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Getting a little irritated by some of Francesca’s statements; the latest being that Shalaa retired to stud after his 2 year-old season. Cannot remember them all though another was Permian being Derby favourite after his Dante win… call me picky.
Did you catch her incessant fawning over Enable last week? Kept interrupting anyone saying anything other than how Enable is a sure-thing.
Was looking forward to tomorrow only to see the televised races
Only having a bet in the Arc.I had ITV Racing on today. It was not their best day’s coverage. Nobody would want a return to the joyless grey horror of Cunningham, ‘Jimbo’ and Luck but Weaver and Turner are too far the other way – just irritating how superficial and error-strewn their form analysis is.
ITV Racing is muddled. One moment they are fluently talking about sectionals and pedigrees, the next Francesca catches Weaver saying how some people are turned-off by horses wearing blinkers – then plays dumb and patronisingly gets him to spell it out for the audience in plain English. Feels like they don’t know who they’re aiming the show at sometimes. It annoys me as a ‘racing person’ and I expect the bipolar feel of it annoys the casual viewer too.
I like Francesca Cumani, who is perhaps ‘Nick Luck lite’ in her presenting style. None of his Alastair Down-esque verbal guff (good), a few more factual errors (not so good) but overall a better fit for the free-to-air racing gig. Oli Bell perhaps being underused in the roving reporter role – a bit demeaning to see a good presenter asking Derek Smith if Chelsea are going to win and having to swallow the Coolmore PR offensive whenever they have a winner. If they must have Hayley Turner on the team, I’d put her in that role and save Bell for the race previews. Against Weaver, Harvey and the rest (admittedly not strong competition), he’s probably the best form judge they have besides Chapman.
Is Brian Gleeson intentionally doing a Big Mac parody? The way he bellows the favorite’s odds after his betting summary feels like a bit of a tribute act. I like Matt Chapman in general (outstanding professional, incredible range of knowledge) but he does cheapen himself when on ITV. Along with the general muddled feel of their approach, Chapman’s madman act is jarring up against Cumani’s steady, measured style.
From my own perspective, it’s no big deal if I don’t like ITV’s coverage. I’m usually in the office with Coral TV or Racing UK on the big days. Still, I do worry that ITV Racing is not going to do it for younger people. Our sport isn’t going to overtake football, but you need it to have some sort of magic allure for the ‘weird kids’ (I was one!) to latch onto. That was me – I don’t come from a racing background at all and my parents hate all sport. Channel 4 Racing circa 1999 was what got me hooked. I think the main selling point for me was Simon Holt and the way he’d commentate as if telling a story full of lovable old characters. I could (and still can) watch any grade of racing without needing to bet – isn’t there just a simple pleasure in knowing the quirks of the horses and wondering what they’re going to do next? With that in mind, I suppose all is not lost. ITV have one of the two greatest commentators of all time (Holt 1st, Hoiles 2nd) and he does a superb job for a free-to-air audience.
Interesting comments regarding commentators. I would agree with Holt being the best around right now, but I’ve always loved listening to Stewart Machin.
Fran is looking hotter and hotter. I imagine that most of her fellow presenters are in love with her, and Hayley is staring daggers
AOB just interviewed about his Arc runners: “the lads will decide when they’re out there how to ride. It’s all about each individual horse, what suits each individial horse at the time”.
Oh pull the other one Aidan, it’s got bells on.AOB just interviewed about his Arc runners: “the lads will decide when they’re out there how to ride. It’s all about each individual horse, what suits each individial horse at the time”.
Oh pull the other one Aidan, it’s got bells on.As the old saying goes “ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer”
What else was he supposed to say?
As the old saying goes “ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer”
What else was he supposed to say?
Spot on, I never cease to be amazed at patience of Aidan and others when repeatedly asked the most inane questions.
Ryan Moore gives the interviewers the respect they deserve, I just wish more would follow his example.To be fair to Oli, he had to ask the question. He’d have known the answer but would have been damned if he did and damned if he didn’t ask.
Ed has never quite hit stride for my money. I don’t watch football so cannot compare his performance as a presenter of that sport. He always seems just slightly worried and concentrating more on what’s coming through his earpiece than on connecting warmly with viewers.
Conversely, Francesca continues to bloom and the camera is really becoming her friend – an indispensable benefit in that business. She and Oli clear of the others imo. Jason Weaver has become most accomplished at learning the intonations and at trying to make bland content sound interesting but he’s a one-trick pony in that, I think.
I like Luke. He’ll never be a star but he’s honest and reliable and thoroughly workmanlike. Knows his stuff and has acquired a few more of the broadcasting bells and whistles than JW has.
Still, for out and out professionalism, knowledge, and intelligent summing up under pressure, Nick Luck head and shoulders above everyone for my money. Might not have been right for ITV but the best in the business by some way.
Totally agree about Nick Luck ……..top class anchorman who knows his stuff and knows how to interview.
I’ve still got C4 ahead of ITV overall and the weak links in both productions remain obvious and I’m afraid,looks aside Francesca Cumani’s patent lack of passion is amongst them.Weaver is improving and isn’t a bad tipster but Hayley Turner is a write off.Chamberlin and Bell are passable but the Opening Show is as bad a programme as the Morning Line ever was.
Chapman needs an edit and clearly doesn’t respond to the universal criticism that he is inappropriate too much of the time.
Today’s studio based Arc coverage looked like an afterthought.Poor.Is it me or has Oli’s line of questioning become more daring these past few weeks? Not that it does any good as the interviewee just becomes more defensive in there answer such as AOB/JG yesterday. Not surprised JG went and sat on his lonesome yesterday after been interviewed by Oli. His son might have a learnt a few new words. I found it quite cringeworthy yesterday.
AOB just interviewed about his Arc runners: “the lads will decide when they’re out there how to ride. It’s all about each individual horse, what suits each individial horse at the time”.
Aye just as The Anvil was in the Leger
Luck, Machin, Neesom…they are among the elite few that are the very best. I watched my first racing since Cartmel on Whit Monday today, on RUK of course. Stewart and Jonathan at Stratford. Barely ten minutes in and this from JN: “There are lemmings with more sense than the punters backing…” (Bramble Brook, beaten 11/8F in the 2.30).
My annual sub is £300 per year. At less than a quid a day why is anyone on TRF bothering with ITV.
Indeed, RUK good value on the face of it but if I subscribed I’d get precisely zero work done!
Rachel Candelora absolutely owns Kempton. A tremendous addition to the RUK team. Hope she’ll get plenty of work beyond Sunbury from them.
Generally speaking, think ITV has been a decent watch and their doing a good job. Weaver standing side on to the camera with his left hand perma-buried in his trouser pocket has been strangely entertaining. I’m a fan of Chapman, but his output on ITV confirms to me he’s better working on his own a la Windsor, or running the show in a studio. Not the greatest team player.
It is all a matter of opinion but IMO Francasca is very good Jason Weaver is good Oli is okay Haley Turner is useless and Matt Chapman is entertaining. Luke Harvey is a buffoon and Ed is a waste of space!!
Oh and by the way some people may say this is sacrilege but Simon Holt and Richard Hoiles are different gear to anybody else and Peter O’sullevan was awful and often missed horses that were prominent or even in front from his commentary!! IMO he was the most over rated commentator ever!!
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