SLOWLY, things are beginning to return to normal, if running races, big and small, behind closed doors and with advanced hygiene measures can be described as “normal”. That has been the case in France since May 11th, though even then a late scare saw their version of the Guineas switched to Deauville from ParisLongchamp.

Round mile, as at ParisLongchamp, or straight mile, as at Deauville, makes little difference to Victor Ludorum, who won the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains on Monday with reasonable authority from the colt who had turned him over in his trial, The Summit.