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Agreed Flash. Theres just something terribly irksome about Plunkett. It just puts me off watching the coverage. Lesley Graham is another pointless figure on the show.
I’d rather see more of Big Mac than less. Bundles of personality and synonymous with the channel 4 coverage. Tanya Stevenson has grown really well into her role and comes up with some decent long-priced tips too.
Jimi Hendrix once set fire to his guitar on stage. It was so popular, he ended up having to do it every time. Despite being the greatest guitarist ever (and please nobody say Eric Clapton to me or I may just die laughing) most of audience just wanted to see the burning of the guitar.
McCririck is no Hendrix but as I’ve found out more about the man, I’ve warmed to him. But I really do think it is time he dropped the sexist shtick and the gurning for camera, because no-one’s convinced that he’s some sort of man of the people. It’s so clearly an act and he’s so clearly a deeply insecure individual who feels that no-one would like/employ him if he was just himself. Yet he obviously is very knowledgeable and prepared to speak out on certain issues.
Too old to drop the props and gimmicks I suppose, but I look on his performances as a bit of a waste.
And yes Alice Plunkett irritates me too with her fawning over certain racing personalities. For me one of the charms of racing is that these are not superstars, they are relatively ordinary people you can get close to and have a chat with. Some of her stuff for the Cheltenham coverage was wetter than a damp fortnight in Grimsby.
I’m not getting into the debate about racing presenters, as we seem to have it about every other month and I know it’s only a matter of time before Matt Chapman, Thommo etc. get it in the neck again, but I do want to say that I’ll be sad the day Big Mac leaves the screens. For all that he opens his big mouth prior to engaging his brain far too often, his knowledge and experience of the betting ring is head and shoulders above any other C4 pundit. He is also better than anyone else at raising issues with the panel which resonate more with the ‘average’ racing fan (or at least those which they should be more aware of).
Big Mac is definitely a bit hit or miss, and even his biggest fans will admit that, but overall I think he does more good for the sports’ image than bad.
I hope it isn’t a reaction to the very heated argument he and Walsh had about the whip during the week.
Personally thats what my money would be on Princess. In my time of watching John he’s never looked as bitter and vehment about something, Thornton looked startled and I wouldn’t be suprised if he declines coming on the show again. After all, he had just won the supreme and champion hurdle and with his use of the wip was effectively being called a cheat. It was "cringy" to put it mildly, though that is part and parcel of what you get with John and personally I think his anaylisis of the papers and general humour will be sorely missed from when he’s not there.
I applaud Mac’s stance over the whip and some other issues. One thing I do like about the man is that he is not afraid to speak the truth and he doesn’t shy away from issues nor does he say simply what jockeys / trainers want him to say. He doesn’t pander to anyone and I admire that even if he does sometimes go over the top.
I honestly don’t think this decision has anything to do with last weeks incidents I suspect the decision has been in Andrew Thompson’s mind for a while.
Ted and Ruby Walsh were just as opinionated, Ruby in particular sometimes coming across as a bit arrogant but I respect them for having an opinion and voicing them even if it is on the back of their own involvment rather than recognising the bigger picture, racings image and the overall good of the sport together with the likely consequences and the perception of racing to the general public.
John Francome I like, he’s a nice guy, good personality, been there, done it, but my god he talks a load of absolute tripe a lot of the time.
I don’t have an opinion either way on the whip but you’d have to feel that in today’s climate, they won’t be around on the racecourse for much longer so Mac probably has a point in a way.
Wasnt it Plunkett who said those immortal words
"who cares what the punters think…" during one of her cocky yet fawning interviews
Shes vile
I believe she also tried to convince us that Ruby Walsh was a sex symbol during last year’s coverage.
I believe she also tried to convince us that Ruby Walsh was a sex symbol during last year’s coverage.
Thats typical of her she’s like a hormonal teenager. I used to act like that when I was 16. Grow up girl start acting like a mature adult.
Probably still got posters of Mark Owen on her bedroom wall.
Firstly i have to say that if this decision is against McCriricks will then i am appalled and shocked to say the least. He can come across as a w*nker at times but give the man his due he knows his stuff about racing and is genuinely very passionate about it! As one of the ‘younger generation’ of viewers i’d much much rather watch him and the other older members of the team than the likes of luck and emma spencer. That’s not to say they are bad at their jobs. I just think the older, more original presenters do it better. With his increased publicity – i would have thought that this was a benefit to horse racing. It does get horse racing in the spotlight…
It’s really quite surprising that they would want to cut back his hours, he’s like part and parcel of c4 racing. It wouldn’t be the same without him on it. Don’t think it’s the best move at the end of the day you know. Think he’ll regret it.
Firstly i have to say that if this decision is against McCriricks will then i am appalled and shocked to say the least. He can come across as a w*nker at times but give the man his due he knows his stuff about racing and is genuinely very passionate about it! As one of the ‘younger generation’ of viewers i’d much much rather watch him and the other older members of the team than the likes of luck and emma spencer. That’s not to say they are bad at their jobs. I just think the older, more original presenters do it better. With his increased publicity – i would have thought that this was a benefit to horse racing. It does get horse racing in the spotlight…
It’s really quite surprising that they would want to cut back his hours, he’s like part and parcel of c4 racing. It wouldn’t be the same without him on it. Don’t think it’s the best move at the end of the day you know. Think he’ll regret it.
It is against his will it was Andrew Thompson’s (C4 head of sport) decision. McCririck is said to be "bitterly unhappy" about it.
Wow that’s staggering. I wonder why?? I mean if you were director / producer of c4 racing would you really sideline mcCririck? I would have thought he was one of the presenters he’d actually want to keep. Beyond me how it works..
John Mc is a disgusting individual – his claims to be man of the people are completely contradicted by his sexist and pompous views
Regardless of what you think about the whip debate it is just plain rude to invite Choc onto the show and then call him a cheat after he’d just won the biggest race of his career – for that alone I would’ve fired him, it wasn’t good TV just cringeworthy and embarrassing for Choc (only the decency of Ted Walsh stepping in to deflect the debate from Choc saved him further embarrassment)
Mac is a failed bookmaker (bankrupt I believe) who has become a celebrity in the same way that TV allows the modern day freakshow to replace the old circus version
… on the whole though I don’t have a strong opinion about him!
John Mc is a disgusting individual – his claims to be man of the people are completely contradicted by his sexist and pompous views
Regardless of what you think about the whip debate it is just plain rude to invite Choc onto the show and then call him a cheat after he’d just won the biggest race of his career – for that alone I would’ve fired him, it wasn’t good TV just cringeworthy and embarrassing for Choc (only the decency of Ted Walsh stepping in to deflect the debate from Choc saved him further embarrassment)
Mac is a failed bookmaker (bankrupt I believe) who has become a celebrity in the same way that TV allows the modern day freakshow to replace the old circus version
… on the whole though I don’t have a strong opinion about him!
Mac is right simple as. The rules are in place Choc deliberately (like other jockeys) ignored them in order to win, you break the rules = you cheat.
Fair play to Mac for his honesty or do you want people to be two faced? Why should everyone treat an act of cheating as something not only to be permitted but also to a point to be praised?
If someone isn’t honest you can’t trust them, thats not the type of person I like and dishonesty should not be encouraged.
Perhaps someone might enlighten the debate then – what specifically is the rule on whip use?
By how much did Choc ‘cheat’?
It’s a pity they didn’t "retire" McCririck completely.
His unofficial position as the voice of racing has long been an embarrassment for the sport.
On a technical point, having a betting expert who refuses, or is unable, to use a pc to access what’s happening on the exchanges etc, is a complete waste of money.
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