The Tattersalls December Sale, with over 2,000 yearlings, foals and broodmares catalogued, has been cleared to go ahead as scheduled between November 23rd and December 3rd in Newmarket.

On Monday the sales company said it was "exploring all possible options" with regards to the sale following the British Government's imposition of increased social and business restrictions from this Thursday.

However, on Wednesday afternoon Tattersalls issued a statement which confirmed that the full December Sales would go ahead with the usual Covid-19 guidelines in place.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "We are delighted and relieved that we have received clarity on this crucial issue and it is clear that the ratified Government regulations will allow us to stage the full Tattersalls December Sale on the originally scheduled dates.

"This is a huge relief for the industry and we are enormously grateful that the 2020 bloodstock sales season in Britain can proceed and conclude as planned.

"The Tattersalls December Sale is an event of global significance within the bloodstock industry and the possibility of wholesale disruption was a deeply worrying prospect for all concerned.

“As we all know, staging bloodstock sales in 2020 has been challenging to say the least. To be able to hold the Tattersalls December Sales on the scheduled dates will be universally welcomed and applauded not only in Britain and Ireland, but by the wider bloodstock industry and we will continue to do our utmost to bring the testing 2020 Tattersalls sales season to as successful a conclusion as possible.”

Attendance at the December Sales will be restricted only to those professionally involved in the sale. Bids can be placed online and by telephone by those unable to attend.

The December Yearling Sale will take place Monday, November 23rd, followed by the four-day December Foal Sale (Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th). The sale will conclude with the four-day December Mares Sale which starts on Monday, November 30th.

MORE SALES & BLOODSTOCK NEWS IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND