MIKE CATTERMOLE Q&A

[albrookes]

Leading Channel 4 Racing presenter, the unflappable, [b:1uus0pfx]Mike ‘Cat’ Cattermole[/b:1uus0pfx] has kindly agreed to join us for our latest Q&A.

After such recent unfortunate events as the Dubai World Cup debacle and the awkwardness of the 1000 Guineas aftermath, staggeringly Mike has now agreed to answer your questions. Out of the frying pan…

So please post them on this thread before midday on Tues 22nd June.

[The Ante-Post King]

Mike,would i be correct in saying "Khyber Kim" is not your favourite horse and how much does it bother you when the Commentary gets mentioned,even now? By the way,i have never seen an edited version done so quickly afterwards for replay purposes! Cheers, TAPK.

[Venusian]

Welcome, Mike.

A small point, but with racing trying hard to be rather less mystifying to the benighted than before, I wonder why so many commentators still go for "…with just under 3 1/2 furlongs to run" over "…with just under 1/2 a mile to run".

Or "…2 furlongs to go and it’s…" over "1/4 mile to go and it’s…".

Few under 45s know what a furlong is, and fewer still care, so why not make it a bit more accessible (horrible word, I know) to people?

[The Young Fella]

Hello Mike,

Thank you for answering our questions. Mine is a very broad one, but what, in your opinion, defines a great commentator?

[cormack15]

Mike – thanks for this.

I wondered how you (and perhaps your fellow commentators) view the various racing forums, on which media figures do come in for what some would say is unfair criticism from time to time?

Also, when did you first become interested in racing and did you always want to work in racing and/or the media?

[albrookes]

Cheers for getting the ball rolling guys. Hopefully we get some more questions.

Consequently, this thread will stay open for the time being.

Tell your friends.

[davidjohnson]

Hi Mike

In the Racing Post recently Cornelius Lysaght was asked if he could change one thing about his life, he said he would like to be ‘a punter’. My question to you is do you consider yourself ‘a punter’ and do you think reguarly betting on horseracing gives journalists an insight and sharpness to grasping form that non-punters will never be able to?

[Prufrock]

What will racing in Britain be like in 5 years’ time?

And what about broadcasting and other forms of media coverage of the sport over the same time scale?

What was it like working at Timeform in the mid-1980s?

What were the best and worst things about being a jockey’s agent?

[jose1993]

Hello Mike

Do you think Channel 4’s coverage of racing is improving?

Do you feel the significant time wasted on fashion etc at major meetings is really something Racing fans and punters want to suffer, and do you think it’s something that is worth showing?

What is your opinion on John McCririck having his time on Channel 4 significantly reduced in recent years?

Do you think there’s any point of Channel 4 and the BBC going head-to-head at the same time like on Derby day?

Thank You

[albrookes]

Questions from Leon Bowdery via Facebook:

What does Mike think of the barney curley/sportingbet story.?

Need to know more about Barney and Sportingbet before I can comment on that.

Does Mike think racing for change can make the sport more mainstream without losing the core fans and if so how.?

[Grey Desire]

Is there any one race you would like to commentate on that maybe you haven’t had the opportunity to do so?

One in the UK/Ireland & one abroad perhaps?

[ricky lake]

Hi Mike , Surely the time has come to dump the morning line , your views please

thanks

Ricky

[wallace-no7]

Dear Mike

Its clear that the public are really engaging with figures like Matt Chapman (RP Vote) and Mac (the punters complaining they miss him). Is it time someone like Matt Chapman started to cover for the BBC as anchor. It clear the most popular faces of our sport our being shoved into a corner while the more clean fresh cut faces emerge. Obviously this would affect you personally in your job but is it time we encourage more "Opinionated" people to the forefront of your sport?

Thanks

[albrookes]

From Tony Cullen via Facebook:

Did Mike ever attend school cos he was in the year above me and I have no recollection of him whatsover?

[albrookes]

Cheers for all these guys. I’ll send them to him Friday so hopefully Mike can squeeze in a few minutes over the weekend to get back to us. I’m sure he’ll do his best to answer them.

In the meantime, you have until tomorrow afternoon to post any more that are suitable.

[eddie case]

Mike,

1.On the rare occasion you have a bad call on a race is there anything you do to try and ensure it doesn’t happen again or do you just try and forget about it and move on to the next race?

Bad calls are obviously best avoided and if you do have one, you can do nothing to alter the fact that you have messed up. So move on and do it better next time. It’s all about focus and concentration.

2. What is the most money you have ever bet on a horse, what was the horse and did it win?

3. From the other commentators on the roster who do you think is the best and who the worst?

Other callers are all good in their own way. Some I prefer to listen to than others (no names!) but I think Simon Holt is top of the pile. A total natural.

Thanks
eddie case

[Gingertipster]

Hi Mike,

Do you still enjoy going to commentate on the gaffs / rubbish racing?

If someone like quizmaster Phil Brown can get fed up with the dross (doesn’t go racing and more interested in golf) these days, anyone can. (You’re still 3rd in the Roger&Phil commentators league).

To be honest, I have to say that calling at the gaffs does not turn me on as much as it did, particularly if I have to drive for hours to get there. But then I think about other ways that people make a living and remind myself to remain grateful.

When a day at Goodwood can be primarily class 5 and 6 punter fodder;

is racing going down hill fast?

Will the Freelance 4 ever win again?

Thanks for agreeing to take our questions Mike, particularly when you’ve come in for some criticism from some who don’t appreciate your racing knowledge.

With so many true racing enthusiasts switching to RUK and ATR;

has there been a concious decision to dumb Channel 4 Racing down?

To try and attract non-racing viewers.

Thanks

Mark

Value Is Everything

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