THE tourism initiative launched yesterday seems impressive but it might be even more so if it had a budget. Despite that minor detail, a programme based on 5,000 years of history has, according to Fáilte Ireland, the potential to increase visitor numbers to the East of Ireland by 20% and tourism revenues by nearly €1bn by 2020.

A new tourism route through the Boyne Valley has been launched to draw “culturally curious” visitors into the area.

Everyone will be relieved that I have a bit more to talk about this week, although not in terms of runners for the weekend.

You would have to call it a pretty good week with three winners before racing at Downpatrick last night.