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I didn’t really see that the makeover made any difference at all. That awful graphic thing is like something from 1980’s Bond movies. Seriously who thinks of this stuff?
And if I was going to get rid of anyone it would be the awful Jim McGrath. Oh, and Persad, and Plunkett, and who the hell let Emma Spencer near the jumping game
.This could be such a good show if they focused on the basics. I listen to Cheltenham Radio and the discussions on there with the likes of Lydia Hislop and Rory Delargy are great – proper opinions
Throw in Matt Chapman and you could have a show that might even bring some younger viewers on board.
People in television these days don’t understand anything beyond packaging. TV is now made by morons who grew up on TV. It’s all about packaging, it’s why everything is over-produced and drained of character. Why did they get rid of A. Down and McCririck? Because they don’t know the value of characters, even when they are scrambling to hire Clare Balding, who is a character herself. I liked the way Mac used to jeer at people in racing BECAUSE HE KNOWS IT’S FILLED WITH SHARP PRACTICE! I loved the way he called the colourless but ambitious Luck ‘Lord Snooty’ – I bet he ******* hated that.
The Beauty of the show before it changed production companies was that it it was unprofessional. Unprofessional in a sense that no one took anyone seriously and they seemed all like mates and the camera was not there
I’d be delighted to have the Fat Owl back! Cheltenham wouldn’t be the same without his witty beautifully crafted essays. The current presenting team with the exception of Nick and Clare lack enthusiasm, personality and wit. They look like rabbits in the headlights, so desperately trying to make a good impression.
I don’t bet so I watch the racing for pure entertainment value, so the presenters make a big difference to my viewing pleasure.if they’re trying to attract the everyday folk of this country to enjoy racing, they’ve gone the wrong way about it.That sounds good, his "essays" are good – his tribute to NH racing in the final "old" C4 racing was sublime.
Sorry, I can’t agree Paul.
I find his writing rather cliquey and self-important; racing’s for Ally and his chums don’t you know?
Like McCririck he’s become something of a ‘turn’. A clunkingly florid voice over at the end of the day’s racing – y’know: all poetic like, same as last year – coupled with fawning interviews of the great and good of racing.
Mike
Agree with this I’m afraid.Clunkingly florid is a brilliantly accurate description.
alistair down is going to be back on channel four by all accounts, in a presumably knee-jerk reaction to their declining viewing figures since the "make-over"
now i’d ditch mick fitz who tediously just tips up favourites- maybe go out of their way to make a big signing- tom segal perhaps?
Fitzy should be out and about – he’s not a studio presenter.
I still think the Ipad / Sky Sports style table is ridiculous. It’s awkward and hi-tec is not always slick tv or audience friendly
Very pleased that Al is back in some capacity
The emotions gone. As soon as the race is over, there’s a long pause…..then you get GC or MF in monotone…."let’s look back at the third last……". Where’s the pleasure in a fantastic finish or an emotional win? Gone. Sums up the whole show.
Definitely not better than before ……lacking personalities and humour and there is virtually nobody involved at the moment who wouldn’t be missed if they disappeared with the exception of Claire ( who needs to be presenting more often).
Tanya and Emma are particularly bad and the lack of chemistry between Cunningham,McGrath and Fitzgerald whenever they work together is the main problem.
They’ve had bedding in time and Cheltenham will be a huge test.
I’m with betlarge and others here. Good description and I find him a bit of a windbag frankly.
Cunningham/Fitzgerald combination didn’t seem to work yesterday. In fact I got the impression GC would love to have taken Fitz to task on some of his comments. There was one point when he painted MF into a corner and could have had him but you could see he knew he couldn’t go through with it.
I like them both. Different viewpoints and both have points of interest. But didn’t really work together. I think GC is good but maybe, for a non- racing specialist programme he has too much air-time. I don’t think the ch 4 viewer necessarily wants the same sort of analytical approach you might get on RUK.Chapman’s ommission was a mistake IMO. He’s the most naturally entertaining of the lot
I wonder who Down will have "toiling in (INSERT JOLLY)’s magnificent wake".
I’m with Betlarge – bore off Down.
I find his writing rather cliquey and self-important; racing’s for Ally and his chums don’t you know?
Like McCririck he’s become something of a ‘turn’. A clunkingly florid voice over at the end of the day’s racing – y’know: all poetic like, same as last year – coupled with fawning interviews of the great and good of racing.
I must confess this is all true, even though I admire Alastair Down as a wordsmith.
I suppose he has got a bit self-indulgent, especially in his "colour piece" features in which he started putting on silly voices to accompany racecourse characters featured in the pictures. A bit like Johnny Morris did on Animal Magic all those years ago.
I used to listen out for phrases such as "drifting like a barge", "drifting like the Kon-Tiki" and "the biggest disaster since the retreat from Moscow".
Still well worth having him back in the fold though…
It’ll bring some much needed warmth and heart to the current colourless presentation.
I don’t want to see ‘Posh Alistair’ again wowing us with how clever he is but really giving nothing.
Great to see him dumped in the re-vamp and i would also like to see Jim, ‘Mr.Timeform Mcgrath’ put back into his place, he clearly revels in the fact he knows his history but offers viewers nothing but condesention.
Each of us to our own opinion but i just dont like the ‘I am the one’ attitude’. – rant over.
Denis Regan for a good Cheltenham, free tip with no poncy attitude, i rest my rant.Alastair Down did a good job narrating the Channel 4 special on jump jockeys Barry Geraghty and Ruby Walsh today.
Augurs well for the Cheltenham Festival. Did it straight and with not a mention of anything "drifting like a barge" or "the retreat from Moscow" to be heard. Betlarge may be suitably reassured (or not).
A bit scary to see footage of Matt Chapman in the booth on At The Races" being included.
David Cormack will doubtless approve but Ricky Lake will no doubt see it as an alarming spread of "dross from the bookie channel" contaminating Channel 4!
He is on the ATR Sunday Forum tomorrow. Don’t watch every week but haven’t seen him on that before.
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