FOR the first few years of Longines Irish Champions Weekend, Johnny Murtagh was only in attendance because he was invited in for a free lunch.

“It was fair depressing,” said Murtagh speaking to press on a Zoom call organised by Horse Racing Ireland this week. “I remember having a few friends that aren’t into racing there one year and I was trying to explain to them what an ordeal LICW is – the All Ireland Final, the FA Cup.