The 22-1 chance edged out stablemate Al Ozzdi, the mount of champion all-weather jockey Ben Curtis after the pair pulled clear of the rest of the field.

Zodiakos, trained by Roger Fell and ridden by Jimmy Sullivan, creates history as British horse racing's first winner for 76 days as racing resumed at Newcastle.

Jockey PJ McDonald, who is among those riding at Newcastle, tells Sky Sports Racing: "It's great to be back. I was expecting things to be more awkward, but they have made things very easy for the jockeys.

It has been a long road getting here. It was all about getting the simple things right but a lot of work has been done by everyone. Hopefully we can keep going forward

"This is what we live for and what we want to do. Everyone is excited."

After a trip around an eerily empty parade ring, the horses for the opening race at Newcastle are on their way to the start for the race, which is run over a straight mile.

Monday's opening race at 13:00 BST is the appropriately named Welcome Back British Racing Handicap.

As with all of the races on the 10-race card, there are 12 runners.

All of the runners have previous racecourse experience and the favourite is Stone Mason, trained by Mick Appleby and ridden by Alistair Rawlinson.

Image source, Reuters

It is 76 days since Taunton and Wetherby both hosted horse racing meetings before the country's lockdown hit.

Here's a reminder of what to expect from the meeting at Newcastle.

• The first race is scheduled for 13:00 BST, with the last due off at 18:15.
• All contests are limited to 12 starters so a maximum of 120 runners will line up at Gosforth Park.
• Strict hygiene and social distancing protocols will be in place with face coverings required by certain groups including jockeys and stalls handlers.
• Those attending will have to complete a three-stage screening process, including medical checks before departure and on arrival.

Image source, PA Media

Martin Cruddace, the chief executive of Arena Racing Company, which owns Newcastle racecourse, believes racing could see fewer fixtures and extended cards as a result of the impact of coronavirus.

He said: "I think that [the fixture list] is completely dependent on coming out of this year with sufficient confidence of the owners who maintain the horse population to support those fixtures.

"I think what we might actually see, to give an example, is less fixtures but cards with more races. The reason that's important, it's basically simple economics - you have the fixed and variable costs of a race meeting and the additional three or four races today, the incremental cost of that is a fraction of what it would be if you had, for instance, two meetings of six races."

Image source, PA Media

And once Nick Robson got through the entrance, he shows some of the changes to the sport.

PA Racing journalist Nick Robson is the other writer who is permitted to enter Newcastle Racecourse for British racing's return and has had to observe the strict protocols.

Aside from rights holders Sky Sports’ live coverage only two writers will bear witness to the proceedings, the Press Association's Nick Robson and the Racing Post’s David Carr.

Carr told the BBC earlier: "It’s bliss to be here. I was at Wetherby when racing shutdown, a very gloomy day. A lot of us were thinking when will we be back? June 1st is not a bad result.

“The great thing about racing is all the horses are rock hard fit, they’ve not been sat in their stable blocks for the past two months watching Joe Wicks videos.”

Image source, Getty

Kieran Fox
BBC Sportsnews

It’s eerily quiet as the sun blazes down on Newcastle Racecourse.

There’s a record number of entries for this oversubscribed meet, the first since racing was stopped in mid-March, as trainers are desperate to give their horses a runout.

The champion jockey Oisin Murphy is here. Britain’s most successful trainer Mark Johnston has horses going.

Yet the car park at the all-weather track is empty. That’s because race goers, owners, bookies, the BHA chief executive, and the media are being kept out, behind a ring of temporary wire fencing that encircles the racecourse.

Image source, BBC Sport

Amateur jockey Gemma Tutty, who rides Ideal Destiny, trained by her mother Karen, in the opening race at Newcastle, wears a mask as she arrives at the Gosforth Park track.

Image source, Getty Images

Martin Cruddace, chief executive of Arena Racing Company, admits to feeling the nerves ahead of the Newcastle meeting.

"I only got two hours sleep last night," he admits, "There is a pressure, but also I think it is a real privilege to be in a position to be the first sport back and we are acutely aware the eyes of the sporting public and other sports and the industry will be on us.

"Against that, we have planned meticulously and also the team at Newcastle I think are one of the best operational teams in the business.

"This is a pressure, but I don't want to be anywhere else - everyone working here said they don't want to be anywhere else."

Image source, Getty Images

Before horse racing and snooker get underway later, greyhound racing became the first competitive sport to return in England since lockdown with Im Sophie winning the opener at Perry Barr.

The 6-1 shot got the better of Peachstreet Jack and Dungarvan Hobo in the first race of a busy opening day back with 12 meetings on the calendar.

The British Horseracing Authority has proposed a total of 18 meetings on the Flat in the first eight days of action.

The first classic of the season, the 2,000 Guineas will take place next Saturday at Newmarket, followed by the 1,000 Guineas the following day at the same venue.

Royal Ascot, which will also be staged without crowds, will start on 16 June.

Jumps racing is due to return on 1 July.

Image source, Getty Images

As we have mentioned, horse racing will be returning later on Monday behind closed doors at Newcastle's all-weather track. Here is what you can expect for the first meeting since the sport was suspended on 17 March.

• The first race is scheduled for 13:00 BST, with the last due off at 18:15.
• All contests are limited to 12 starters so a maximum of 120 runners will line up at Gosforth Park.
• Strict hygiene and social distancing protocols will be in place with face coverings required by certain groups including jockeys and stalls handlers.
• Those attending will have to complete a three-stage screening process, including medical checks before departure and on arrival.

Image source, Getty

Champion flat jockey Oisin Murphy spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about horse racing's return, saying:

"I genuinely believe we can do this in a safe way and a way that the public and the people of Britain can be proud of.”

“I think physically jockeys are very close to 100% but the mental side is a little bit different, that instinct, everything at a high level needs to be on split second decisions.

"That mental sharpness will only come with some practice. In a couple of weeks' time I think we’ll be at our very best."

Image source, Getty Images

The Championship season is set to resume on 20 June, more than three months after it was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The EFL said the date was "provisional" and "subject to the strict proviso that all safety requirements and government guidance is met".

There are 108 matches remaining, plus the play-off semi-finals and final.

No Championship fixtures have been played since 8 March, with the campaign suspended five days later.

Read more here.

Image source, Rex Features

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Formula 1 has been given the go-ahead by the UK government to hold two races at Silverstone this summer, BBC Sport has been told.

F1 sources say people involved in elite sports events will be exempt from a requirement on international travellers to self-isolate for 14 days.

Sports will be required to submit and win approval for a detailed plan of their movements and activities.

The government is expected to confirm the move later this month.

Image source, Getty Images