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Age:
53
Gender:
Male
Location (area/type):
Consett, Co. Durham
Occupation / Class:
Teacher
Political views:
Left of centre
Relationship status:
Married
How often do you go racing?:
Handful of times a year
Favourite racecourse(s)?:
York, Newmarket, Hexham
How would you improve the racegoing experience?:
Cheaper entrance
What initially got you into racing?:
Being taken by my father who was not a racing man but took me on our summer holidays. Then living close to the great Arthur Stephenson.
Which other sports to you watch?:
Football, cricket, NFL
Flat or Jumps?:
Flat
Favourite horse(s) of all time?:
Blazing Walker, Frankel
Racing hero(s)?:
Arthur Stephenson
Do you gamble? (if so to what extent, if not why not):
Yes but relatively small stakes
What are your views on promotion of the sport?:
Better than it was but still weak
What are your views on animal welfare?:
Support changes thus far, concerned about direction it is going
How would you improve the sport in general?:
Fewer courses, less racing (eg no racing on a Monday or Tuesday), less Class 6/7 racing (we are catering too much for poor quality)
Finally, is racing bent?:
Not as much as in the past though I’m sure there is still some skullduggery
I should declare that I am no fan of C4 coverage and am quite happy to see the end of Leslie Graham, Tommo and Cattermole. Quite how Plunkett and Spencer have escaped the axe bewilders me? They add nothing and pale beside the admirably feisty Lydia Hislop.
Cunningham is a good addition though I prefer Mellish myself and would prefer either or both to the woefuyl Persad.
In other words I still won’t watch and will stick to RUK and ATRBit harsh to judge anyone on the Jockey Club form as it was as rough a race as I’ve seen in ages and a lot of horses suffered interference.
Moore is definitely up with the best, Buick has a way to go yet I think. Hanagan is a worthy champion and good to see James Doyle getting chances at higher levels now.The colts race is a cracker darren. Be interesting to see the match of GB and Irish form. Mister Marc looked promising to me but the Irish form could be strong
Does anyone know if James May’s piece on the horse, from the National coverage, is available to see anywhere?
It needs freshening up.
The nondescript Tom Lee and tongue-tied Tanya would be first out the door and I now agree with those who say that it’s time to pension off John McCririck. He’s become a pre-historic irrelevance.
I would ditch Lesley Graham and the two hooray-henriettas ( Emma Spencer and Alice Plunkett ).
Francome has become stale and argumentative and Jim McGrath just looks totally disinterested now and gives the impression of going through the motions. I get the feeling that their noses have been put somewhat out of joint by Nick Luck.
For starters, I’d begin by replacing them with Clare Balding, Lydia Hislop, Graeme Cunningham and Steve Mellish. Richard Hoiles would be my commentator
I’d keep Nick Luck as the anchor man.
Blimey, that’s pretty much exactly what I’d do
Zoey Bird should never be allowed on the telly in my opinion.
Presenters / interviewers
Nick Luck
Lydia Hislop
Clare BaldingCommentators
Richard Hoiles
John HuntForm experts
Steve Mellish
Eddie Fremantle
James WilloughbyFeatures
Matt Chapman
A bouncer to keep Thompson out of the wayFar too much of a cozy club. The regulars have been around for years and there’s no reason why some of them should be other than habit. The likes of Graham and Plunkett, Francome too, are on because it seems too much trouble to replace them with brighter, more incisive presenters.
When they ‘changed’ the format a while back it was time for a new broom, opportunity missed and I’ve given up on TML and C4 generally.Fahey has said he won’t be appointing anyone as Hanagan will continue to ride for him when possible. I’d imagine they’ll wait and see how that works before reviewing the situation
I enjoyed it, obviously early days and I’m sure the plot will thicken. But certainly promising and from an excellent stable in HBO
It is a good question. My initial thoughts were that Moore would win, he has the class to win but I didn’t see enough decent 2yos from the Stoute set up to think he’ll get the necessary support.
I don’t think Fanning will get the rides, SDS was really supported last year by Johnston and I think the Maktoums have taken to him. I’d expect SDS to get the pick of the yard. However, Fanning might take away some of SDS’ winners.
Which brings me back to Hanagan, his yard will continue to churn out the winners and he has made a name now that will attract better rides from southern yards.
I’d like to see Hughes win and all those 2yos will surely help. Will he survive the whip rules?
Exciting times ahead for sure.Did they find a scroll with Derek Thommpson’s last winning tip by any chance…?
Mike
Steady big fella
Mr. Jarvis was one of my favourite trainers, a man who showed great skill and patience with his horses. A real gentleman on and off the track.
Sympathies to his family and friendsI was taken by Born To Sea, he got into trouble a furlong or so out but just quickened nicely. I agree there is a big over reaction in prices but I suppose the hype is there. The horse won well first time out and looked impressive.
Imperial Monarch travelled well and quickened well too, equally impressive I’d think, the only downer was he seems to hit the ground quite hard with a round action and I wonder how he’d like faster ground.
Two nice performances to liven up the scene for sureWA Stephenson – Arthur was the shrewdest trainer around, winning trainer of the Gimcrack and Middle Park but most famous for great jumpers like The Thinker, Blazing Walker and One Man
Nonsense.
He’s a very good trainer, not the best but one of the best. Perhaps the fact that most of his best horses get taken away to join Godolphin might explain his absence from the top races. But he regularly churns out winners and tough horses. If he was left to train his horses instead of disappearing into the blue drain I’m sure he’d win the big prizes
