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….I used to be a massive fan of Peter O’Sullevan, and could bore you to death on memorable (to me at least) lines he had come out with at the key stages of big races.
Tbh, I never really thought we would see (or rather hear) his like again in that respect, but since falling back in love with the game in recent years I have to say I think we really do have some fab commentators around nowadays.
I think Simon Holt is simply brilliant, and would select this year’s Derby commentary as a particularly superb piece of work, especially his ”day of destiny” line about Australia at the end.
I am also a big fan of Richard Hoiles, and would select his superb – and contemporary – ”and Denman’s got Kauto Star at it!” line from the Gold Cup as particularly memorable.
And finally, a big up to Ian Bartlett, whose finest hour for me was his 2011 2,000 Guineas commentary where his exclamation ”and at the bushes Frankel is 15 lengths clear!” was the perfect aural backdrop to complement perhaps the most spectacular thing I have ever seen in my years following racing – namely a horse basically bolting from the gate, leaving his own pacemaker for dead and yet being so ”great” (an overused word but NOT in this case) that, despite going far too fast early on, he STILL ended up winning the shortest colts’s by a wide margin.
Just thought I’d share, or ”just saying” to keep it 2014.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Dessie added something to the big race in Ireland today. Absolute chaos as he called the wrong winner
At the risk of sounding like an ignoramus but I will say it anyway, Bartlett in Frankel’s guineas!!!?? he miscalled the horse as being 15 lengths clear when he was no more than 6/7 then ended up backtracking at the end of the mile because he couldnt build up the reality of what he saw any further as the opposition had been put away by a mere 4/5.
I do enjoy his very english commentary of the french racing however
At the risk of sounding like an ignoramus but I will say it anyway, Bartlett in Frankel’s guineas!!!?? he miscalled the horse as being 15 lengths clear when he was no more than 6/7 then ended up backtracking at the end of the mile because he couldnt build up the reality of what he saw any further as the opposition had been put away by a mere 4/5.
I do enjoy his very english commentary of the french racing however
That is not meant as condescending as it sounds!
Richard Hoiles does a lovely, almost sing along commentary and is a pleasure to listen to. Pity I missed Des in Ireland today. Surely he wasn’t nodding off during the race
I agree with Matrix and find that Barty is quite often unmoved by excellent performances and oblivious to significant events.
Simon Holt is the best at narrating rather than commentating. He knows every horse so well and has the talent to make 3 runner races or selling hurdles exciting with the way he builds his stories.
Des gets a lot of stick but would you prefer him to get excited when nothing is happening a la Mark Johnston? Id sooner Des any day of the week, I personally watch alot of racing with the volume off because commentary is completely innacurate..
For race replays I will always make sure to have the volume on incase the commentator is calling some non event in the race as significant (”jumping error” / ”hard off the bridle” comments when not true) as it is potentially an insight into ”why” a horse may be called incorrectly in the market the next day
At the time I too wondered if Frankel ever really did go as much as 15 lengths clear.
However, watching replays, at the time Bartlett said it I was able to identify a mark Frankel passed and timed the pursuers at bang on three seconds arriving at it – 15 lengths.
I think he was right and, even if others can prove he exaggerated by a few lengths, I thought it was a fab commentary.
Each to their own.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"At the time I too wondered if Frankel ever really did go as much as 15 lengths clear.
However, watching replays, at the time Bartlett said it I was able to identify a mark Frankel passed and timed the pursuers at bang on three seconds arriving at it – 15 lengths.
I think he was right and, even if others can prove he exaggerated by a few lengths, I thought it was a fab commentary.
Each to their own.
If he called it at exactly 15 lengths while doing a live commentary and having no sectional data we are aware of I think we are not giving him the credit he deserves, he will be a shoe in if he go’s for Britains got talent
Dessie added something to the big race in Ireland today. Absolute chaos as he called the wrong winner
I’m amazed Dessie hasn’t got more criticism for his howler today. I think he’s an awful commentator and his speech is often so dull I’m amazed he hasn’t suffered the same fate as Aussie Jim McGrath and got the boot.
Simon Holt and Richard Hoiles remain my two favourites for bringing some atmosphere to races. On the other hand I think Mark Slater and Martin Harris are so boring.
What happened Ireland today ?
Called Living Next Door, today’s Paddy Power Chase, Wrong Turn for the whole race. Wrong Turn ran for the same connections and was pulled up.
Des has been past his sell-by date for a while imho – sadly, as he has done some great commentaries. After admitting several years ago that he didn’t really enjoy the day to day commentating grind any more, I was surprised that he’s kept going so long.
I had a quick look on Betfair after the Leopardstwon race and several thousand was matched at 1.3 or there abouts.
I know its easy to slate people who make an in running punting decision based upon a commentary but in this instance it does seem very harsh on in running punters.
We all make mistakes but this one is extreme. In his defence the change of cap was ridiculous – white versus white with yellow spots. What were the Irish stewards thinking?
Personally I believe the in running markets on this race should be voided – or at least those which traded on the two Breslin owned horses.
What happened Ireland today ?
Called Living Next Door, today’s Paddy Power Chase, Wrong Turn for the whole race. Wrong Turn ran for the same connections and was pulled up.
Oh dear. In running carnage I would think.
Holt and Hoiles the top boys in this. I would add my own quote to the OP,s, has always stuck in my head. During the Tingle Creek contested by the ‘Holy Trinity’, Holt cried after they turned in, and Geraghty had a LONG look, "Moscow Flyer’s got them on the stretch!".
I sometimes feel Holt is desperate to put a preconceived sound bite in, "and it’s Gorgeous George" in George Washingtons Guineas was particularly cringey. For that reason I prefer Hoiles.
I don’t like Bartlett too much, he reminds me of a fusion of Melchitt from Blackadder goes forth and the commentator from Harry Enfields old-school football sketches.
Call the military – my thread has been hijacked!
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care""Faugheen The Machine" got an airing in the Christmas Hurdle from the commentator.
I don’t know if that one will stick as the horse’s handle from now on or not.
For me it will be a case of The New One being eclipsed by "The True One" at Cheltenham in March.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
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