The deadly epidemic has swept through northern parts of Italy and there have been calls to prevent the disease reaching the shores of Ireland with the game set to take place on March 7.

Sportsmail's racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips for Friday's meetings at Ffos Las, Chelmsford City and Wolverhampton.

Sportsmail's racing expert Robin Goodfellow shares his tips for Friday's meetings at Southwell, Fakenham and Lingfield. 

It worked with Politologue in Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase and Paul Nicholls is hoping that saving Clan Des Obeaux for one big shot will pay off in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Considering Hong Kong borders mainland China, from where Covid-19 emanated, it might sound surprising that jockey Neil Callan feels he is currently 'in the safest place in the world'. 

Marquand dictated the pace aboard Addeybb, who was last seen finishing second to Magical in the Champion Stakes last October and is a seven times winner in Britain.

The British Horseracing Authority have stood down 80 per cent of its staff in an emergency financial plan to cut a third of its normal monthly budget. Over 200 out of 260 staff will be furloughed from work.

Leading rider Jamie Spencer is facing sometime out of the saddle following an accident on the Newmarket gallops on Friday. The 39-year-old Irishman was returning to the David Simcock stable.

SPECIAL REPORT BY MARCUS TOWNEND: There is concern that ramifications of the coronavirus shutdown will be felt for years, rather than months, in the racing community.

Taking a serious view on the ante-post Classic markets is often a perilous enough exercise as it is without the current uncertainty on whether racing may or may not resume in the short term.

Races will be restricted to 12 runners to comply with social distancing rules in plans to race behind closed doors next month. 

EXCLUSIVE BY MARCUS TOWNEND: A one-off new format to decide the 2020 champion Flat jockey is set to be drafted to take account of the pandemic disruption to the season.

Britain's best-known Flat jockey has thrown his weight behind the Frankie Dettori raffle with the winner getting to own a horse for a day ridden by the Italian wearing colours they have designed.

Gunners manager Unai Emery has just £45m to rebuild his squad this summer after his side missed out on Champions League qualification. ellegrini has a £27m buy-out clause in his deal.

The astonishing revelation about Gianfranco Zola has come from former Italian footballer Fabrizio Maiello, who turned to crime after seeing his career end abruptly due to injury.

Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini was enraged as his squad failed to produce any serious chances in the second half when it held a man advantage - until substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini scored.

With Serie A returning after the first international break of the season, plenty of football fans will be turning their attention to a compelling round of fixtures in Italy. 

The former Arsenal star, who joined the Old Lady on a free transfer this summer, says he has been welcomed into the Turin-based side by the five-time Ballon D'or winner.

Blaise Matuidi is reportedly set for a contract extension after playing an important role in a Juventus side which sits top of Serie A. The Frenchman has been with the club since August 2017.

Napoli's in-demand Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz has reportedly asked for Barcelona to be his next destination, as Europe's elite football clubs begin queuing up for his services.

Linney walked the red carpet in front of the traditional floral backdrop, which this year dons a rainbow-flag themed arrangement. It's a fitting tribute to 50 years since the Stonewall riots.

Jussie Smollett returned to social media for the first time since alleged hate crime attack to pay homage to Pride Month on Monday.

Selena Gomez dropped a back-and-white video recorded entirely on iPhone for her new self-love song Lose You To Love Me.

Selena Gomez surprised fans and dropped her second new song and video in two days called Look At Her Now.

Selena Gomez courted controversy with her Justin Bieber-inspired single Lose You To Love Me. After releasing a second single, she posted behind-the-scenes shots from her videos to Instagram.

Selena Gomez has re-followed Bella Hadid on Instagram, three months after the model split from The Weeknd for the second time. 

One PA blew Hadid's brunette bowl cut with leaf blower as another poured water on her from a silver pitcher. Her top hung off her shoulder, resulting in a nip slip, which she covered with a kiss emoji.

The sisters looked effortlessly stylish as they made their way home after taking part in a photoshoot on Tuesday.

Just weeks after revealing fans body shaming 'messed me up,' Selena Gomez looked confident and radiant on the American Music Awards red carpet.

This sighting comes just hours after ex-boyfriend The Weeknd released his breakup song Heartless which seems to be about the former equestrian.

It all comes after Hailey gave a candid interview with Vogue, in which she revealed she wished social media users wouldn't pit women against each other, seemingly referencing her feud with Selena Gomez.

The songbird, 27, was bundled up in head-to-toe black as she left her hotel in London. Selena braved the wintry weather in a double breasted black coat, ribbed jumpsuit, and Dr. Martens.

'I still struggle with confidence and you know, it's going to be something that I'm always working on. Rare made me feel incredible. That name was so important to me the moment I heard it.'

Selena Gomez revealed a new tattoo in her recent Rare video. The black ink features the date she got a kidney transplant in 2017 from her friend Francia Raisa in response to her Lupus diagnosis

His ex just dropped a new album which seems to drag him quite a bit, but that didn't stop him from smiling and busting a move in the parking lot outside his dance studio on Friday.

Though her sweatshirt indicated she'd rather be in the house, Selena was instead enjoying the sunshine alongside a gal pal. Selena appeared relaxed as she pedaled her way around.

Selena Gomez was nothing but smiles on set of her new music video on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The 27-year-old rocked a gold halter dress for the shoot.

Niall Horan has thrown cold water over rumours he's dating American singer, Selena Gomez.

She's coming off the release of a starkly confessional album that revealed much about her past relationship. But this weekend she looked carefree with her mom in Chicago.

Selena Gomez has insisted that having a boyfriend is 'nowhere near the top' of her priority list in light of the current global pandemic.

Eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice over the weekend that the 23-year-old was once again following the Rare beauty on Instagram.

One day after Bella Hadid, 23, refollowed her former love rival Selena Gomez, 27, on Instagram, the catwalk stunner has reversed that decision and unfollowed the Wolves songstress once again.

Jeremy Corbyn has refused to launch a vote of no confidence against Boris Johnson after Jo Swinson urged the Labour leader to join forces with her to bring down the government.

The Shadow Chancellor said he would be 'sending Jeremy Corbyn in a cab to Buckingham Palace', at an event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Boris Johnson laid down the gauntlet last night by demanding Jeremy Corbyn approves a poll on December 12, saying it is the only way to resolve the Brexit 'nightmare'.

Gideon Bull, who was standing in Clacton, said he was stepping down but insisted he had not directed the slur at anyone specifically when he made it in a council meeting.

Emily Thornberry was left scrabbling to defend Labour's commitment to spending billions renewing the Trident system given that Jeremy Corbyn has openly said he would never use it.

Labour's John McDonnell has accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of 'running scared' after he refused to take part in a one-on-one interview with the BBC's Andrew Neil.

In an interview with Tehran-backed channel Press TV - since banned from operating in the UK - he attacks the British broadcaster's coverage of issues in the Middle East.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was outraged when she saw pictures of Mr Corbyn with his arm around his Hartlepool candidate during a rally in Middlesbrough yesterday.