IN the build-up to the big races of the season, it’s common to look back at great ones of old. To give you a bit of nostalgia, back to when we believed everything we saw on TV (!), here is a re-run of the 2023 Great RTÉ Grand National Sweepstake, with apologies to the original commentator.

The favourite lines up at the front – Licence Fee will take a lot of beating. Social Influencer may not have the experience to handle this course, Soho House looks well but was an expensive purchase for new owners, Concert Ticket needs to repay his hefty sales tag. And Toy Show Musical has cost connections a pretty penny too so far. Will Marty Party stay?

And they are off ….We pick them up on the second circuit…

“Heading to the fence after Becher’s, and the leader is Director General with Consultancy Fees along the inside …and…Director General has been hampered, so has Public Money, Flip Flop has fallen, Barter Account has fallen, Renault has fallen, Slush Fund has fallen…..… there’s a right pile up… NK Management has climbed over the fence and left his jockey there….

“With all this mayhem, Saint Roi-yan has gone off on his own. He’s about 50…100 yards in front of everything else.

“They’re all pulling up, having a look to see what’s happening at the fence. Barter Account is jumping over it…Accountability is climbing over it….

“The mess is almost over now. They’re coming to Valentine’s, and when I say ‘they’re coming’ I mean it’s Saint Roi-yan who’s coming.”

To be continued….