Flawless Machin treats virtual action like the real thing

It was Peter O'Sullevan who called the finish of the first ever televised Grand National in 1960. It was Stewart Machin who, 57 years later, called the finish of the first ever Virtual Grand National and, like the Voice of Racing, he executed the rather unusual mission flawlessly.

Without the need for binoculars, or even the assistance of John Hanmer down by the third fence, Machin – who on Saturday commentated on the real Grand National finish from the grandstand – described Cause Of Cause's virtual victory, even spotting the virtual fallers as they parted company with their virtual jockeys on the virtual racecourse.

The history-making broadcaster said: "I know live is live, and this was recorded, but once I started the commentary I felt like I was doing a proper race, partly because the production team had done such a lot of the work on the graphics, which were very good indeed.

"I knew at the back of my mind that if I fluffed it we could do it again, but what you saw was all done in one take."

BBC still on right wavelength

This was the first Grand National broadcast by ITV but the race will always inextricably associated with the BBC, which even after losing the television contract in 2012 remains a vital part of the big-race coverage thanks to Radio 5 live.

Indeed, Saturday marked the corporation's 90th year broadcasting from Aintree, where 5 live's racing producer Gary Flintoff was understandably a proud man.

"Even though we don't have the TV rights anymore, we will reach 500 million people via 5 live and the World Service," said Flintoff.

"As a broadcaster we are still here after 90 years – it's really nice to be involved in that sort of legacy.

"We could have cut back and had only one commentator and done it from the television but we still have people at the Canal Turn, the far side and the near side of the course. As a national broadcaster, I think that's the way it should be."

Maggio setback rules out encore

Auroras Encore was part of the parade of former winners but his owners had hoped to be taking a more active part in the day.

"We had Maggio in the National but he tweaked a leg," said Douglas Pryde.

"He hasn't done a tendon and we hope he can go to Perth, otherwise he could be back here next year – he'll be 13 but he does not have many miles on the clock."

Message with a smile

Randox Health has taken every opportunity to promote preventative health measures with Sir Anthony McCoy but resorted to guerrilla marketing to push kits that can be used to diagnose sexually transmitted infections.

While warning of a growing health crisis on STIs which are acquired by one million people each day, according to the World Health Organisation, Randox showed it had a sense of humour too by accompanying its press release with a video of another detection method, by sniffer dog.

Many Clouds honoured

Aintree honoured 2015 Grand National winner Many Clouds on Saturday when a special plaque was unveiled in his honour at the track's hall of fame.

Many Clouds collapsed and died in January moments after beating Thistlecrack to win the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham. He suffered an internal bleed.

Owner Trevor Hemmings, trainer Oliver Sherwood, jockey Leighton Aspell and groom Chris 'CJ' Jerdin attended the ceremony.

Sherwood said: "It's a great honour and I will be coming back here every year to have a little drink with Many Clouds and everybody else."

Betting offer falls at the first

As the biggest betting race of the year, there are always some interesting specials surrounding the Grand National but bet365 could have been viewed as taking it a step too far with their 'first faller' market.

Other novelty bets, such as 'number of finishers' and 'all runners to negotiate first fence', have been staples in recent years, but to think punters could benefit from a specific horse's misfortune seems a little crass.