AND they’re off in the 2018 Grand National… and it’s Chamberlin setting the pace with Walsh and McCoy up there in contention. Fitzgerald is prominent... Cumani races alongside Plunkett near the front rank. Bell is stalking them... Chapman up there in the next group with Harvey moving alongside and with Scott joining in.

Gleeson comes in the next group… Blake and Kennedy are out the back...

And now they’re really off! It’s Hoiles taking them over the first, Johnson takes it up… Bartlett is ready to challenge…

It took 16 presenters and commentators to cover the Grand National on ITV.

You wonder was there just too much presentation, though to be fair to the team, it all slotted seamlessly together. Presenters, ex-professionals, paddock interviewers, social media – it seems everything has to be covered these days by someone with a microphone.

ITV didn’t match Channel 4 figures, but it’s certainly a more lively production. Everyone has their preferences – some lament the loss of the BBC coverage and can recall iconic broadcasting moments.

Presenters close to the paddock, the walks alongside the horses were excellent. We had time for a few features but you do fear they are try to put too much into it – something’s got to give. It might have been nice to hear more pre-race from down the connections.

The thing was that the things you remember needed no additions from a presenter, just have the camera and microphone in the right place. Davy Russell’s words, Gordon Elliott’s reaction to the win, David Mullins’ reaction to the loss.

The pictures told the story, there was little need for embellishments or summaries.