Let us savour the French fare and ensure our own resumption is not put at risk

Et, voila!

They clearly know how much we have craved the feast being served this happy Monday. In Paris there will be some still enjoying their morning croissant and coffee when the Prix de Saint-Georges field leaves the stalls. It is, however, not only a Group 3 sprint that is due to begin at 9.55am our time. It is also when the European Flat season truly begins.

By now we should have had the Guineas at Newmarket and Longchamp. In normal circumstances the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Pouliches would have been run on Sunday. Instead, one day after they were supposed to be decided, Longchamp will play host to their two principal trials, the Prix de Fontainebleau and Prix de la Grotte. In a different reality the 2020 Cammidge Trophy would have been six weeks in the past. Unless there is a sudden public clamour it will not get resurrected.