beringer, Who Dares Wins and Rainbow Dreamer, plus plenty of talented three-year-olds to support the older members of the squad, we look forward to the rest of the Flat season with optimism.

Here’s hoping we can meet up again soon – maybe even in the winner’s enclosure!

ALAN KING