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I thought Darren Owen and Ian Bartlett were fine as usual, they are both very competant commentators. Jim McGrath is very poor though, he should retire before his former glories are totally forgotten. Can’t understand why John Hunt is on BBC radio when he would be perfect for the national, a race which is watched by a far larger audience than racing would normally get.
Maybe it’s because I grew up listening to them, but O’Sullevan, Hanmer and Wilson would always be my National team of choice.
The HD broadcast was stunning, I’d willingly pay for ATR HD or RUK HD. It’s so much easier to pick out the horses, their cloth numbers, the mistakes. Not too keen on some of the camera angles but maybe I’m just so used to the old ones. I still haven’t got used to the different camera angles at Fontwell or Kelso and they’ve been changed for ages.
Rich_ie – they are building a new grandstand at Fontwell Park hence the different camera angles as they are now in the infield rather than above the stands and then past the winning post. Hopefully back to normal for the new season when it is all completed in August!!
Thought Jim excelled himself on the bit after the 12th I think – usually a good opportunity to establish the order – he decides to give us a potted cv of Sam TD as though there was a field of about 5 for the race
rich…..you’re right to have a pop at the Camera Angles, i’m glad that it would appear I’m not the only one who feels the same. It is important to people. Not one of the new angles improve the coverage of the race.
A new camera angle was tried at Bechers during the 70’s, and after a few years, they binned it, because it was totally missing the action. Who makes these decisions? I believe that to the vast majority, it doesn’t really matter, but to a good few it really does. Think about it this way, how many viewers/racing fans have, over the years, wanted the camera angle moved at Bechers, elsewhere so that they can miss the action. NOT ONE. I don’t want to see arty producers messing with it, I just want to see the race. My final (surely) thought on the camera angle issue. Would they show the FA Cup Final with a camera posted by the Corner Flag. Of course they wouldn’t, it would be daft!
After a horror show by McGrath on Thu/Fri, I thought he was passable on Sat, although surely he’s skating on thin ice now! I honestly think he’ll struggle to recover after this week! I’ve already said that I’ve missed Hamner and Wilson, but that said, both Bartlett, and Owen, were very, very good, and to be fair to them, they have been for the last few years.
Of the rest, I wouldn’t get too worried about Lizzie Hughes. She’s just the latest flavour of the month! Clearly a friend of someone in high places at the BBC, or her agents working overtime! Expect to see her involved in a lot more sporting shows before she disappears on to Mainstream shows in a couple of years. There was no point to her being there, as is the case with her role on The Football League Show! It’s not her fault, it’s just the way it works!
Thanks for letting me know that Craig. I’m in Ireland so don’t get to many English courses, but loved Fontwell when I went there.
It reminds me a bit of Kilbeggan, not for the layout of the track obviously, but for the type of race and the racegoer it attracts. A nice place to spend a summer evening racing.
I thought the commentary team was generally poor for the National this year. Jim McGrath should be retired to stud. I’m afraid he is past it now. I am glad he didn’t say "pozzie" though. How I hate that. During the Pendle’s Cross race he said that the eventual winner was starting to be be niggled along. The jockey was statuesque on him. It sounds as though he has a list of phrases and expressions in front of him that he feels obliged to shoehorn into commentaries.
Bartlett is awful, I feel sleepy whenever he starts droning on. He missed the fall of last year’s winner for heaven’s sake. He called it a fence later.
Claire Balding??? I am convinced she is going to start with the phrase, now boys and girls … She would be better employed on CBBC. Adults are watching Claire. Please treat them as such. I guess some might say it’s because she is trying to make racing more accessible to those who don’t know much about it but frankly, she’s a female Thommo. Happy all the time and everything is always wonderful. Patronizing and condescending.
Wiltshire and Parrot. Someone shoot them. Wiltshire says nothing of interest and Parrot is just an amiable scouser who likes a punt, so therefore in the great tradition of dumbing down, he’s the BBC’s everyman.
Anyway, enjoyed the race and it was wonderful that AP won the race. I just felt sorry for him, after negotiating thirty fences he had to deal with the inane, vacuos Rishi, "So how does it feel?…
I’m afraid Jim McGrath always sounds dire to me, would have him in the GG class, could give him no finer honour.
Darren Owen has a problem that I have seen referred to elsewhere that he may not be able to do anything about – the sound of his voice, was he a dalek earlier in his career?
Barty did miss Mon Mome but was okay apart.Mention should be made of the 3 racecourse & RUK commentators, Hoiles, Johnson & Machin who were excellent all week. Quality commentators for a quality meeting which isn’t always the case.
Mention should be made of the 3 racecourse & RUK commentators, Hoiles, Johnson & Machin who were excellent all week. Quality commentators for a quality meeting which isn’t always the case.
Totally agree, great calls from three of the best race callers in Britain, just a shame Simon Holt wasn’t there also.
It was also great to hear loud and clear commentaries throughout every race, for once the dicibel levels were just right.
Sorry; can’t have critiscism of Clare Balding. The most professional person on the box imo.
I don’t think Allis likes the "new breed" he is surrounded by now.
Regards – Matron
Peter Allis is the best commentator on the Beeb full stop. He’s only behind Sid Waddell for me in current UK sport commentators.
And Claire Balding is just so incredibly BBC. Agree with the Blue Peter point.
Lee Mackenzie and Darren Owen did great jobs, some much needed enthusiasm injected into the broadcast.
Agree with the RUK callers being fantastic at not just doing the National but all the races at the meeting.
BBC should axe McGrath and make Ian Bartlett the main caller with Owen as Number Two and for the National get Martin Harris in as he is a good caller and very competent at what he does.
Darren Owen is ok because he is so enthusiastic. I’d keep him. Plus he gets bonus points for calling that girl jock on Forest Gunner the "galloping mother" a few years back
However – he failed to pick up a faller at the Canal Turn one of his big fences.McGrath – Needs to retire. Rambles on about nothing, throws in racing cliches and it is unforgiveable to not pick up a faller on your main fence (The chair). Last year I’m sure he failed to pick up Zabenz being the first horse to fall at the water for many many years.
Ian Bartlett – Awesome. Keeps it all together by picking up the fallers not noticed by McGrath and Owen. Showed how tough it can be though calling Cloudy Lane Cloudy Bay.
New camera angles. I really liked them – especially for HD. Really showed off the speed of the race, and somehow made the fences (especially the Chair and Bechers) look much bigger than they are these days. Good work! Better than RUK’s cameras anyway…for the time being.
I was unimpressed with the reviews of the races over the Grand National course, which seemed overly focused on the fallers, ignoring those that stood up and ran well. Hello Bud for instance was never out of the first four till after the last, but barely rated a mention.
I agree about Hello Bud. It was a dream of a ride for Sam, yet it hardly got a mention. I’d hve loved to have seen his and his family’s reactions after the race, because I’m sure they must have been thrilled, yet the focus was 100% on AP.
I have to say that the report from the betting ring by Gary Wiltshire and John Parrott was an absolute disgrace.
Every single horse was cut coming up to the off with NONE lengthened (overround of 155% was returned – highest in at least 10 years) and all the 2 lads could come up with was
"every horse is being backed"
JJM Sports – Peter Allis is the best commentator. Would be very interesting to hear him do a National commentary! I’d have Peter O’Sullivan, Michael O’Hehir and Richard Pitman in my National team
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
JJM Sports – Peter Allis is the best commentator. Would be very interesting to hear him do a National commentary! I’d have Peter O’Sullivan, Michael O’Hehir and Richard Pitman in my National team
That would be interesting, one is 92, the second dead and the third (to my knowledge) has never called a race in his life.
Craig
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