IT is good to be back, and back with a bang at that. The first week of action after resumption in Britain included two classics and a plethora of group and listed races, while Irish racing has followed suit on a one-week delay.

Those two classics were, of course, the QIPCO-backed 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket at the weekend, and they provided both thrilling action and ample opportunity to dissect performances from timing and other perspectives.