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Lesley Graham – " have you ever had a Cheltenham winner before ? "
to owner of Bobs Worth, who was the subject of a gamble when winning last years Albert Bartlett.They’re atrocious.
Both Plunkett and Graham have been all over the place, dont think they can handle the pressure of the big meeting..Francombe also a bit dodgy in places….Only Stevenson, McGrath and Down did well, Down did a pretty good job at interviewing the official about the Champion Chase fiasco.
If I made as many mistakes in my job I would probably lose it.
I should be in broadcasting on C4 then I would be fine.
They are a poor lot.I’ve lost count on the amount of times I’ve pressed the mute button because of the incessant barrage of musical interludes.
A few slips appall you? Christ you must walk around constantly doubled over in pain.
A few slips and the usual old cack from the likes of McCririck but a decent programme in my opinion.
They are a poor lot.
Better get used to it if the Channel 4 lot are going to be taking over the Grand National, Royal Ascot and the Derby next year.
Things are going to get a lot worse.
Those critics of the BBC are going to rue the day the corporation was forced to bow out (if the speculation turns out to be well-founded). All those ad breaks, bookmaker breaks, competitions are going to dominate the Grand National coverage.
As was pointed out, there’ll be a "quick break" just as the runners are circling before the start of the National.
Channel 4 don’t deserve to get these prestigious broadcasting plums, much as I like watching their racing programmes.
Normally, Cheltenham coverage gets plaudits from viewers. This year seems to be a bit different.
This is the company that is shunting coverage of the Dubai finale to More4 (and this is its own much-vaunted sponsor). What a way to treat its own sponsor, let alone be trusted to be the sole terrestrial showpiece for racing.We’re moaning yet it’s the same team that always covers the Festival (with the exception of the pointless Sam "What are your chances today?" Thomas). What are they doing differently or are we just being picky? It’s going to be very hard to get any live broadcast 100% spot on.
I think it’s maybe the Director: trying to cram too much in and keep everything constantly moving which is unnecessary and annoying.This is the company that is shunting coverage of the Dubai finale to More4 (and this is its own much-vaunted sponsor). What a way to treat its own sponsor, let alone be trusted to be the sole terrestrial showpiece for racing.
More4 is the best place for it – who actually gives a toss about some Arab dictators play thing?
As was pointed out, there’ll be a "quick break" just as the runners are circling before the start of the National.
Of course there will be breaks, but they’ve managed to cover the gold cup for years without the breaks killing it. The adverts are shite, but they’re a necessary evil.
The BBC pad their coverage with plenty of old tat. The BBC last year had a bloke reading out a POEM as they were circling before the start of the national. They totally wrecked the build up. I’d rather have a paddy power advert.
More4 is the best place for it – who actually gives a toss about some Arab dictators play thing?
Dead right, it’s lucky to get the coverage it does.
I think terrestrial coverage of sport will always try to be populist, even more so a commercial channel which probably needs to demonstrate to prospective advertisers that the programme can attain certain ratings with a decent cross-section. So a racing enthusiast will quickly find fault in the C4/BBC coverage.
Personally I think RUK which charge me £20 pm are quite unimaginative in their schedules and shd be providing more wide ranging programming during "no live racing" periods. A cheltenham preview programme wd be welcome every night not to mention all the big meetings rather then endless racing replays on loops. Also i wd like to see more access to their archives either on air or the website.
We’re moaning yet it’s the same team that always covers the Festival (with the exception of the pointless Sam "What are your chances today?" Thomas). What are they doing differently or are we just being picky? It’s going to be very hard to get any live broadcast 100% spot on.
I think it’s maybe the Director: trying to cram too much in and keep everything constantly moving which is unnecessary and annoying.Sky Sports do live coverage of football week in week out with minimal mistakes and great fluency.
Sam Thomas is a jockey and not a reporter, not sure why he’s doing it but I suppose you have to start somewhere.
I’ve watched the festival for many years now on CH4 and this year as been by far the worst in terms of mistakes and amateurish reporting.
All those William Hill (though Kate Miller is a quite nice), Ladbrokes, PP and Bet365 ads in the breaks are suffocating and far too OTT for me.
I enjoy the coverage overall and can’t help wondering who it is aimed at when you think about that hour before the start of the first race coverage or those great pre recorded feature and interviews………..who cares about watching that apart from me certainly not your average C4 viewer. Thanks C4.
Has anyone else noticed how guarded and careful Jim McGrath is when he is bringing Ted Walsh into conversations when they are doing their paddock coverage??? He sounds like he is scared of him or frightened of Ted not being interested in what he is asking him.Funny.
I enjoy the coverage overall and can’t help wondering who it is aimed at when you think about that hour before the start of the first race coverage or those great pre recorded feature and interviews………..who cares about watching that apart from me certainly not your average C4 viewer. Thanks C4.
Quite right and that’s the whole problem with the relaunched Channel 4 Racing, with I believe a woman director or producer who knows nothing about the sport, and who is trying to sell it to non-racing people. Get the message – non-racing people aren’t watching and don’t care, focus on us true racing people and PLEASE PLEASE get rid of the post-race interviews they are so worthless.
Poor yes but would the current BBC shower bring us better – surely not – do not mourn their passing
Racing is very fortunate it gets the coverage it does. This week we have had 4 days with nearly 4 hours coverage each afternoon and an hour in the morning and a late highlights programme – free to air! (The BBC would never provide this amount of time.)
Yes there are mistakes, yes some contributions are embarrassing but the virtues of the sport are shown nationwide for all to see. That is the main point, not the carping and nit-picking filling this thread.
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