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Agree with you Griff I like Matt Chapman . Theres one clip on you tube a bloke phoned in and moaned about Geraghty I think then Matt Chapman reeled off his winners , was very funny . He’s a character . On the flip side though with Lindley and co back in day , quiet but just set the scene in style .
Here it is. Even I get a name check!
I wish “One The Line” was still shown. It was the funniest hour of the week.
I think Chapman is better on SSR (and on ATR in the old days). He plays up to the gallery a little too much on ITV.
Having said that, I have never disliked him. Unlike most of the racing media, he is prepared to give an opinion. His style may put off some people but at least he is not bland and forever sat on the fence.
I know Ryan Moore’s job is to ride winners but would it really hurt him to make a bit more effort with the media?
I know people are different and he is never going to be like Dettori but he could barely give a civil interview to his own sister yesterday!
Have to wonder what the qualifications are for being a ‘pundit’ these days. Just read this in the Post:
“Jane Mangan, ITV Racing pundit
I see the Coronation as a match between the queen of France, Zarigana, and the potential queen of Europe, Falakeyah. I was bowled away by Owen Burrows’ filly on her seasonal debut at Newmarket. Dropping back to a mile on a flat track looks right up her street given her stride and running style.”Being kind, presumably she thinks this race is run on the straight mile, not the uphill climb from Swinley Bottom.
Hi AP. Your post set me wondering if any site publishes a height profile in their track description? I have looked only at Timeform, who don’t even mention that well known climb you cite.
“The round course is a right-handed, galloping, triangular circuit of a mile and three quarters, with a run-in of two and a half furlongs. Ascot also has a straight mile course, which tends to drain better than the round course. There is also an inner Flat course which allows the option of switching the round course races on Champions Day in the event of unraceable ground. Generally speaking, prominent racers fare significantly better than those held up over five furlongs, but the opposite is true over seven furlongs/a mile, while on the round course those that race in the first half of the field over a mile and a quarter have a better record than those caught further back”.
Joe,
From this website:
https://ascotinsider.blogspot.com/2010/02/ascot-racecourse-20-fascinating-facts.html
Fact No 8:
“Famed for being a tough course, especially over fences – 73 foot climb from the lowest to highest point (Swinley Bottom up to the Winning Post).”
So not Towcester, but not exactly flat either.
To be fair to Jane Mangan. Although Ascot isn’t “flat”… Climb from Swinley Bottom is some way from the finish. I presume the home straight is also slightly uphill too, because even the straight course is known to be a fairly stiff one. But the home climb is a gradual one and hasn’t got the undulation (down and then back up) of “the dip” at Newmarket. A dip that comes nearer the finish when the horses are often changing gear / going fast or at least faster than the biggest hill at Ascot. So I’d say a horse is more likely to get unbalanced at Newmarket. Is that what Jane is alluding to?
Value Is EverythingI think Francesca has outdone Megan in the dress stakes today a good 10/10.
The more I know the less I understand.
Yes I have issues with certain parts of their program but that isn’t anything new with terrestial TV racing coverage down the years, be it BBC Racing (both the Julian Wilson and Clare Balding days), CH4 Racing, RUK/RTV and AT The Races/SSR all having things/presenters I didn’t like too.
I am just glad that ITV are still properly engaged with showing as much racing on terrestial TV as they can and that seemingly a new deal to extend their run is soon to be signed.
Afterall, we would have a whole load more to complain about if there was no terrestial racing on our screens and we would then be forced to sign up to Sky/Virgin Media et al as the only way see the sport we all love live……….most sports (Wimbledon one of the few exception – live coverage of the Tour de France is now in its last year on terrestial TV) have already made the jump, so it is really important that ITV show a continued committment to showing terrestial racing on their channel.
Even though I find a few presenters vacuous I agree with your general sentiments,LD73.
On the whole I think ITV do a good job, especially compared to the generally piss poor standard of sports presentation worldwide.
Where will Gary Imlach go I wonder?Oscar – Likely we will see Gary on whatever highlights program scraps terrestial TV ends up being given from the new deal.
Really is a shame as I have watched the TDF (the only cycling I do view honestly) on terrestial TV ever since it first arrived on CH4 screens back in the 80s when they needed TV content and it was one of the lesser televised sports (NFL being another) they picked up along with US sitcoms like Cheers, Mork & Mindy, The Golden Girls, Roseanne, The Cosby Show (before we knew what Cosby got up to) a pre Back To The Future Michal J Fox in Family Ties and then into the 90s with Friends & Fraiser etc,
Sorry that went a bit off topic, but thats why it is so import for ITV to continue broadcasting racing on TV because once it leaves terrestial TV screens I highly doubt it will come back because the likes of ITV/BBC/CH4 simply can’t compete on a financial basis.
Regarding the oaf that is Matt Chapman. Hopefully some day soon he will be told where to get off.
He has also recently filed for bankruptcy.https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/10738072
£330K, including the COVID loan, which he never repaid.
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