Chanel 4 racing and Claire Balding.

[Clodagh]

I'm off to look for the C4 comment form. I liked the NH bit but hated the racing coverage. I want to know who trains it and what colours the jockey is wearing. It isn't all about gambling, I watch RUK as well and I never bet, I want to see the horses.
Sprinter Sacre was stunning, made LR look very dull!

 

[Clodagh]

I can't find it, but I'm not very savvy with 'puter. Can someone please post me a link?
Thank you

 

[Daffodil]

I'm an online subscriber to Racing UK and ATR. I don't want to muck up my chances of still being able to view both channels on the PC (I sometimes see it in the office) so am reluctant to start playing about with their websites.

But could someone tell me how I can get both channels accessible on my television at home without losing the internet facility?

I am serious hopeless at this sort of thing!

Many thanks.

 

[starr_g]

I couldn't find the contact form on the C4 website but got it via Google. The graphics seem to be the main cause of complaint so hopefully they will be changed.

www.channel4.com/4viewers/contact-us

 

[Clodagh]

I couldn't find the contact form on the C4 website but got it via Google. The graphics seem to be the main cause of complaint so hopefully they will be changed.

www.channel4.com/4viewers/contact-us

Done, thank you very much.

 

[Clodagh]

I'm an online subscriber to Racing UK and ATR. I don't want to muck up my chances of still being able to view both channels on the PC (I sometimes see it in the office) so am reluctant to start playing about with their websites.

But could someone tell me how I can get both channels accessible on my television at home without losing the internet facility?

I am serious hopeless at this sort of thing!

Many thanks.

Do you have Sky? We have Sky Sports and they just appear in the listings. If you phone them with your viewing card number to hand I'm sure they could talk you through it.

 

[Daffodil]

Thank you, Clodagh. I'm not on Sky but will look into it.

 

[MyBoyChe]

Ive just watched yesterdays racing (recorded it) from C4. Where was Claire, I thought she was going to be the face of C4 racing but no sign of her!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Ive just watched yesterdays racing (recorded it) from C4. Where was Claire, I thought she was going to be the face of C4 racing but no sign of her!

Press said she was covering 60 meetings of the 100 + meetings being televised by C4.

An amusing moment yesterday was Rishi Perpratt trying to interiew John Francome.

Francome had a runner and Rishi was telling John how it would go. Painful to say the least. After all of 15 seconds John turned his back on Rishi and walked away.

 

[MyBoyChe]

"An amusing moment yesterday was Rishi Perpratt trying to interiew John Francome."

AA, yes I thought 'trying' was the best way to describe that interview. Thanks for info on Claire, I hadnt seen that press comment, assumed she was doing them all.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I have just finished watching the recording from yesterday. I must be the only one that finds the new format not enjoyable.

Much preferred the old team.

 

[Rowreach]

I have just finished watching the recording from yesterday. I must be the only one that finds the new format not enjoyable.

Much preferred the old team.

No, you are not alone, and I know I am not good at change but without JF, who really knows his onions, I can't see it being for me.

 

[Fantasy_World]

I have just finished watching the recording from yesterday. I must be the only one that finds the new format not enjoyable.

Much preferred the old team.

You and me both and I would guess at least half of the UK's punters from comments I have seen

 

[Fantasy_World]

Who was the presenter that got his horse colours well and truly mixed up the other day saying that one of Lady Cricket's progeny had colouring just like she, it was a bay, Lady Cricket was a chestnut..... ouch!

 

[Dobiegirl]

Who was the presenter that got his horse colours well and truly mixed up the other day saying that one of Lady Cricket's progeny had colouring just like she, it was a bay, Lady Cricket was a chestnut..... ouch!

That was Graham Cunningham. I thought the programme just lacked warmth, personality call it what you like but it was dull as ditchwater. Rishi Persaads interview was cringeworthly embarrassing.

 

[justabob]

I find it as souless as At The Races. Fine if you are a punter and only watch for betting purposes. My saturdays are now ruined.

 

[Honeylight]

I find it as souless as At The Races. Fine if you are a punter and only watch for betting purposes. My saturdays are now ruined.

I feel very similar. I liked to see the horses in the paddock; serious race goers always look at them in the paddock first.
I felt it was about the same as ATR a punters channel only. I love horses & racing but I don't bet. People who do bet would learn a lot too by seeing horses in the paddock. You can tell whether they are fit, need a race, will go on the ground...be worth backing next time out.
I couldn't read the information on the screen. Who designs these things? I teach design & a students of mine (well they wouldn't produce any thing so bad) are taught to consider those with poor sight or dyslexia, both groups would noyt be able to read the new on screen graphics! Appalling!

 

[Daffodil]

Overall I thought yesterday's coverage much better than I expected. They'd sorted out the awful graphics problem of the first programme, though I find it very irritating that they only comment on certain horses on the card, the outsiders don't get a look in and the viewer has little chance of memorising the colours of particular horses. Poor Jim McGrath still seems a bit lost and really doesn't appear to relate to Cunningham at all, for which I don't blame him. I find him totally without character or personality.

The interview with Francome was a highlight!!

Let's hope ALice Plunckett is back for the Festival, she'll bring some personality and passion to it.

As I say, not as good as previously but I'm not writing it off yet.

 

[Daffodil]

Honeylight - you should have seen the graphics on the first programme!

 

[Clodagh]

Rishi Pershad is rubbish. I assume he was kept on as they have to have minorities represented, and that is truly not a racist comment, but an observation. Why do they show so much of the presenters talking? They could talk while showing the horses. I want to see the horses in the paddock. They had put the trainers names up, which was a plus.
I don't like Graham Cunningham at all, he looks a cold old fish.
Hopefully they will take comments on board and the show will develop.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Oh dear Rishi, calling John Francome "Johnny". Do agree as usually I like to do my ironing watching the Morning Line, makes a ardous job fly bye, but not this time. But it was so boring, please bring back the old team and format even if it means Big Mack (shudder) and if na tso called racing person cann't reckonise different coat colours of horses is he really a horse person.

 

[oldvic]

Oh dear Rishi, calling John Francome "Johnny". Do agree as usually I like to do my ironing watching the Morning Line, makes a ardous job fly bye, but not this time. But it was so boring, please bring back the old team and format even if it means Big Mack (shudder) and if na tso called racing person cann't reckonise different coat colours of horses is he really a horse person.

John Francome was Johnny in his earlier days when he was show jumping and when he was a jockey. Maybe some people still call him that.
Graham Cunningham is not a horse person, he is a form expert. It was a pretty minor mistake in the grand scheme of things.

 

[armchair_rider]

Hoepfully they'll get Mick Fitzgerald in to liven things up.

I have to say i'm not all that impressed. I don't like the graphics or Graham Cunningham (who for added irritation looks like Ted Walsh from some angles - and I do like Ted Walsh). I'm not that taken with their high-tec mobile studio either.

 

[Alec Swan]

I'll admit that yesterday wasn't all that it could have been. I also suspect that the new studio regime, and that bloody horrible table top flat screen thing, is dire and will take some getting used to.

I'm currently of the view that I'd almost welcome the awful Mcririck back. I suspect that it will rumble on, until we get used to it. It's a bit like the Range Rover, in that every time that there have been changes, I've loathed them, and then I've become accustomed to them, and then ******-me, if they don't go and change them, yet again!

Alec.

 

[claracanter]

I enjoyed the coverage on New Years Day from NH's yard and was expecting good things from Channel4 this weekend. However, I was very disappointed. I know they were very busy with 3 meetings but no paddock coverage is really bad. This was made worse by the huge captions on the screen which covered up the horses going down to the start as well. They used to have the betting running along the bottom of the screen so you could still see the horses.

I agree with Justabob. It was soulless.

For a lot of racing enthusiasts, racing IS about the horses and not the betting. We love to see the horses up close.

I see Channel4 racing is being produced by a new production company now. I hope they dont throw all the old values out the window. I couldn't bare to watch Cheltenham Festival in such a sterile way.

 

[Fantasy_World]

That was Graham Cunningham. I thought the programme just lacked warmth, personality call it what you like but it was dull as ditchwater. Rishi Persaads interview was cringeworthly embarrassing.

I had a feeling it was and him being a racing journalist made it even more cringeworthy.
Admittedly I know commentators and presenters have got horse's names wrong before, but that could be due to excitement, confusion or the heat of the moment.
However to confuse the colour of a horse is unforgiveable.
I have not seen Lady Cricket for a good few years but even I can remember she is a chestnut and I have not race reported for 9 years!
I also agree that it lacked warmth.
I love Matt Chapman on attheraces, he does not lack warmth, charisma, knowledge and an enthusiastic approach to racing.
He would have been a welcome addition to the team.
I just thought the programme reminded me of a get together of professional gamblers who often in my opinion lack and real excitement either before or after placing a bet, even if they win. I know a few pro gamblers remind me of poker players!
I like to see the horses before the race too.
Not just because I like to see how they look but also for my own assessment of health and fitness with regards to my own notebook and gambling as I do bet on the horses.
The odds I can see online and let's face it how many people these days don't have online gambling?

 

[Fantasy_World]

John Francome was Johnny in his earlier days when he was show jumping and when he was a jockey. Maybe some people still call him that.
Graham Cunningham is not a horse person, he is a form expert. It was a pretty minor mistake in the grand scheme of things.

Ah but a so called form expert should know the colour of a horse's coat. When form reading in my opinion you should take into account genetics and breeding since they can and do influence a horse's ability.

 

[jezabell]

Where was Claire on Saturday. I too do not like the new programme what so ever. I know you have to get used to change and give it time. Not this I turned it of, it has lost the heart out of the programme. Bring back the old Morning line and all the people we know and love.
What a big turn of.
Let is start a campaign BRING BACK THE MORNING LINE.

 

[Dobiegirl]

Ive had a reply to C4 comments, they are very sorry that I didnt enjoy the programme and have taken on board my comments as regarding the graphics and Alistair Down.
So has anyone else had a reply and what did they say.

 

[Clodagh]

We are pleased to hear that you have enjoyed the new Racing Team, please be assured that your kind comments, including the request that we show more of the horses in the paddock, have been noted and logged for the information of those responsible for the production of the programme.
^^
That was mine.