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To racegoers on track this is.
Anchor – Matt Chapman (ATR Presenter)
Robert Cowell (Trainer)
Amanda Davies (David’s daughter)
Rupert Bell (Michaels brother)
Commentator – Mike Vince (Ex Racetech commentator)Rod Street, said "We are delighted to have assembled such a strong team to present QIPCO British Champions Day to racegoers on the day.
To racegoers on track this is.
Anchor – Matt Chapman (ATR Presenter)
Robert Cowell (Trainer)
Amanda Davies (David’s daughter)
Rupert Bell (Michaels brother)
Commentator – Mike Vince (Ex Racetech commentator)Rod Street, said "We are delighted to have assembled such a strong team to present QIPCO British Champions Day to racegoers on the day.
All of which makes Cheltenham on the same day all the more attractive – funnily enough I am actually writing a piece about this very topic at the moment.
For those watching on ATR / RUK or in betting shops they will have Richard Hoiles commentating.
I pity the poor racegoers. I know Matt Chapman is one of those presenters who divide public opinion, with many finding him entertaining, provocative, fearless and controversial.
But, when I am watching At The Races, I can’t stand his ostentatiously ridiculous modulations of voice. It all sounds so fake and contrived. The laboured and totally contrived Radio 2-style links and puns were growing grey hairs even in the days of Jimmy Young and Pete Murray (and at least they didn’t do the entire programme in a ridiculous, over-the-top, totally unnatural voice worthy of Alan Partridge at his cheesiest).
Why can’t he just do it straight? Tony Ennis, Simon Mapletoft, Sean Boyce and Gina Bryce are all excellent.
Irish correspondent Gary O’Brien must be heartily sick of being called "The Voice" all the time by Matt Chapman and do we really have to endure a eulogy to race commentator John Hunt as "one of the country’s top commentators" every time he hands over to him. Martin Harris is always "Bomber" Harris. It’s so wearisome.
Admittedly, Matt Chapman does a good job when commentating live on some blurred coverage of racing from Germany or wherever, but even these are done in the same fake, bombastic, naughty schoolboy sort of voice. I know, however, he did come to the rescue for race commentaries at Hexham when course commentator Doug Fraser (later found dead) did not turn up.
I don’t know why Ascot are so keen on Mike Vince as their own course commentator. He has been the course commentator for the Shergar Cup meeting for years now and I know Aintree were also keen on using him a few years ago.
But he was dropped very quickly from the racecourse commentators’ rota after a very sorry series of performances at minor jumps meetings, mainly Plumpton, I seem to remember. I gathered from this forum years ago that this was because of the number of mistakes he made. I’m not aware that he’s a particularly exciting commentator but Ascot obviously like him.
Vince, who must be Tommo’s original "Big Feller", does a good job as raceday presenter at Market Rasen meetings, interviewing jockeys etc.
Perhaps another axed racecourse commentator, Dave Smith, will be drafted in to join the supposedly high-quality Ascot team as the judge that day. He certainly didn’t deserve to get the chop as a commentator.
- Total Posts 17716
Rod Street, said "We are delighted to have assembled such a strong team to present QIPCO British Champions Day to racegoers on the day.
Given this line up, Rodders’s comment must be taken as a superb example of post-modernist irony.
Too right. Rupert Bell? I reckon Rupert Bear would be more exciting for the hapless racegoers, even with his unfeasibly colourful checked trousers.
And I gather that Ascot has just had another hammer-blow to its "quality" line-up. I’m told by a source that the planned special guest, Ken Barlow, has been forced to pull out at the last minute due to a very unfortunate diary clash. Apparently, he has discovered that he was due to be folding his underpants that day.- Total Posts 17716
Too right. Rupert Bell? I reckon Rupert Bear would be more exciting for the hapless racegoers, even with his unfeasibly colourful checked trousers.
Very true! The check trousers would at least have added some much-needed colour to proceedings, and raised the tone.
Mr Chapman is perhaps being rewarded for his abrupt
volte face
when the
Champions Day
move from Newmarket was confirmed. I seem to recall that previously he’d been dead agin’ it.
Have very little interest in this fixture, but am really surprised that Racing UK are being allowed to broadcast the top races from ATR covered Ascot. Thia is bound to have a negative affect on their coverage from Cheltenham, another reason to go to Prestbury Park instead of watching on tv.
Have very little interest in this fixture, but am really surprised that Racing UK are being allowed to broadcast the top races from ATR covered Ascot. Thia is bound to have a negative affect on their coverage from Cheltenham, another reason to go to Prestbury Park instead of watching on tv.
It seems to imply the organisers think RUK will give the better coverage.
As a new member, I have have just discovered and enjoyed reading the Q&A section on a different part of this forum.
I realise they were conducted some time ago but I was particularly impressed with Matt Chapman’s Q&A.
He showed an admirable sense of self-deprecating humour and an impressive appreciation of the fact that he attracts praise and criticism in equal measure. Well done, Matt. The joke about Tommo was particularly droll (ie: he, Big Mac and Barry Dennis will always be okay in any poll of unpopularity as long as Tommo is also in the running).
Simon Holt and Mike Cattermole’s Q&As were also impressive and quite revealing at times. They all had interesting information on how they got into media and commentating work.
As for Racing Post reporter David Carr’s Q&A, I would have loved to asked him whether he has that bizarre bleached blond Mohican-style haircut as a bet (and whether he gets danger money for wearing it like that). He probably had to apply for planning permission for it. He must have to go for an estimate every time he gets it cut (or sheared).
Bring on Q&A sessions for Rupert Bear and Mike Vince.
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