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Chapman just mars a reasonable programme with his second rate music hall act.
I suppose it is to be expected from a channel that starts the day with: Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.
Simon Holt was never going get the “gig” but, I find Richard Hoiles excellent.
I concur with that.
I remember when I used to be in the press room we were at one of the big meetings and there were several commentators present.
The pre race discussion was “if your life depended on a commentator delivering a perfect commentary in a big field handicap with no mistakes, who would you choose?”
The unanimous response was Mark Johnson.
A Chapman story ….. during his brief career as a commentator he was calling at Leicester and he had left his racecard on his desk.
On each page he had written his potential “ad-libs”
Like Big Mac, Matt’s on screen persona is nothing like his real life persona. He really frustrates me because when he plays it straight he is a very good interviewer but I think on ITV he’s doing what he’s told to do by the production team.
I think Richard is an excellent commentator, he’s also a really nice person as well, with a great sense of humour.
I recall one of those dire evening meetings at Epsom where the racing was incidental to the concert – which happened to be an ABBA tribute band.
By the third race we had all lost the will to live, so to liven things up it was decided Richard should include as many ABBA song titles as possible in his commentary for the next race – if I recall correctly he managed nine.
I also like him a lot at Cheltenham. No matter what meeting it is.
By the way Paul, where is Gareth Topham these days? Haven’t heard anything from his the past three months.Gareth called at Beverley on Tuesday.
Can’t speak for the past three months but I know he’s recently become a Dad and has been on paternity leave for a month
He called at Hamilton and Newcastle in July
Thanks Paul, but I left out Beverley on Tuesday. Nice to hear about the paternity leave though.
I was very different Chapman is/was on the other racing channel. It seems he is a hamming it up for ITV, they making him be a self parody. It is embarrassing to see.
Gareth called at Beverley on Tuesday
…and Uttoxeter this Saturday just gone.
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.
Ah, the infamous first half of 2012, when Matt Chapman, Gary Capewell and John Blance were effectively engaged in a 15-stint, three-way play-off to gain a more permanent place on the Racetech roster.
Paul’s recollection gives a fascinating insight into the then modus operandi of the first-named. I’d far rather my commentator actually concentrated on technical accomplishment and accuracy than trying to shoehorn in the gags, showings-off and grandstanding in an apparently preordained manner; and whilst I didn’t mind Matt’s attempts to pretty much regurgitate the formbook in some commentaries (which was little different to what Raleigh Gilbert did on occasion), I’d suggest this too is best used sparingly and not at the expense of other basics.
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.
He’s top of the pile as far as I’m concerned, Paul, with all of the personal qualities you’ve listed. His commentary on the 2010 Dipper Chase remains the high watermark for how to call a two-runner race and make it appropriately informative and entertaining throughout.
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.
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