Chanel 4 racing and Claire Balding.

[Nosey]

Well I think its getting better..more atmosphere in the studio with Jim mcgrath having a bit of banter wiv nick & mick. Much prefer Alice too!

 

[Clodagh]

I watched RUK again. I like not seeing the ads but I miss the camera car shots. I'm sure RUK have them sometimes, or did I dream that?
I sky +d the Morning Line to watch tomorrow, glad I did now I hear I have Frankel to look at!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Is there a link to the piece on Frankel as I didn't see it- must have left for the yard by then.

Was nice they showed so much of Denman's parade rather than the usual 1 shot such things usually get!

Good they showed a few more paddock shots but preferred it when they used to show each horse walking round as they went through the card.

 

[Alec Swan]

For all the fact that we may bemoan the passing of the previous CH4 Racing, I thought that today's effort was a step in the right direction. It was most certainly an improvement.

The lovely Ms Plunkett, dressed in wellies, ideal!

Alec.

ps. A quick note to Ch 4; Stick with us, we'll head you in the right direction .

 

[Echo Bravo]

Agree with Alice his stable was spotless, wish my house was but house and animals don't go. Still don't like the new format at all, but at lest I get through my ironing pretty dam quick now as I don't enjoy the morning line anymore and as for Clare Balding (shudder)

 

[Honeylight]

It has improved, but there are still too many talking heads, interviews & not enough shots of the horses pre-race. I really liked it when they showed the runners in race card order. I noticed posters on The Racing Forum were asking for more paddock shots, so it isn't just the horse lovers on here. Hopefully they will listen.

 

[Daffodil]

My horse would not appreciate me leaving him in bed so I can see the Morning Line, so I can't comment on that, but the afternoon coverage was a big improvement yesterday.

The coverage of Denman was excellent (who looked to be having fantastic fun!) and great to have Alice back (and properly dressed for the job).

The presentation appears to be generally better when it's minus Cunningham and Persad, but it would be nice if we could have the proper run-down of the card that we used to have and more paddock shots and views of them at the start, although the coverage yesterday was an improvement on previous Saturdays.

It's getting there

 

[AdorableAlice]

My horse would not appreciate me leaving him in bed so I can see the Morning Line, so I can't comment on that, but the afternoon coverage was a big improvement yesterday.


It's getting there

That is what the record button is for, or do yard first !

The coverage was better yesterday. I don't dislike Clare Balding but she seems to be absolutely everywhere at the moment. Racing in the afternoon and then rugby in the evening and radio 2 this morning. She either can't sleep or she needs a hobby.

 

[Daffodil]

"This is what the record button is for"

I don't have a recorder. Though I have just ordered one and asked for it to be installed in time for the Festival. I need a responsible adult to show me how to use it.

 

[1stclassalan]

it would be nice if we could have the proper run-down of the card that we used to have and more paddock shots and views of them at the start,

I reckon that a decision has been made to present all their coverage as conversational entertainment that just happens to be on a racecourse - hence Clare's chatty style being introduced and Alice's run-alongside interviews with the jocks. If you are betting oriented - there are far better ways of obtaining deep detailed info on the InterWeb that CH4 couldn't hope to compete with in the bounds of a cuddly programme - even Tania's job is on the line IMHO - a very brainy woman who's often edited into a giggling appendage.

 

[teapot]

That is what the record button is for, or do yard first !

The coverage was better yesterday. I don't dislike Clare Balding but she seems to be absolutely everywhere at the moment. Racing in the afternoon and then rugby in the evening and radio 2 this morning. She either can't sleep or she needs a hobby.

She wasn't on the rugby coverage That was Gabby Logan and the now infamous hat. Her brightest brain thing was on on Sat night though...

 

[Alec Swan]

I reckon that the AdorableAlice is, in effect, the delightful Alice Plunkett.

Come along now Alice, own up!

Alec.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I reckon that the AdorableAlice is, in effect, the delightful Alice Plunkett.

Come along now Alice, own up!

Alec.

Bxxgxx it, rumbled. I am beautiful, talented, bred in the purple and will, eventually, go across country with the best, I am a little too sturdy to go as fast as my mate Emma Suspender, but I will give you a longer lasting ride. I love a romp in the straw too, here is my picture, do you fancy me? I am better value than my friend Miss Suspender, she is fee up front, I am October terms.

,

 

[cefyl]

and great to have Alice back (and properly dressed for the job).
It's getting there

Really??? Between Alice and the other woman who someone remarked looked like a pole dancer the Beeb need to hire them a stylist, or get Claire to give them some advice on appropriate attire for television presenters at race meetings. It is like the Mad Hatter's tea party. My husband has always remarked Alice looks like she has got dressed in a rush in complete darkness and never looked in a mirror on the way out of the door ever since she started with the BBC. The only thing that was sensible were the wellingtons and at least she is not fake tan orange.

Thank goodness for record facility on the Sky box, at least you can fast forward through the dire inane chatter.

 

[Clodagh]

I watched it yesterday - juggling RUK and ATR too hard when lots of good races on - and really enjoyed it. I do have to give it a half hour head start so I can whizz through the ads but very good coverage, I thought.

 

[Nosey]

Graham Chapmans still a bit dire though!

 

[Maesfen]

I thought it was so much better yesterday.
Yes, they could still do more (any please?) paddock work but we did see a bit more of the horses, they also have gone back to reading out the full card which was better.
Alice has been by far the better at front of house (I can't believe it, he only looks 12 comment made us laugh too!) I thought Graham Cunningham was so much better actually doing the outside broadcast than he ever has been inside so I hope they keep him outside; he came across yesterday as far more human than he has done before IMO.

For me, a huge improvement, I think they must have been listening/reading to adverse comments and taking it in. I'm now not dreading Cheltenham for the coverage now if they continue to work as a unit like they did yesterday although I'll always miss Alastair's round up of the days, they were class.

 

[Alec Swan]

I'm still a little perplexed that as Claire Balding was supposed to be heading the team, we've seen precious little of her.

I too smiled at the Alice comment, but she was right, wasn't she? When he was riding in, I said to my OH "I suppose that his mother knows where he is"!

Alec.

Ets A_A, lovely pics of your filly, well done! a.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Bxxgxx it, rumbled. I am beautiful, talented, bred in the purple and will, eventually, go across country with the best, I am a little too sturdy to go as fast as my mate Emma Suspender, but I will give you a longer lasting ride. I love a romp in the straw too, here is my picture, do you fancy me? I am better value than my friend Miss Suspender, she is fee up front, I am October terms.

,

Super pics Alice, just what we needed!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Super pics Alice, just what we needed!

Alice is devastated, Alec did not respond to her come and get me big boy offer. Poor Alice now thinks she is fat, furry and on the shelf. She has not left her bed since the rejection, poor girl.

 

[Clodagh]

I thought it was dire on Saturday.
And wasn't Ruby Walsh an arrogant, miserable sod on the ML?

 

[FinalFurlong]

Clodagh, I have always thought he was a right miserable sod! Cheer up, he has nothing to be miserable about!!! He rides/has rode the best NH horses EVER, has won all top races, has a family etc so why act like that? Many jockeys would die for his position and riding talent (although he has worked for it though so do most jockeys) I have always proffered mccoy. He always stays humble and grateful. Walsh should really lighten up and have a joke around like most jockeys who bring some humour to racing

 

[Clodagh]

He certainly came across like he thought he was God's gift to the NH scene. Prat!
I am in love with Barry Geraghty so cannot comment further...

 

[FinalFurlong]

Clodagh: Every time I see those twinkly irish eyes....... *goes off into a daydream involving barry and FinalFurlong galloping off into the sunset*

 

[Clodagh]

Trouble with living with a jockey is they would make you feel really fat even if you were twiglet like! And greedy, I bet they don't polish off a bottle of wine at a sitting, with chocolate! Probably all steak and undressed salads. Still, those eyes might be worth a bit of food misery... and I bet he has got a muscley backside!!

 

[FinalFurlong]

Clodagh: Yeah my friend has his amateur license and struggles with his weight so whenever I sit and have dinner with him I always eat loads and then he's sat there with his coffee, slice of chicken and carrots. I feel a right fatty!!
Oh those eyes...... Oh don't mention the bum!!!!

Although considerably younger (!!!) I have such a soft spot for sam twiston davies, wouldn't mind galloping off with him!

 

[Clodagh]

Oh yes he is lovely. I wouldn't want his Dad as an in law though and you'd have ginger babies!!

 

[FinalFurlong]

Oh yes he is lovely. I wouldn't want his Dad as an in law though and you'd have ginger babies!!

His dad scares me. Every time i see him at the racing he always has that same look on his face *shudders*. Thats discrimination towards gingers I happen to think sam has lovely hair

 

[Clodagh]

LOL! Sam is about the same age as my eldest son, so I thnk he is pretty safe. I will just admire from afar...but he still comes a far second (by a distance) to Barry...
AP too obsessed, have you read his autobiography? The man is a psycho...

 

[FinalFurlong]

LOL! Sam is about the same age as my eldest son, so I thnk he is pretty safe. I will just admire from afar...but he still comes a far second (by a distance) to Barry...
AP too obsessed, have you read his autobiography? The man is a psycho...

Like AP I dont drink or smoke however having read his autobiography I do think he took it too far!!! Felt a bit sorry for his wife.
He was just obsessed and stalkerish!!