A WEEK is a long time in racing and since last Saturday the vibes are getting much more positive about horse racing kick starting again, albeit behind closed doors, within the month.

That will see a shortening of the season with the Classics and the many festivals cramped into about two-thirds of the normal season time, and maybe slightly less.

And that means that the national-hunt season will hit our racecourses straight after the November Handicap and may even overlap with the flat turf campaign.