- This topic has 979 replies, 136 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 1 month ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Just seen that interview. As someone that doesn’t have ATR or RUK [and can’t afford to] I’m really going to struggle to watch ITV if Chapman is on
In defence of Matt Chapman , I will say this : in his sensible moments , when he isn’t trying too hard to be the wise cracking clown , he can be very insightful and does play the devil’s advocate very well, initiating and conducting , as he can , some very good and interesting debates .
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
In defence of Matt Chapman , I will say this : in his sensible moments , when he isn’t trying too hard to be the wise cracking clown , he can be very insightful and does play the devil’s advocate very well, initiating and conducting , as he can , some very good and interesting debates .
Absolutely. Ask The Handicapper is brilliant and Matt Chapman is a big part of that.
If the programme is for in the main the casual viewer then they should have gave Chapman the main role.
Call the show ‘Matt Chapman’s Horse Racing’ make it a bit of an sitcom/soap with different pundits each week
Viewing figures and ratings and new blood for the sport would go through the roofBlackbeard to conquer the World
In defence of Matt Chapman , I will say this : in his sensible moments , when he isn’t trying too hard to be the wise cracking clown , he can be very insightful and does play the devil’s advocate very well, initiating and conducting , as he can , some very good and interesting debates .
Absolutely. Ask The Handicapper is brilliant and Matt Chapman is a big part of that.
It isn’t a bad show but it is very contrived. All the pretending to wind each other up can become grating after a while.
His best performances are Windsor on Monday night’s but even that can become hit and miss.
After a heavy schedule at work i’ve only just had the chance to watch ITV’s coverage and read this thread.
I thought it was a decent start from ITV. The presenting team warmed up as the day went on. A bit too much banter but Chamberlin looks promising. At least he has a real interest in the sport.
I really like Chapman in the ATR studio but like many on here have said he needs to tone it down. I’m surprised but pleased at the lack of Mick Fitz bashing on here and I genuinely think Pendleton could be a real asset with her passion for the sport as well as being someone that casual viewers will recognise.
The Jonjo piece was excellent. The nostalgia bit at the start would have been great if each clip hadn’t lasted a nanosecond(does anyone have the Morecambe and Thommo clip recorded?).
So much more I can say but let’s wait until saturday to give it a second chance. Still can’t believe it’s on ITV4 though.
Having had more time to reflect on what people have said I’ll just make two further points.
1. Chapman might not be to everyone’s liking but he does put a great amount of energy into it, he is enthusiastic and tries to relate to the average person sitting at home watching. He is responsible for three of the best racing programmes on ATR and he is not afraid to ask difficult questions of jockeys, trainers and those in power.
2. I think Mick Fitzgerald gets a lot of unfair criticism. He is mainly quite good and he is clearly very knowledgable. I suppose the main criticism of him is that he tends to talk a bit too much and rarely seems to have a day off.
Overall I think Chapman and Fitzgerald in general receive far too much criticism.
Maybe on reflection we should compare their New Years Day broadcast to a
Maiden….Long time since last run
Missed the break
Slowly into stride
Ran green
Encountered trouble in running
Hampered 2 out
Rallied and running on at finishAlthough unsuited by the heavy going
will hopefully improve for the run and
expected to do better next time outWell let’s hope so ..
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Finally getting round to watching it. Like what I see so far. Ed is really good, a nice change from Nick Luck. AP is improving as a pundit and I like Chapman, although I’d hope they make more use of him. I like how it is a bit entry level – keeps it accessible. Especially like how they explained the courses.
I don’t mind Mick Fitz and I think Pendleton has a lot of potential
I think, in time, I’ll miss Simon Holt (best commentator since Peter O’Sullevan, at least) and Graham Cunningham. I also agree they should give the presenters an actual studio!
Most of the online criticism I’ve seen comes either from the old farts who don’t want anyone who’s (a) female (b) a person of colour or (c) an oik presenting their racing or else womem of a certain age who long for the days of John “Housewives Choice” Francome or Mike “The Great Beige Hope” Cattermole.
Now let’s hope they keep pushing it, eh?
Twitter=@PGHenn
So don't run, just like the others always do
Maybe on reflection we should compare their New Years Day broadcast to a
Maiden….Long time since last run
Missed the break
Slowly into stride
Ran green
Encountered trouble in running
Hampered 2 out
Rallied and running on at finishAlthough unsuited by the heavy going
will hopefully improve for the run and
expected to do better next time outWell let’s hope so ..
Lol Jac, that sums it up pretty well, maybe they will get their second wind
In defence of Matt Chapman , I will say this : in his sensible moments , when he isn’t trying too hard to be the wise cracking clown , he can be very insightful and does play the devil’s advocate very well, initiating and conducting , as he can , some very good and interesting debates .
Spot on and that’s why his performance on Saturday was so disappointing.
This may be controversial but I think he would, with the caveat he toned it down, be a good front man.
Not for the big meetings but give him a shot at lead presenter on one of the quieter Saturdays and see how he goes.
100% Paul, he has huge appeal to those casual watchers imo
Blackbeard to conquer the World
In defence of Matt Chapman , I will say this : in his sensible moments , when he isn’t trying too hard to be the wise cracking clown , he can be very insightful and does play the devil’s advocate very well, initiating and conducting , as he can , some very good and interesting debates .
I was one of people putting him forward as presenter but after Saturday I don’t think you could trust him to do anything but try (very hard) to promote himself.
He couldn’t have been worse: we had attempted O O Seven link; the totally unfunny hair under the hat on-running saga; the forcast spelling and of course he wrecked the presentation.
It will be interesting to see if he has taken on board any of criticism.
I made space in the morning’s schedule to make sure to watch The Opening Show and was glad that I had: this was much better! It is also already far better than The Morning Line, which bodes well.
Oli Bell was excellent as the anchor/host, whilst MC (whom I’d taken a distinct aversion to on the main show) was much more restrained, and therefore tolerable, at least to my eyes. In terms of content, there was the right mix between guests and features, and the balance – whilst recognising the need to explain things to the uninitiated – also had enough to interest those who know more. I thought the feature on JO’B was excellent, honest and (for an O’Brien) expansive – hopefully this will help to showcase the major issues that surround weight, particularly for flat jockeys. Chris Cook was on the money as usual, in this case over the irregularities in bookies’ returns at Cheltenham on NYD. I thought Luke Harvey was much better in this setting than when doing banter with AP; VP did a good enough job at Kingsclere on showing stable routines – with nice touches being to show the turn-outs for flat horses, the distinctions between handling/riding colts and fillies, and the use of a treadmill for older sprinters. There was some great old footage of an iron grey Dessie winning the Tolworth – yes, MC, he was a pretty good hurdler before he was an exceptional chaser! Star of the show though, for me, was Cecil – Luke Harvey’s horse! What might have started out as a means to explain a grackle noseband has introduced viewers to the bread and butter horse that everyone who’s involved in racing loves. A ‘mint’ moment! Please, ITV4 can we have more Cecil?!
I have to say I think this afternoons show was much, much better than the opener.
Mick Fitz was much better than McCoy as the main pundit and worked well with Luke Harvey.
Ed Chamberlin was much better and more relaxed.
The biggest improvement was Chappers, far more restrained this week and obviously his wings have been clipped as he had fewer appearances.
On the negative side we still had the awful interruptions to the commentary. Thankfully the second meeting is taking the course commentary so we don’t have to suffer inane observations. I felt for Barty who was onto a loser having to commentate in such appalling visibility – I really do wish he would let his personality come through sometimes – he actually has a brilliant, quick, dry, sense of humour. In my days in the press room I looked forward to being at meetings where he was calling as I knew it would be fun, witty afternoon with his sardonic observations.
So maybe it was just first day nerves last week, although professional broadcasters should be able to produce a polished performance every time.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.