THE 2020 Grand National Festival at Aintree has been cancelled because of the Coronavirus crisis.
The world-famous meeting was due to be staged early next month – with Tiger Roll chasing an historic third consecutive win in the big race.
In a statement, the course said that the latest government advice, which sees the country move into a ‘delay’ phase, had prompted the Jockey Club to call the meeting off.
It read: “The Jockey Club has announced that The Randox Health Grand National Festival will not take place between Thursday 2 and Saturday 4 April this year.
“Following the Government’s new public health guidance regarding avoiding social contact and stopping non-essential travel, and its statement that emergency services are withdrawn from supporting mass gatherings from tomorrow, the Jockey Club has decided that it is no longer appropriate to stage the event.
“Jockey Club Racecourses, which runs Aintree and several of the UK’s leading racecourses, had been assessing the feasibility of running the world’s most famous Steeplechase behind closed doors with minimal staff on site, but the latest government information on the measures needed to contain the virus have led it to believe this is no longer a viable consideration.”
Sandy Dudgeon, senior steward of the Jockey Club, added: “The Randox Health Grand National Festival was just three weeks away and it’s very clear to us it will not be possible for the event to take place. Public health must come first.
“We were working on a plan to stage the Grand National behind closed doors given its importance to the racing industry and beyond, but following the new Government measures confirmed this evening to help to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, this is not a viable option.
“I know this is hugely disappointing news for the many people who work in our sport and the many millions who were looking forward to this year’s event, but very sadly these are exceptional times and this is the responsible thing to do.”
With the meeting scrapped it raises the possibility that dual National hero Tiger Roll, who has had injury problems this year, could be retired.
The Gigginstown-owned 10-year-old has recorded back-to-back victories in the world’s richest jumps race.
But owner Michael O’Leary has previously floated the idea of retiring the great horse, who would be 11-years-old if returning to Aintree next season.
Red Rum is the only horse to have won the marathon contest three times, winning two in a row in 1973-74 before striking again as a 12-year-old in 1977.
