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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.
He regularly does it, it just so happens one won today. Can only put it down to lack of preparation, homework and laziness. Obviously he’s allowed to get away with it so has no incentive to improve.
It was a poor commentary. I had backed Wrong Turn but it was quite obvious that he was calling the wrong horse. The caps were different and you could see the number cloths. I knew my fate early. Anyone who backs in running should not be doing it on the basis of the commentary but on what they see. Interesting that in the original call you could hear someone telling him it was Living Next Door. In the repeat of the race shown on ATR this morning he had obviously re-done his call as he was calling Living Next Door to the line although the racing replay has the original.
Just unbelievable that Scahill is still employed. How can anyone in their right mind think he’s doing a good job?
Mind, anyone betting on the basis of his commentaries needs their bumps felt.
Started a thread on this very subject three years ago. Three years since of woeful mistakes, commentaries-by-rote and his utterly disinterested tone. Total bed-blocker.
http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/horse-racing-forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=88788&p=413163&hilit=+des+scahill#p413163
Mike
I personally find Richard Hoils a very boring caller. He and Stewart Machin are two i just can not listen to.
I feel like we should make a mention to commentators who we’ll be listening to for many years to come, who’s best call is still ahead of them. Gareth Topham is one of the best race callers i have ever heard and if he found himself calling a big race in the near future, i would go out of my way to listen to it.
I quite like John Blance now as well as Gareth Topham, David Fitzgerald seems to have fallen off the radar a bit now and doesn’t seem to get many meetings now.
I think the newer callers add a bit of freshness and theatre as some of the older callers with their planned cliches and comments are getting a bit dull now.
Sport is all about passion and excitement and I like my commentators to reflect this. For that reason Simon Holt tops my ratings with Messrs Johnston and Hoiles behind. I would agree about the newbies and I always enjoy Malcolm Tomlinson’s commentaries as horses "blast home".
The negatives would be Hunt and Bartlett.
As for Dessie Scahill, well the sooner Gerry Hanlon gets promoted the better.
On the other hand I think Mark Slater and Martin Harris are so boring.
I have to disagree, Martin Harris is one of the best. He may have a slightly monotone style, but his commentaries are invariably clear and accurate and often his in race comments display the sharp wit he possesses.
Of course there is no definitive way to rank them, as commentators are subject to personal preference.
For the record my favourites are:
Martin Harris
Simon Holt
Richard Hoiles....and you've got to look a long way back for anything else.
There’s nobody quite like Mark Johnson to add some real excitement to a race, with his excellent and dramatic style, but Ian Bartlett can also often do the same, despite his tendency to sound sometimes like a cantankerous undertaker when he can’t be bothered to make the effort and in his less-than-enthusiastic exchanges with racing programme presenters just before the off.
Mind you, my old nemesis, Paul Ostermeyer, regularly used to criticise me bitterly for even daring to suggest that it would be nice if commentators actually went along with these pre-race handover chats. A commentator is there to commentate, not to help some clown of a presenter such as Matt Chapman with his banal chatter, he used to tell me.
Martin Harris might, incredibly, be a favourite with one or two people but, for others, he makes former Mogodon Man Sir Geoffrey Howe seem like the Personality of the Year.
Accurate though Harris may be, his minimalist style makes me want to get back to sleep.
Mark Slater is one of the lesser lights who can actually be worth a listen.
Pleased to see that not everybody thinks Richard Hoiles is great. It was pointed out a couple of years ago by a colleague on this forum that his delivery in sometimes conspiratorial tones is like that of Oliver Postgate, the voice of Noggin the Nog and Ivor the Engine. Every time I hear him, it reminds me of that comment.
I never could stand the over-rated John Hunt or Malcolm Tomlinson, with his fake Jim McGrath style of delivery, but I did quite like John Blance at Doncaster on Channel 4 recently. He seems to left his John Bland style behind him to a large extent and does seem to try to add a lot more flavour these days.
Gareth Topham is excellent, in the style of a budding Mark Johnson, and has justified the faith in him shown years ago by Graysonscolumn.
I used to like David Fitzgerald a lot for the sheer effort he puts in and, despite all the criticism Mike Cattermole gets, he is still excellent and entertaining to listen to, in my book.
You can’t beat Tommo for sheer enthusiasm but we’ve lost the last of the old school in Iain Mackenzie.
Just to prove I really am a glutton for punishment, I still like listening to Des Scahill (exactly the same commentaries in every race but with a different set of names) but, for me, Peter O’Hehir really is the pits. Richard Pugh is far better than Jerry Hanlon of the other Irish commentators.
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.
After admitting several years ago that he didn’t really enjoy the day to day commentating grind any more, I am surprised that he’s been allowed to keep going so long. Then again, though, I don’t know if the Irish equivalent of Racetech subjects its paid callers to the same level of performance-related scrutiny and review as in Britain.
Either way, Scahill’s continued gain is Jerry Hannon and Richard Pugh’s loss, as well as ours.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Gareth Topham is one of the best race callers i have ever heard and if he found himself calling a big race in the near future, i would go out of my way to listen to it.
You don’t fare too badly yourself, sir
Have you got the gig at Dalston Point-to-Point again this Easter?gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
I quite like John Blance now
Has improved plenty for practice, certainly; although a tendency still remains for calling too many horses "it" rather than sexing them. Not quite sold on the frequent use of "after that we’ve got…" yet either.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
On the other hand I think Mark Slater and Martin Harris are so boring.
I have to disagree, Martin Harris is one of the best. […] his commentaries are invariably clear and accurate and often his in race comments display the sharp wit he possesses.
THIS. Martin is sharp, in all senses of the word. I’ve always liked Mark Slater, too.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
It’s always a pleasant surprise when I watch the Irish Racing, and Richard Pugh is on duty……hopefully start to hear a lot more of him.
we’ve lost the last of the old school in Iain Mackenzie.
Still appearing at a Point-to-Point near you, and all of the magic is still there. His commentary on a 17-runner Duncombe Park Maiden last February, when a horsebox first stopped and then broke down in front of his commentary position, was vintage stuff.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
we’ve lost the last of the old school in Iain Mackenzie.
Still appearing at a Point-to-Point near you, and all of the magic is still there. His commentary on a 17-runner Duncombe Park Maiden last February, when a horsebox first stopped and then broke down in front of his commentary position, was vintage stuff.
gc
First hunter chase tomorrow and not the same without Iain Mackenzie calling them
Given I spend most days of my life listening to these guys as I earn my crust at Ladbrokes, I feel I’m well able to pass comment on their abilities (or otherwise which is of course personal opinion)
Simon Holt – top drawer, articulate, accurate and witty.
Richard Hoiles – dead heat with Simon for best on the circuit.
Gareth Topham – the natural successor to the top two, needs to lose a few cliches.
Malcolm Tomlinson – vastly under rated. Delighted to hear him at any time. Deserves bigger meetings.
Darren Owen – also under rated in my book. Capable of calling any meeting.
David Fitzgerald – started off brilliantly, seems to have stood still over last year or so.
Martin Harris – my personal favourite, could listen to him all day. Subtle, witty and extremely accurate.
Ian Bartlett – voice grates with me towards the end of races, bit shouty.
John Hunt – toned it down big time since the early days, much better caller now who can actually be a bit too laid back.
Stewart Machin – cliche city, too old school for modern day in my book (though not quite Jeremy Branfoot yet LOL)
Mark Slater – accurate without ever being a star. One for the Southwell and Wolverhamptons!!
John Blance – oh dear, he has improved, but is still so laboured in his delivery.
Alan Howes – clearly capable and deserves better opportunities. Suffers in that respect for being part of the SIS stable I think
Tony Ennis – accurate, but not as good as Howes in my opinion
Derek Thompson – unique is the best way to describe him, more likely to repeat the same facts and what racecourse he is at in every call than any other caller!!
Mark Johnson – I understand people like his style but wind it in a bit man, it’s a Hamilton seller with half of Linda Perratt’s stable running, not the Kentucky Derby!
Mike Cattermole – sorry Mike thanks for all you’ve done in the past but it’s time to move on. Too many errors.
Dessie Scahill – one decade too many! Cannot get himself motivated for the mundane stuff. Calling Hurricane Fly at Leopardstown still gets him going though.
Jerry Hannon – brilliantly accurate commentator, puts real enthusiasm into every call.
Peter O’Hehir – monotone is the best description.
Richard Pugh – why does he not get more gigs?? I’d give him and Hannon the bulk of the Irish cards.Hope I have not forgotten anybody, probably have, and no offence is meant. Just my opinions which I have quite enjoyed typing out!!
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