KJT must raise bar

RACING finally got the green light for a coronavirus comeback from Downing Street yesterday.

Declarations for the sport’s return tomorrow – behind closed doors and subject to strict protocols at Newcastle (below) – were made on Friday morning, with 120 runners set to contest the 10 races.

But official confirmation that the resumption had the Government’s blessing did not arrive until yesterday afternoon, when culture secretary Oliver Dowden announced: “The wait is over.”

He stressed that sport must take place in “safe and carefully controlled environments”.

Dowden said: “It is up to each individual sport to decide exactly when to resume competition – they know their sports best – but football, tennis, horse racing, Formula One, cricket, golf, rugby, snooker and others are all set to return to our screens shortly... with horse racing first out of the gates in the north east next week.”

Dowden’s words received a warm welcome from the BHA.

Chief executive Nick Rust (right) said: “I’m sure the return of racing will be welcomed by all those who have missed the excitement of live sport and the majestic sight of racehorses running at full gallop.

“We hope it will lift the nation’s spirits in difficult times and look forward to seeing our owners and racing fans back at racecourses as soon as that’s possible.

“There is still a tough battle ahead before we can get fully back in business.

“But this is a resilient and world-leading industry and we are ready for the task.”

Face masks and temperature checks are among the measures in place to ensure the safety of jockeys, stable staff and officials, along with new-look weighing rooms to provide social distancing.

Dr Jerry Hill, the BHA’s chief medical adviser, explained: “Our approach to screening and surveillance is based on the low level of background risks at an outdoor event in a non-contact sport with attendees from mainly rural areas.

“It is responsible and makes sensible use of medical resources.

“But it is also flexible, so we can adapt in accordance with changing Government policy

KATARINA JOHNSONTHOMPSON knows she will have to up her game to see off the threat of Olympic heptathlon champion Nafi Thiam in Tokyo.

Thiam, the Belgian multieventing star, will be over the elbow injury that hindered her in last year’s World Championships by the time the postponed Olympics are held in 2021.

Johnson-Thompson, 27, who also broke the British record in winning in Doha last year, said: “It was not perfect by any means.

“I remember I got boxed in at 250m in the 800m. I was in the best shape of my life – I should have front run and trusted in my abilities.

“I could have run faster and got a better score.”

There is still a tough battle ahead before we can get fully back