WHAT a few days of world-class racing and breeding at the Irish Champions Festival in Leopardstown and the Curragh. Forget about carping over attendances and smaller than wished for fields for some of the two-year-old races. This was racing at its best, and I for one will celebrate some great victories.

The problem is where to start, and how do I fit so much in four pages; about half of what I would need to get everything covered. While focused to a large extent on what happened on this island, I have to include some notable wins at Doncaster and in France. There was no end of quality on view in the various winners’ circles, and so much juvenile talent. Let’s get down to business.