Betting news and tips: Trackman is back with the latest paddock talk as he reflects on the last week in racing

STUMPS have finally been drawn.

Racing in Ireland was halted on Tuesday and won’t resume until April 19 at the earliest.

Mind you, they did manage to run the first day of the turf Flat season at Naas before shutting up shop.

Sharp as a tack trainer Kieran Cotter capitalised on the opportunity and landed a tickle with Woodford General (5-1 to 7-2).

This fella passed the post far enough in front to meet Boris’s ‘social distancing’ order and will pinch a big pot on soft ground.

Aidan O’Brien spent most of the day pummelling the crossbar and wouldn’t have been a happy bunny after Sir Dragonet was a beaten odds-on favourite.

This rascal emptied a few wallets when he finished an unplaced jolly in the Derby last summer. He’s starting to look like a morning glory and is one to avoid.

Meanwhile, Tom Marquand is on fire down in Australia.

Top man Tom rode the locals to sleep when making-all on William Haggas’ Addeybb to nick a Group 1 at Rosehill the other day.

This kid is bright as a button and a real gent. You couldn’t find a better advert for our game.

And full marks to iron-man David Mullins for booting Zero Ten home in the feature at Thurles.

Young David had every reason to swerve the track after he made a right mess of his back in a horror fall there last October.

Betting shops are shut until further notice. But it was good to hear that Bet365 are looking after their employees.

They have agreed to pay their workforce for at least the next five months and guarantee there will be no job losses during that period.

Mind you, the Stoke-based firm aren’t exactly short of a few bob. They recently announced an operating profit of £767 million.

Lambourn trainer William Muir has always been president of the `glass half full’ society. And he’s desperate for Flat racing to resume ASAP.

You see, William is convinced stable star Pyledriver will win the Irish 2000 Guineas. Stranger things have happened.

Meanwhile, Hugo Palmer has caught the mood of the times by naming one of his two-year-old’s Lockdown.

Perky Palmer says this young flyer has been doing everything right at home and will be ready to rock ’n roll when our show finally gets back on the road.

Now that’s a name none of us will forget in a hurry.