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Exactly the same thing happened ten years back with John Oaksey, except with a bit more dignity.
Well said. If memory serves Oaksey of that Ilk’s leaving of C4 involved no more than a gradual winding down of his appearances culminating in him quietly wandering off into the sunset. No fuss, no long goodbyes, no moist-eyed eulogies.
Don’t know of course but knowing the decorous nature of the man it’s easy to imagine that’s just how he wanted it
A dignified McCririck – the ultimate oxymoron
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Oaksey’s last appearence may have been at Stratford for the Horse and Hound Cup about 2000. It was C4’s second or possibly third meeting that day, and I think they were covering just the one race. You’re right Drone, I don’t remember any send off, it was a very quiet departure.
The key to this decision may lie in which Saturdays McCririck will be absent from. On lesser Saturdays, when Channel 4 opt for quantity rather than quality, McCririck’s role is already much reduced in the afternoon programme. There is currently no suggestion that he will be absent from the midweek / major meetings when there is more filler time.
If Andrew Thompson really did not want McCririck on board, then he could have issued the ultimatum "take the pay cut or have the P45". For me, it is an inevitable, forward-thinking move (or as forward-thinking as you can be in terrestrial sports coverage these days)…
This is one way in which The Morning Line can get a much-needed refresh, it’ll be fascinating to see if other changes are afoot…
I think there’s almost no chance of them clashing at Kempton, why would connections when there’s two nice pots to chase at Kempton and Leopardstown over Christmas? Three miles at Leopardstown seems a match made in heaven for Denman, off this year’s performances. For me, the only chance of a clash is the Betfair Chase because of the cash on offer.
If you owned Denman, and on the back of Friday’s win, would you be tempted to have a pop at Haydock’s cash carrot? I would be…
Refinement (Chomba Womba)
Breedsbreeze (Fiveforthree)
Kicks For Free (County Zen)
Franchoek (Celestial Halo)
The Tother One (Carruthers)
Kauto Star (Denman)
Lou Du Moulin Mas (Christy Beamish)
Howle Hill (My Petra)
Poquelin (Premier Dane)Over the Creek (Ice Tea)
Oscar Park (Albertas Run)
Boomshakalaka (Mr Strachan)
Master Minded (Voy Por Ustedes)
The Listener (Mossbank)
Inglis Drever (Lough Derg)
Limited Edition (Don’t Push It)
Lyes Green (Gunner Jack)
Ma Yahab (Joes Edge)
Zaarito (Apt Approach)Breedsbreeze (Fiveforthree)
Oscar Park (Albertas Run)
Master Minded (Voy Por Ustedes)
Kicks For Free (County Zen)
Over The Creek (Ice Tea)
Zaarito (Apt Approach)Pigeon Island (Binocular)
Leslingtaylor (Noland)
Harchibald (Sizing Europe)
New Alco (L’Ami)
Wonderkid (Heads Onthe Ground)
Ashkazar (Grand Schlem)Certainly no bigger than 24, but it might be down to 22 since the introduction of the wider, Steriline stalls.
I doubt SIS will have any role in the BBC’s racing coverage as it is already contracted out to Sunset + Vine.
As for the greyhound TV trophy, I was at 1993 trophy at Belle Vue, and I think there were one or two more on the BBC.
Is two enough? It looks a tricky job trying to pick out all the fallers. Was it last year they got some criticism after previously getting wholesome praise when it was Richard Hoiles and Mark Johnson. Is Simon Holt not allowed to call it anymore? Notice he did some in the nineties along with GG.
Calling Becher’s through to Valentines from the main Grandstand is almost impossible through binoculars, the commentator solely relying on monitors. The grandstand course commentator in the 2001 National (think it was John Hunt) couldn’t really do justice from his position to the Canal Turn pile up, nor could John Hanmer, who had to call it from Fence 3 as Tony O’Hehir’s power had gone down.
I think Simon Holt stopped in 1996. He was due to call the 1997 National, but had to miss the Monday re-run as he was on holiday, and Richard Hoiles stepped in. After that, Holt did Channel 4 commentaries on National day at Hamilton when they introduced coverage every Saturday, whilst GG continued to call the National until 1999.
Simon gets to call the big Ascot Saturdays on the flat, not covered by Channel 4, so it’s not inconceivable that he could call the National again.This subject really does divide opinion on the forums!
Throwing my coin in, Martin Harris is a very underrated caller; technically very accurate, with a dry wit when appropriate. I suspect it’s his other commitments which keep him off some of the higher profile weekend fixtures. A funny line of his at the end of a point-to-point on bottomless ground at Wetherby a few years ago was something like:
"and [the second horse] is coming home ab-sol-ute-ly kna… well, I shan’t say it, but he’s very tired!"
Of the new commentators, I think Malcolm Tomlinson is very good. At the cutting edge, it’s Holt, Hoiles and Hunt for me- would like to see John Hunt call for BBC Television, rather than radio, in the future.
GC,
There is a clip on Youtube of Better Times Ahead winning the Lucius Challenge Cup at Carlisle in 1998, called by John Budden late in his commentary career. Is that the chap you are thinking of? Also, are you still tallying up the roster? Who has had the most gigs this year?No news on the morning inspections from Ceefax, used to be very good at updating this information
I was most impressed at how quickly the officials responded, and the quick and sensible actions of the inexperienced jockeys. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that before in this country before, and it was clearly a well-practised drill having a flagman deployed at the 5 furlong marker.
I wonder if this form of chequered flag (i.e. stopping a race, not merely bypassing an obstacle) was introduced post 1993 Grand National?
Condolences to the connections of Thyolo.
I cannot understand how the Betfair Chase was allowed to be run as a 3 mile race when it used the same start and racing line as the 2m7.5f fixed brush hurdle. This year Wetherby had to create a new 3 mile 1 furlong start especially for the Charlie Hall Chase, as they couldn’t meddle with the distance without permission from the authorities. (They have since kept that start given the resiting of the second last.) The distances will be in more flux when the new ground is in place on the inside bends (making it even tighter) and the water jump is reintroduced.
Interestingly, there were eight flights per circuit in the fixed brush race- I can’t remember a 16-flight three-mile hurdle before.
Agree unreservedly with you on Towcester and Ascot. It’s been five years since I’ve been to Carlisle (for last Monday’s meeting, as it happens) and I quite liked it, though the viewing could have been a touch better. Has this been redeveloped to any extent since then?
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)The roof of the old, condemned stand at Carlisle gave a better view of its replacement. It’s not as high and I don’t think there’s much cover, unless you go in the head on stand.
Agree with your comments about the improved programme at Carlisle, and it should be added that they are a building a new hurdle course to run inside the chase course, starting in 2009 I think. Hopefully this and the recent drainage work will mean that fewer NH meetings will be cancelled there.
Other good viewing courses I like are Ayr and Ludlow.
Have to agree about the new stand at Stratford- for such a compact little track the view should be exemplary… it’s a poor view with no elevation making it impossible to see over the buildings/ obstructions in the centre of the course… and hardly any cover…
Of the big courses, York gets it right more often than not. Market Rasen is one of the best small courses I have visited, even the Silver Ring get access to the paddock there…
AFAIK, Mike has done this fixture for the past few seasons at the request of the sponsors. I thought he did pre-race banter and build up very well yesterday, my only criticism was that some of the identification in the big fields could have been better- but to be fair, he doesn’t get on course "match practice"…
