Time for Francome to go?

[clivex]

Dac got us up an running today with Kargese, before a cracking finish saw Ken and Mickey nab a nice haul from Solness

Chasingouttheblues was a nice pick for Rob last year, and nice winner again today, while Canfords good run continues with The Big Westerner

Haiti Couleurs a big winner for plenty of you in The Welsh National

Chasingouttheblues 15.2
Haiti Couleurs 31
Kargese 13.91
Solness 34
The Big Westerner 16.38

Leaderboard
MarkTT 236.14
Gladiateur 227.88
Homersimpson 227.8
Lemons68 217.64
Mike007 211.22
Triptych 210.91
Refuse to Bend 204.72
Waroftheroses 203.18
Ten2Fan 200.52
Coops72 197.14
Nathan Hughes 197.11
007CanfordCliffs 180.76
Buckers 175.09
He Didn’t Like Ground 173.66
EP1987 170.12
The Antepost King 169.86
007CanfordCliffs 164.38
SamD 159.31
Grey Desire 157.84
All Jeff 148.79
Kris 148.79
Marlingford 148.79
Eezer 148.02
Tonge 147.46
Venture to Cognac 147
Hot Fuss 133.11
Euroalien 131.68
Landafar 131.29
Goodfellow 128.5
Illavim 126.14
Autumnal 122.59
John Gooch 112.82
Peejayuk 112.63
GDC 104.53
Dactylographer 102.73
Mickeyjp 99.06
Cormack15 92.83
TakeYourTime 77.86
Steve75 75.91
BigG 74.04
Mike2084 65.83
Red Rum 77 53.08
Thehorsesmouth 49.72
Greenasgrass 49.49
Kendicate 45.29
TakeYourTime 36.91
PeterH 36.5
Flyers Nap 22.9
Inthestream 22.52
Rob North 15.2

Top Horses
Panic Attack 124
Il Etait Temps 82.96
The Jukebox Man 79.73
No Drama This End 57.45
Golden Ace 55.1
Romeo Coolio 53.08
Found A Fifty 52.5
Haiti Couleurs 52.5
Grey Dawning 51.91
Lulamba 37.8
Diva Luna 34
Solness 34
Teddy Blue 30.5
L’Eau Du Sud 29.34
Wendigo 28.5
Jango Baie 28.25
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Wodhooh 27.2
Teahupoo 27
Sir Gino 26.58
Lossiemouth 26.2
Mydaddypaddy 24.7
Kripticjim 24.4
Iroko 23
Upon Tweed 22.83
Nurse Susan 22.5
Resplendent Grey 20.5
Kalypso’chance 19
French Ship 18.75
Believeitanducan 17.5
Doctor Blue 17.29
Spindleberry 16.4
The Big Westerner 16.38
Chasingouttheblues 15.1
Kargese 13.91
Gamesters Guy 13.13
Jimmy Du Seuil 12.88
Banbridge 12
Jonbon 12
Kingston Queen 12
Three Card Brag 12
Soomaroy 11.91
Ambiente Friendly 11.8
Fasol 11.67
Sortudo 11.54
Final Demand 11.29
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23

Updated 26th December

007canfordcliffs
Bambino Fever
Brighterdaysahead
Heart Wood
Heldam
Koktail Divin
No Drama This End 57.45
Pic d’orhy
The Big Westerner 16.38
The Jukebox Man 79.73
Wodhooh 27.2
180.76

All Jeff
Ballyburn
Champ Kiely
Fact To File
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Jonbon 12
Lossiemouth 26.2
Myretown
State Man
The New Lion
148.79

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 26.2
Marine National
Mydaddypaddy 24.7
Salvator Mundi
Soomaroy 11.91
State Man
74.04

Buckers
Ballyburn
Fact To File
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Haiti Couleurs 52.5
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Jonbon 12
Kalif Du Berlais
Pic D’Ohry
Myretown
State Man
175.09

Coops72
Ballyburn
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Grey Dawning 51.91
Myretown
Sir Gino 26.58
State Man
The Jukebox Man 79.73
The New Lion
197.14

Cormack15
Dinoblue
Fact To File
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Impaire Et Passe
Inothewayurthinkin
Jonbon 12
Lossiemouth 26.2
Marine Nationale
Salvator Mundi
Teahupoo 27
92.83

Dactylographer
Anzadam
Brighterdaysahead
Final Demand 11.29
Kargese 13.91
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
Lucky Place
Lulamba 37.8
Myretown
The New Lion
Wendigo 28.5
102.73

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 26.2
Marine Nationale
State Man
148.02

EP1987
Ballyburn
Fact To File
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Grey Dawning 51.91
Lossiemouth 26.2
Lulamba 37.8
Inothewayurthinkin
Majborough
Sir Gino 26.58
William Munny
170.12

Euroalien
Anzadam
Bambino Fever
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Kopek des Bordes 11.23
Lossiemouth 26.2
Love Me Tender
Marine Nationale
The Yellow Clay
131.68

Flyers Nap
Bioluminescence
Caballero Cliff
Captain Cody
Fasol 11.67
Kalif Du Berlais
Kim Roque
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
Lisnamult Lad
Maasai Mara
Waterford Whispers
22.9

GDC
Doctor Du Mesnil
Fact To File
Golden Ace 55.1
Jagwar
Jonbon 12
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
Lossiemouth 26.2
Marine Nationale
State Man
The New Lion
104.53

Gladiateur
Anzadam
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Galopin Des Champs
Grey Dawning 51.91
Haiti Couleurs 21.5
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Jagwar
Jimmy Du Seuil 12.88
Myretown
State Man
196.88

Goodfellow
Ballyburn
Brighterdaysahead
Fact to File
Haiti Couleurs 52.5
Jonbon 12
Lossiemouth 26.2
Lulamda 37.8
Marine National
Spillanes Tower
The New Lion
128.5

Greenasgrass
Blizzard of Oz
Champ Kiely
Fact to File
Final Demand 11.29
Gameofinches
Handstands
Impaire et Passe
Jonbon 12
Lossiemouth 26.2
State Man
49.49

Grey Desire
Apple Away
Brighterdaysahead
Digman
Fact To File
Grey Dawning 51.91
Lossiemouth 26.2
Oh Betty
Starzand
State Man
The Jukebox Man 79.73
157.84

He Didn’t Like Ground
Ballyburn
Fact to File
Haiti Coleurs 52.5
Iknowhatyurhinkin
Il Etat Temps 82.96
Lossiemouth 26.2
Marine Nationals
Myretown
The New Lion
Three card brag 12
173.66

Homersimpson
Dinoblue
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
196.8

Hot Fuss
Anzadam
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Kalif Du Berlais
Kopec Des Bordes 11.23
Majbourough
Marine National
The New Lion
133.11

Illavim
Anzadam
Bad
Final Demand 11.29
French Ship 18.75
Haiti Couleurs 52.5
Lecky Watson
Marine Nationale
Spindleberry 16.4
State Man
Wodooh 27.2
126.14

Inthestream
Fastorslow
Final Demand 11.29
Handstands
Heart Wood
Kopek des Bordes 11.23
Marine Nationale
Myretown
Rocky’s Diamond
The Big Westerner
The New Lion
22.52

John Gooch
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Haiti Couleurs 52.5
Kalif Du Berlais
Kawaboomga
Kopeck des Bordes 11.23
Lulamba 11.4
Majborough
Marine National
The New Lion
112.82

Kendicate
Aspurofthemoment
Belle The Lioness
Final Demand 11.29
Gibbs Island
Ill Est Francias
Inothewayurthinkin
Noble Birth
Perceval Legallois
Solness 34
The New Lion
45.29

Kris
Fact To File
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Galopin Des Champs
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Impaire Et Passe
Jonbon 12
Lossiemouth 26.2
Myretown
Pic D’ohry
State Man
148.79

Landafar
Diva Luna 44
Final Demand 11.29
Handstands
Inothewayurthinking
Jonbon 12
Lossimouth 26.2
Lulamba 37.8
State Man
The New Lion
The Reverend
131.29

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 26.2
Myretown
State Man
The New Lion
217.54

MarkTT
Aston Martini
Brighterdaysahead
Fact To File
Honesty Policy
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Jango Baie 28.25
Kalypso’chance 19
Lossiemouth 26.2
Thecompanysergeant
The Jukebox Man 79.73
236.14

Marlingford
Ballyburn
Fact To File
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Jonbon 12
Lossiemouth 26.2
Majborough
Marine Nationale
Myretown
State Man
148.79

Mickeyjp
Fact to file
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Inothewayurthinkin
Kopek des bordes 11.23
Lossiemouth 26.2
Marine Nationale
Myretown
Solness 34
State man
The new lion
99.06

Mike2084
Ballyburn
Brighterdaysahead
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Heron in the Park
Jonbon 12
Lossiemouth 26.2
Ruby Grace
Spanish Harlem
State Man
That’s Nice
65.83

Mike007
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Grey Dawning 51.91
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Inothewayurthinkin
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
Lossiemouth 26.2
Marine Nationale
State Man
211.22

Nathan Hughes
Anzadam
Ballyburn
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
Lossiemouth 26.2
Lulamba 37.8
The New Lion
197.11

Peejayuk
East India Dock
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Galopin Des Champs
Grey Dawning 51.91
Il Est Francais
Jonbon 12
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
Lossiemouth 26.2
State Man
112.63

PeterH
Alnilam
Ambiente Friendly 11.8
Ammes
Derryhassen Paddy
Kalif Du Berlais
Mydaddypaddy 24.7
Myretown
Rocky’s Diamond
The New Lion
Windbeneathmywings
36.5

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

Refuse to Bend
Grey Dawning 51.91
Hello Neighbour
Jonbon 12
Kingston Queen 12
Marine Nationale
Nurse Susan 22.5
Sir Gino 26.58
The Jukebox Man 79.73
The New Lion
The Yellow Clay
204.72

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

SamD
Ballyburn
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
Lossiemouth 26.2
Marine Nationale
State Man
The New Lion
159.31

Steve75
Brighterdaysahead
Califet En Vol
Derryhassen Paddy
Final Demand 12.29
Hallelujah U
In my Teens
Love Me Tender
Romeo Coolio 53.08
Sortudo 11.54
Windbeneathmywings
49.37

TakeYourTime
Believitanducan 17.5
Captain Butler
Cool Customer
Gamesters Guy 13.13
Gidge
Grand Garcon
Kritpticjim 24.4
Laganhill
Saracen Beau
Upon Tweed 22.83
23.78

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 26.2
Myretown
State Man
200.52

The Antepost King
Ballyburn
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Inothewayurthinkin
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
Lulamba 37.8
Majborough
Sir Gino 26.58
The New Lion
169.86

Thehorsesmouth
Bambino Fever
Brighterdaysahead
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Kopek Des Bordes 11.23
Lecky Watson
State Man
The New Lion
Windbeneathmywings
Wodhooh 27.2
49.72

Tonge
Ballyburn
Dinoblue
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
147.46

Triptych
Bad
Grey Dawning 51.91
Hyland
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Intense Raffles
King Turgeon
L’Eau du Sud 29.34
Lossiemouth 26.2
Masaccio
Resplendent Grey 20.5
210.91

Venture to Cognac
A Penny A Hundred
Appreciate It
Dedicated Hero
Georges Saint
Iroko 23
Libberty Hunter
Midnight Our Fred
Mister Policeman
Panic Attack 124
Val Dancer
147

Waroftheroses
Fact To File
Final Demand 11.29
Gaelic Warrior 27.63
Golden Ace 55.1
Grangeclare West
Il Etait Temps 82.96
Impaire Et Passe
Irancy
Lossiemouth 26.2
State Man
203.18

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?

[Ian]

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.

[Pat123]

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.

[seabird]

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

[thebrigadier]

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.

[cormack15]

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.

[underscore]

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

[Lingfield]

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

[moehat]

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.

[clivex]

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)?

[Aragorn]

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.

[Fist of Fury 2k8]

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?

[Andrew Hughes]

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.

[Venusian]

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.

[Aidan]

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!

[graysonscolumn]

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.

[no idea]

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.

[Author]

Posts