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All this changing channels and presenters to attract new viewers is a load of cobblers anyway. The only way to attract more viewers is to get rid of the whip. I have watched closing stages of races with friends and family over the years and many turn away from the screen and say things like “how hard is he whipping that horse, I cant watch”. I try to explain why they use it and its ‘only encouragement and doesn’t hurt them” but they wont have it. That’s the crux of it, not the appeal of presenters. Personally I ain’t bothered either way if the whip stays or goes, but if it goes I expect more people will watch the sport.
Coverage from Cheltenham and Doncaster today was pretty terrible. Poor camera work, one camera not in focus and not in HD, too many interviews, no sight of the horses in the paddock, when they had plenty of time to show them. Just awful, I fast forwarded all Matt Chapman, so I don’t know just how bad he was today; I suspect very bad.
Think the Donny pictures were sourced from ATR hence lack of HD but I could be wrong.
Ruby Walsh was the guest on The Opening Show this morning and was plied with questions by Ollie Bell about the welfare of Douvan, Faugheen’s next run and which horses were going to run in what races at the Cheltenham Festival, he also asked would Yorkhill and Un De Sceaux take each other on and if so which would Ruby chose to ride? Ruby was loath to answer but Matt Chapman answered for him stating that Ruby would ensure that he would ride both Yorkhill and Un De Sceaux at Cheltenham so UDS should be aimed at the Ryanair. Ruby seemed happy to have been let off the hook and carried on giving vague answers to most of Ollie Bells questions while the rest were answered by his new Manager Matt Chapman
Ruby was finally asked for one outstanding runner at Cheltenham and was finding it difficult to name one out of the many Mullins contenders so once again MC supplied the answer ‘Footpad’ he shouted in desperation followed by a look that said ‘think what you like’ from Ruby….and so it continued and at the end of this in depth grilling we had learned precisely nothing.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...I very much doubt that Ruby knew the answers to the vast majority of Oli’s questions because I think Willie Mullins likes to leave it as late as possible to gauge horses’ exact well-being/form on the gallops before deciding which horses are going to the Festival, in which race each will run, and how strongly each is fancied.
That was exactly it GM, we all knew what Ruby’s response was going to be to those questions even Oli and the team, but they had to be asked… it was just that Matt Chapman wanted so much more and as it wasn’t happening he made it up as the interview progressed.
I always wait until the Festival to see where Mr. Mullins places his horses and back them on the day, you get a very low return but at least you do get a run.
JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Whilst Ruby certainly wouldn’t be keen on revealing too much of the Closutton thinking that particular ‘interview’ was not assisted by the fact that 3 of 4 of Oli Bill’s questions weren’t actually questions but instead vague statements proffered in the general direction of Walsh.
Oli Bell usually a lot tighter than that and I would be surprised if there wasn’t a post mortem afterwards.Walsh is brilliant and peerless in deconstructing race riding and analysis on neutral matters…on giving insight on Willie’s runners…not so much.
Viewer never given time to view horses in paddock, that dreadful morning show, don`t bother with it
Oh and don`t forget highlighting one horse all day only for said animal to get turned over, they never have a script for it.The only thing going for it is the improved (usually sometimes they use ATR images at a second course) picture quality, but I realise not everyone subscribes to ITV4hd.
Chapman is a huge turn off for me, all his face make up is odd too, he looks as if he has stepped out from Madam Tussauds sometimes! I am also finding Mick Fitzgerald to be incredibly wearing. His voice and use of the phrase “he does indeed” and his terrible tips, not that I bet myself, but when he picks a horse out you can be almost certain it will not win.
I would much prefer to see more of the runners in the paddock, recently the first we see of them is at the tape, when they do show them circling at the start the droning Mick dialogue is usually about a different horse.Fair play to Chapman there for calling out Geraghty for letting Glenloe fiddle the last rather than committing the horse and saying that he would have won if he hadn’t then made a mistake,only for Chapman to be double gunned down by McCoy and Harvey as they do ‘the usual’ in closing ranks to protect their fellow jockey.
Hard to argue with the usually awful Chapman and no surprise that his correct view wasn’t supported.
Also,ITV Racing need to stop trying to ‘create moments’by intruding on private grief that is nobody’s business ( Davy Russell and the Jefferson stable got the mawkish treatment yesterday during interviews yesterday…cheap disrespectful and insensitive.
they sadly need to concentrate on other peoples grief because everything else they do is so poor
Getting increasingly irritated by the encroachment of “fashion commentators”. I’m resigned to it at Royal Ascot and even other flat meetings like Goodwood, but since when was Cheltenham ever about fashion?
Having said that there was a cute brunette there with black very tight leather trousers and rather fetishy boots over them yesterday. She had the figure, believe me. Bit difficult to take eyes off. jesus
Maybe that should be a new angle?
Birds in gear
Quite a few punters drawing the afternoon curtains….. Viewing figures boost etc
I really like Sally Ann Grassick and her natural way of interviewing trainers whilst preparing their horses for the race, she is a natural and I would prefer to see her casting an eye over the parade ring horses in place of Francesca Cumani who seems out of place with the NH team.
Oli Bell who I liked at first is starting to grate. Matt Chapman always did. Mick Fitz always has a good ‘orse (not) and Luke Harvey, who could pass the audition for ET Returns Home, was watching Samcro go to post yesterday and said he wasn’t a good looking horse…Luke have you looked in the mirror lately!!
Agree with Tonge about the fashionistas out on the prowl it really isn’t necessary, they just seem to do everything rather than show us the horses I never feel I have had a lengthy look at any of the runners they just seem to pick about 3 or 4 to concentrate on and then the adverts, the competitions and the football promotions kick in.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Enjoyed the feature the other day with Alan King and seeing old Penzance, wish they would do more things like that
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I like the coverage generally. Not entirely sure if the Social Stable/ Matt Chapman clowning around in silks/cheekpieces/reciting the Samcro Lord’s Prayer is going to win over the kidz. (I hope Jim Bolger wasn’t watching the Samcro-Jesus stuff).
Much prefer the likes of the interview with Henrietta Knight. The “what is a handicap?” information bits and Luke Harvey down at the start are good for potential new fans.
Yes agree the camera needs to stay on the horses in the parade ring rather than being on the presenters standing on that podium thing.Did not like the questions straight after the RSA. “Davy, your mum’s dead. Please cry on camera, it’ll make great telly. And we can use the word “poignant” a lot”. Sally Ann Grassick, who I normally like, was at it again on the Opening Show, I noticed. Although at least she probably knows the family and that interview was not live so he would have had a chance to request them not to show it I suppose.
Jac
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