IT IS hoped Chester Racecourse's Boodles May Festival could be a contender for the Government's programme of pilot events to test the return of spectators.

In the week before Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his road map for the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, Chester Race Company published a plan of its own to be able to welcome back crowds for the meeting from May 5-7.

The Boodles May Festival precedes the date pencilled in by the Government for spectators to return – but it is hoped it could yet be a contender for the pilot programme.

Racecourse Association chief executive David Armstrong has confirmed representations will be made to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport for at least one race meeting – possibly even the Randox Grand National on April 10 – to test the return of race-goers before the potential resumption of limited crowds on May 17.

In line with the road map of dates for easing measures published by the Government, officials at the British Horseracing Authority and RCA are planning for the return of owners on course from March 29.

Racing will also ask Government if courses can be designated as ‘stadia’ – in which case, attendance from May 17 could increase from a limit of 4,000 to 10,000, before the proposed end to all restrictions at step four of the road map on June 21.

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Armstrong told Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday: "I'd hope that events like Chester’s May Festival would be very high on the list of potential pilot events.

“The number of events that racing might get, or sport in total, would be relatively limited.

“I would be hopeful we’d get certainly one event to trial – we might struggle to get more than that.”

Spectators may yet be a possibility at the Randox Grand National but are a "long shot".

Armstrong said: “During April and into early May, a new organisation has been set up called the Events Research Programme – and that’s going to be running a series of pilot or test events.

“That will allow us to potentially take part and host a pilot event on one or more racecourses in that period.

“I think it’s a possibility, but probably a long shot at this point (the prospect of a test crowd at Aintree).

“It’s only five weeks or so until we get to the Grand National, and that doesn’t leave a lot of time for preparation.

“But we’ll certainly be pushing hard for all our major events to be included in that ERP, and we would include the Grand National in that."