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Time for Francome to go?

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  • #8564
    clivex
    Member
    • Total Posts 3420

    Entries………………

    https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/37/newcastle/2026-02-21/911616

    https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/ante-post-racing/national-hunt/eider-handicap-chase/winner

    Good few in here of interest.

    Prince Zaltar should win some races for the yard, and Chasingoutheblues looks as if he’s still got improvement in him.

    Aworkinprogress always gets a good word from me, for all I’ve never bet him, and the 5lbs for his win last time looks fair. Val Dancer behind him last time, and he’ll always be on my shortlist for races like this, but if anything, he probably had a harder race than the winner

    Aworkinprogress looks a decent fav, but equally, second fav Jubilee Express is fairly hard to crab for something like this

    As well as Aworkinprogress, JP has Fortunate Man and Wal Bucks in there. Stable form a worry for Bucks, and I found Fortunate Man a bit disappointing at Sandown

    The one I’m likely to bet (soon) is Dom of Mary. A regular of mine, but I stupidly missed his win a couple of months back. Seriously considered him for Welsh National, but swerved him on the end, as I thought a race like that just beyond him. This looks more suitable

    Dom of Mary

    Entries………………

    https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/37/newcastle/2026-02-21/911616

    https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/ante-post-racing/national-hunt/eider-handicap-chase/winner

    Good few in here of interest.

    Prince Zaltar should win some races for the yard, and Chasingoutheblues looks as if he’s still got improvement in him.

    Aworkinprogress always gets a good word from me, for all I’ve never bet him, and the 5lbs for his win last time looks fair. Val Dancer behind him last time, and he’ll always be on my shortlist for races like this, but if anything, he probably had a harder race than the winner

    Aworkinprogress looks a decent fav, but equally, second fav Jubilee Express is fairly hard to crab for something like this

    As well as Aworkinprogress, JP has Fortunate Man and Wal Bucks in there. Stable form a worry for Bucks, and I found Fortunate Man a bit disappointing at Sandown

    The one I’m likely to bet (soon) is Dom of Mary. A regular of mine, but I stupidly missed his win a couple of months back. Seriously considered him for Welsh National, but swerved him on the end, as I thought a race like that just beyond him. This looks more suitable

    Dom of Mary

    Updated 25th January

    007canfordcliffs
    Bambino Fever 11.1
    Brighterdaysahead 12
    Heart Wood 18
    Heldam
    Koktail Divin 15.75
    No Drama This End 83.9
    Pic d’orhy
    The Big Westerner 16.38
    The Jukebox Man 79.73
    Wodhooh 43.74
    280.6

    All Jeff
    Ballyburn
    Champ Kiely
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Jonbon 44
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Myretown
    State Man
    The New Lion 28.25
    232.46

    Autumnal
    Banbridge 12
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Galopin Des Champs
    Hewick
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Impaire Et Passe
    Majborough
    Quai De Bourbon
    State Man
    122.59

    BigG
    Ballyburn
    Inothewayurthinkin
    Jagwar
    Kopek Des Borders 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Marine National
    Mydaddypaddy 24.7
    Salvator Mundi
    Soomaroy 11.91
    State Man
    125.71

    Buckers
    Ballyburn
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Haiti Couleurs 52.5
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Jonbon 44
    Kalif Du Berlais
    Pic D’Ohry
    Myretown
    State Man
    207.09

    Coops72
    Ballyburn
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Grey Dawning 51.91
    Myretown
    Sir Gino 26.58
    State Man
    The Jukebox Man 79.73
    The New Lion 28.25
    251.73

    Cormack15
    Dinoblue 16.25
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Impaire Et Passe
    Inothewayurthinkin
    Jonbon 44
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Marine Nationale
    Salvator Mundi
    Teahupoo 55.5
    221.25

    Dactylographer
    Anzadam
    Brighterdaysahead 12
    Final Demand 37.63
    Kargese 13.91
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lucky Place
    Lulamba 37.8
    Myretown
    The New Lion 28.25
    Wendigo 28.5
    141.07

    Eezer
    Constitution Hill
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Galopin Des Champs
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Inothewayurthinkin
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Marine Nationale
    State Man
    199.69

    EP1987
    Ballyburn
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Grey Dawning 51.91
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Lulamba 37.8
    Inothewayurthinkin
    Majborough
    Sir Gino 26.58
    William Munny
    221.79

    Euroalien
    Anzadam
    Bambino Fever 11.1
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Kopek des Bordes 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Love Me Tender
    Marine Nationale
    The Yellow Clay
    220.79

    Flyers Nap
    Bioluminescence
    Caballero Cliff
    Captain Cody
    Fasol 31.67
    Kalif Du Berlais
    Kim Roque
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lisnamult Lad
    Maasai Mara
    Waterford Whispers
    42.9

    GDC
    Doctor Du Mesnil
    Fact To File
    Golden Ace 55.1
    Jagwar
    Jonbon 44
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Marine Nationale
    State Man
    The New Lion 28.25
    188.2

    Gladiateur
    Anzadam
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Galopin Des Champs
    Grey Dawning 51.91
    Haiti Couleurs 52.5
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Jagwar
    Jimmy Du Seuil 12.88
    Myretown
    State Man
    227.88

    Goodfellow
    Ballyburn
    Brighterdaysahead 12
    Fact to File
    Haiti Couleurs 52.5
    Jonbon 44
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Lulamda 37.8
    Marine National
    Spillanes Tower 53.75
    The New Lion 28.25
    224.17

    Greenasgrass
    Blizzard of Oz
    Champ Kiely
    Fact to File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Gameofinches
    Handstands
    Impaire et Passe
    Jonbon 44
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    State Man
    159.5

    Grey Desire
    Apple Away
    Brighterdaysahead 12
    Digman
    Fact To File
    Grey Dawning 51.91
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Oh Betty 33
    Starzand
    State Man
    The Jukebox Man 79.73
    254.51

    He Didn’t Like Ground
    Ballyburn
    Fact to File
    Haiti Coleurs 52.5
    Iknowhatyurhinkin
    Il Etat Temps 82.96
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Marine Nationals
    Myretown
    The New Lion 28.25
    Three card brag 12
    253.38

    Homersimpson
    Dinoblue 16.25
    Doctor Blue 17.29
    Golden Ace 55.1
    Green Hint
    Green Splendour
    Grey Dawning 51.91
    Haiti Couleurs 52.5
    Resplendent Grey 20.5
    Teddy Blue 30.5
    The Yellow Clay
    244.05

    Hot Fuss
    Anzadam
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Kalif Du Berlais
    Kopec Des Bordes 11.23
    Majbourough
    Marine National
    The New Lion 28.25
    187.7

    Illavim
    Anzadam
    Bad
    Final Demand 37.63
    French Ship 18.75
    Haiti Couleurs 52.5
    Lecky Watson
    Marine Nationale
    Spindleberry 43.6
    State Man
    Wodooh 43.74
    196.22

    Inthestream
    Fastorslow
    Final Demand 37.63
    Handstands
    Heart Wood 18
    Kopek des Bordes 11.23
    Marine Nationale
    Myretown
    Rocky’s Diamond
    The Big Westerner 16.38
    The New Lion 28.25
    111.49

    John Gooch
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Haiti Couleurs 52.5
    Kalif Du Berlais
    Kawaboomga
    Kopeck des Bordes 11.23
    Lulamba 37.8
    Majborough
    Marine National
    The New Lion 28.25
    167.41

    Kendicate
    Aspurofthemoment
    Belle The Lioness
    Final Demand 37.63
    Gibbs Island
    Ill Est Francias
    Inothewayurthinkin
    Noble Birth
    Perceval Legallois
    Solness 34
    The New Lion 28.25
    99.88

    Kris
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Galopin Des Champs
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Impaire Et Passe
    Jonbon 44
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Myretown
    Pic D’ohry
    State Man
    232.46

    Landafar
    Diva Luna 44
    Final Demand 37.63
    Handstands
    Inothewayurthinking
    Jonbon 44
    Lossimouth 77.87
    Lulamba 37.8
    State Man
    The New Lion 28.25
    The Reverend 11.37
    280.92

    Lemons68
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Galopin Des Champs
    Haiti Couleurs 52.5
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Jango Baie 28.25
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Myretown
    State Man
    The New Lion 28.25
    297.46

    MarkTT
    Aston Martini
    Brighterdaysahead 12
    Fact To File
    Honesty Policy
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Jango Baie 28.25
    Kalypso’chance 19
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Thecompanysergeant
    The Jukebox Man 79.73
    299.81

    Marlingford
    Ballyburn
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Jonbon 44
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Majborough
    Marine Nationale
    Myretown
    State Man
    232.46

    Mickeyjp
    Fact to file
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Inothewayurthinkin
    Kopek des bordes 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Marine Nationale
    Myretown
    Solness 34
    State man
    The new lion 28.25
    178.98

    Mike2084
    Ballyburn
    Brighterdaysahead 12
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Heron in the Park 13.13
    Jonbon 44
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Ruby Grace
    Spanish Harlem
    State Man
    That’s Nice
    174.63

    Mike007
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Grey Dawning 51.91
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Inothewayurthinkin
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Marine Nationale
    State Man
    289.23

    Nathan Hughes
    Anzadam
    Ballyburn
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Lulamba 37.8
    The New Lion 28.25
    303.37

    Peejayuk
    East India Dock
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Galopin Des Champs
    Grey Dawning 51.91
    Il Est Francais
    Jonbon 44
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    State Man
    222.64

    PeterH
    Alnilam
    Ambiente Friendly 11.8
    Ammes
    Derryhassen Paddy
    Kalif Du Berlais
    Mydaddypaddy 24.7
    Myretown
    Rocky’s Diamond
    The New Lion 28.25
    Windbeneathmywings
    64.75

    Red Rum 77
    Gidleigh Park
    Give It To Me OJ
    Heart Wood 18
    Hiddenvalley Lake
    Honesty Policy
    Inothewayurthinkin
    Kalif Du Berlais
    Romeo Coolio 53.08
    The Yellow Clay
    William Munny
    71.08

    Refuse to Bend
    Grey Dawning 51.91
    Hello Neighbour
    Jonbon 44
    Kingston Queen 12
    Marine Nationale
    Nurse Susan 41.25
    Sir Gino 26.58
    The Jukebox Man 79.73
    The New Lion 28.25
    The Yellow Clay
    283.72

    Rob North
    Chasingouttheblues 15.2
    Derryhassen Paddy
    Double Digits
    Hombre De Guerra
    Jupiter Des Mottes
    Myretown
    Star Of Guiting 21.3
    Stride On
    Sunset Hill
    Talk To The Boss
    36.5

    SamD
    Ballyburn
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Marine Nationale
    State Man
    The New Lion 28.25
    265.57

    Steve75
    Brighterdaysahead 12
    Califet En Vol
    Derryhassen Paddy
    Final Demand 37.63
    Hallelujah U
    In my Teens
    Love Me Tender
    Romeo Coolio 53.08
    Sortudo 11.54
    Windbeneathmywings
    114.25

    TakeYourTime
    Believitanducan 17.5
    Captain Butler
    Cool Customer
    Gamesters Guy 13.13
    Gidge
    Grand Garcon
    Kritpticjim 68.2
    Laganhill
    Saracen Beau
    Upon Tweed 22.83
    121.66

    Ten2Fan
    Fact To File
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Haiti Couleurs 52.5
    Il Est Francais
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Irancy
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Myretown
    State Man
    252.19

    The Antepost King
    Ballyburn
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Inothewayurthinkin
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lulamba 37.8
    Majborough
    Sir Gino 26.58
    The New Lion 28.25
    224.45

    Thehorsesmouth
    Bambino Fever 11.1
    Brighterdaysahead 12
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
    Lecky Watson
    State Man
    The New Lion 28.25
    Windbeneathmywings
    Wodhooh 43.74
    143.95

    Tonge
    Ballyburn
    Dinoblue 16.25
    Fact to File
    Found A Fifty 52.5
    High Class Hero
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Jagwar
    Majborough
    The Changing Man
    Three Card Brag 12
    163.71

    Triptych
    Bad
    Grey Dawning 51.91
    Hyland
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Intense Raffles
    King Turgeon
    L’Eau du Sud 29.34
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    Masaccio
    Resplendent Grey 20.5
    262.58

    Venture to Cognac
    A Penny A Hundred
    Appreciate It 22
    Dedicated Hero
    Georges Saint
    Iroko 23
    Libberty Hunter
    Midnight Our Fred
    Mister Policeman
    Panic Attack 140.25
    Val Dancer
    185.25

    Waroftheroses
    Fact To File
    Final Demand 37.63
    Gaelic Warrior 27.63
    Golden Ace 55.1
    Grangeclare West
    Il Etait Temps 82.96
    Impaire Et Passe
    Irancy
    Lossiemouth 77.87
    State Man
    281.19

    Horse List
    A Penny A Hundred
    Alnilam
    Ambiente Friendly
    Ammes
    Anzadam 6
    Apple Away
    Appreciate It
    Aspurofthemoment
    Aston Martini
    Bad 2
    Ballyburn 12
    Bambino Fever 3
    Banbridge
    Believeitanducan
    Belle The Lioness
    Bioluminescence
    Blizzard of Oz
    Brighterdaysahead 8
    Caballero Cliff
    Califet En Vol
    Captain Butler
    Captain Cody
    Champ Kiely 2
    Chasingouttheblues
    Constitution Hill
    Cool Customer
    Dedicated Hero
    Derryhassen Paddy 3
    Digman
    Dinoblue 3
    Diva Luna
    Doctor Blue
    Double Digits
    Doctor Du Mesnil
    East India Dock
    Fact To File 29
    Fasol
    Fastorslow
    Final Demand 18
    Found A Fifty
    French Ship
    Gaelic Warrior 19
    Galopin Des Champs 6
    Gameofinches
    Gamesters Guy
    Georges Saint
    Gibbs Island
    Gidge
    Gidleigh Park
    Give It To Me Oj
    Golden Ace 3
    Grand Garcon
    Grangeclare West
    Green Hint
    Green Splendour
    Grey Dawning 9
    Haiti Couleurs 9
    Hallelujah U
    Handstands 3
    Heart Wood 3
    Heldam
    Hello Neighbour
    Heron In The Park
    Hewick
    High Class Hero
    Honesty Policy 2
    Hiddenvalley Lake
    Hombre De Guerra
    Hyland
    Il Est Francais 3
    Il Etait Temps 20
    Impaire Et Passe 4
    In My Teens
    Inothewayurthinkin 11
    Intense Raffles
    Irancy 2
    Iroko
    Jango Baie 2
    Jagwar 4
    Jimmy Du Seuil
    Jonbon 12
    Jupiter Des Mottes
    Kalif Du Berlais 6
    Kalypso’chance
    Kargese
    Kawaboomga
    Kim Roque
    Kingston Queen
    King Turgeon
    Koktail Divin
    Kopek Des Bordes 18
    Kripticjim
    Laganhill
    L’Eau Du Sud
    Lecky Watson 2
    Libberty Hunter
    Lisnamult Lad
    Lossiemouth 25
    Love Me Tender 2
    Lucky Place
    Lulamba 7
    Maasai Mara
    Masaccio
    Majborough 7
    Marine Nationale 16
    Midnight Our Fred
    Mister Policeman
    Mydaddypaddy 2
    Myretown 14
    Noble Birth
    No Drama This End
    Nurse Susan
    Oh Betty
    Panic Attack
    Perceval Legallois
    Pic D’Ohry 3
    Quai De Bourbon
    Resplendent Grey 2
    Rocky’s Diamond 2
    Romeo Coolio 2
    Ruby Grace
    Salvator Mundi 2
    Saracen Beau
    Sir Gino 4
    Soomaroy
    Sortudo
    Spanish Harlem
    Spillanes Tower
    Spindleberry
    Solness 2
    Star of Guiting
    Starzand
    State Man 23
    Stride On
    Sunset Hill
    Talk To The Boss
    Teahupoo
    Teddy Blue
    That’s Nice
    The Big Westerner 2
    The Changing Man
    Thecompanysergeant
    The Jukebox Man 5
    The New Lion 19
    The Reverend
    The Yellow Clay 4
    Three Card Brag 2
    Upon Tweed
    Val Dancer
    Waterford Whispers
    Wendigo
    William Munny 2
    Windbeneathmywings 3
    Wodhooh 3

    Time for Francome to go?

    I didnt hear his "analysis" of Mannings ride on Saturday, but yet again it sounds as if it was the usual industry insider’s, rank closing, punter sneering drivel

    And we knew exactly what his opinion would be…

    Not only that, we seem to be subjected more and more to childish rants about "townies" stabbing each other all day long. Stuff that might appeal to his studio clique but is to put it mildly, pretty tiresome

    Maybe i just catch this stuff on the increasingly rare occasions that i watch C4, (RUK is a godsend) but is there any place for a presenter who so clearly despises 95% of his audience?

    #176013
    Avatar photoIan
    Member
    • Total Posts 1415

    I like Francome as a person I think he’s great but I’ve never known anyone talk such barmy nonsense as he often does. From a seven times champion jockey you’d expect a lot more sense, some of the things he comes out with are so obviously innacurate that its actually cringeworthy.

    #176017
    Pat123
    Participant
    • Total Posts 3078

    I’m never quite sure if Francome talks a load of bull because he believes it or is he just trying to be controversial. Usually Jim McGrath and Alastair Down will close ranks but on Saturday Jim actually disagreed with him over Manning’s ride.

    I don’t think Channel 4’s coverage will suffer if they reduced Francome’s appearances in the same way as Big Mac’s.

    #176021
    seabird
    Participant
    • Total Posts 2923

    Haven’t watched the Morning Line for a few years now but it always struck me that "The World’s Greatest Jockey" was arrogant and lazy.

    Assuming that he knew all that was to know about racing and that he didn’t need to do any homework as his ‘charm’ would get him through.

    Colin

    #176029
    Avatar photothebrigadier
    Participant
    • Total Posts 416

    I like Francombe and while I do disagree with him on sometimes and he couldn’t tip rubbish he is entitled to his opinion. He made a fair point about Lush Lashes not showing much of a turn of foot when first asked but on the other hand as Lester said you need to be on the outside if coming from behind at Goodwood and if she had been she would have won that race.

    #176030
    Avatar photocormack15
    Keymaster
    • Total Posts 9309

    He can talk some rubbish at times when he ventures outwith racing but I listen carefully to what he has to say – when he is negative (which admittedly isn’t all that often) about a horse he is almost invariably correct.

    #176037
    underscore
    Member
    • Total Posts 537

    "I don’t think Channel 4’s coverage will suffer if they reduced Francome’s appearances in the same way as Big Mac’s."

    :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :roll:

    #176038
    Lingfield
    Member
    • Total Posts 919

    I like Francome as an person. He is entertaining, independent and no great respector of authority- I remember him referring to stewards at one of the west country gaff tracks while riding as "cabbage patch kids".
    He has/had his side lines like his building projects, fish and chip shop and books.He would make a good dinner guest.
    Some of this comes across as a pundit in his relaxed Swindon burr style.He does give an impression that he can’t really be bothered to study form in detail but this may not be fair.I agree that he gives few negatives but that is invariably correct when he does.
    Thought his analysis of the ride that Hughes gave River Proud on Saturday was insightful and not immediately apparent to people like me who have never race ridden.
    He gave qualified defence to Manning but that has been well debated on other threads.
    There are lots of less talented presenters on C4 who deserve removing ahead of him

    #176059
    moehat
    Participant
    • Total Posts 10006

    Francome is the Dylan Moran of racing punditry and I love him….he makes me laugh as much as John McEnroe does when commentating on the tennis…and I still remember when he touched my arm when saying ‘excuse me’ by the pre parade ring at Cheltenham [swoon]. Perhaps as an ex jockey he is quick to come to the defence of his ex colleagues, because it annoys him when people who know nothing about horses and how difficult it is to ride them critiscize them….his tipping seems pretty useless, but I’d rather listen to his analysis of a race than most other people’s. He also sees the horses side of a race, because as a jockey he always looked after his mounts at the same time being totally unsentimental about them.

    #176060
    clivex
    Member
    • Total Posts 3420

    Really?

    Punters arent entitled to an opinion?

    In which other sport are TV presenters so contemptuous (and would include Plunkett here too) of their audience?

    Does a cricket pundit dismiss any criticism of a bad shot on the basis that the viewer "doesnt play the game"? Does Alan Hanson routinely defend all defenders mistakes beacuse the MOTD audience "are too busy stabbing each other to paly football" (or words to that effect)?

    #176069
    Aragorn
    Member
    • Total Posts 2208

    Personally, I think if they got rid of Big Mac and Francome they would almost instantly become a team devoid of character..

    McGrath – Um, nice bloke?
    Holt – Um, do you really need to put the favourite up as your course pick nearly every frickin time?! Good commentator but hardly sets the world alight with his analysis..
    Graham – Don’t get me started
    Down – His rye wit can be funny at times but his new wo is me, I don;t drink anymore routine is becoming tiresome.

    Luck, Tanya and Plunkett I can get on with and are good at their jobs.

    Maybe they should get rid of Big Mac and Francome and bring in Bartlett and Loughran from the BBC?!!! That would really spice it up!!!

    At least Francome remains down to earth. To be honest I would think he’s been exactly the same since way before he ever commentated but i’m not old enough to have seen him in his days as a jockey. IMO it would be a huge mistake getting rid of him.

    #176084
    Fist of Fury 2k8
    Member
    • Total Posts 2930

    I’ve always had a lot of time for Francome. I used to laugh everytime I heard him have a go at Big Mac saying he was a fruit and nut case.

    The truth is there has never been a crazier jockey graced the turf than Francome himself.

    Apparantly he was a complete headcase when he was ridng getting up to all sorts of fun and frolics in the weighing room.

    He spent half his time working out ways of winding up or having a go at the stewards on every occasion he could.

    His reference to cabbage patch dolls comes from the fact he thought they were a bunch of stuck up twats who absolutely dick all about race riding and he let them known it.

    He sometimes gives the impression he regards himself above others but that’s just his way. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly and if he thinks someone is talking dribble he thinks nothing of telling them.

    Nothing wrong with that IMO and wouldn’t he do well on this forum? :lol:

    #176089
    Avatar photoAndrew Hughes
    Member
    • Total Posts 1904

    In which other sport are TV presenters so contemptuous (and would include Plunkett here too) of their audience?

    Does a cricket pundit dismiss any criticism of a bad shot on the basis that the viewer "doesnt play the game"? Does Alan Hanson routinely defend all defenders mistakes beacuse the MOTD audience "are too busy stabbing each other to paly football" (or words to that effect)?

    Completely agree, Clivex. Listening to Alec Stewart, Jonathan Agnew and Vic Marks replying to listener’s phone calls and emails during the Third Test was a great example. They gave their opinion, disagreed where they felt appropriate but treated the callers with respect. None of them felt the need to point out that they had played Test cricket nor to suggest that anyone who hadn’t didn’t know what they were talking about.

    #176091
    Venusian
    Participant
    • Total Posts 1665

    In which other sport are TV presenters so contemptuous (and would include Plunkett here too) of their audience?

    Does a cricket pundit dismiss any criticism of a bad shot on the basis that the viewer "doesnt play the game"? Does Alan Hanson routinely defend all defenders mistakes beacuse the MOTD audience "are too busy stabbing each other to paly football" (or words to that effect)?

    Completely agree, Clivex. Listening to Alec Stewart, Jonathan Agnew and Vic Marks replying to listener’s phone calls and emails during the Third Test was a great example. They gave their opinion, disagreed where they felt appropriate but treated the callers with respect. None of them felt the need to point out that they had played Test cricket nor to suggest that anyone who hadn’t didn’t know what they were talking about.

    Spot on.

    #176093
    Aidan
    Member
    • Total Posts 1198

    Spot on indeed. I felt like throwing the TV out the window the day McCoy had a go at Lydia Hislop for daring to question him simply because she had not ridden the winners he had!

    #176096
    Avatar photograysonscolumn
    Participant
    • Total Posts 7011

    Completely agree, Clivex. Listening to Alec Stewart, Jonathan Agnew and Vic Marks replying to listener’s phone calls and emails during the Third Test was a great example. They gave their opinion, disagreed where they felt appropriate but treated the callers with respect. None of them felt the need to point out that they had played Test cricket nor to suggest that anyone who hadn’t didn’t know what they were talking about.

    Seconded.

    gc

    Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.

    #176099
    no idea
    Member
    • Total Posts 684

    Unfortunately racing is like that.

    If you have never ridden or had anything to do with a horse you are not supposed to make comments about jockeys as it may affect their livelyhoods.

    However if I make a howler at work that cost hundreds or thousands of pounds I would be on a warning or possibly lose my job.

    Nobody would defend me and make excuses.

    More pundits should say what they think as oppose to pander to jockeys.

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