MAY 5th is a date that is etched in most diaries these days, the date on which the latest set of Covid-19 restrictions are set to expire. Indeed, it’s the only date left in lots of diaries.

Most other diary entries have been deleted or tip-exed out, swept away by the Covid-19 tsunami. Diaries that were chock-full of everything, important stuff, concerts and conferences and meetings and football training, were wiped clean. Wimbledon is off, the Dublin Horse Show is off, the Kaleidoscope Festival is off, the Simple Minds concert is off. Others, like the Rose of Tralee and Electric Picnic, will likely follow. And all sport. All racing.