Channel 4 - Racing

[Judgemental]

No Mike Catermorel, no Emma Spencer, no John Francombe but there we have a problem because my OH thinks he's special, something to do with the West Country burr.

No very attractive and easy on the ear Emma Spencer along with that other first rate commentator Mike Catermore.

What are we left with, total blandness.

 

[Maesfen]

I for one am damn glad there's no Emma Spencer at the premier meeting of the year, she's so out of place in the NH scene but fine for flashiness on the flat.
Miss Mike a lot and of course JF but the team have done far better than I dared hope when they first started; only one I'd change now is Richi although he wasn't too bad today (yesterday).

 

[Double_choc_lab]

We nearly had a splatted Richi when trying to interview a winner. Was really happy to hear an Alastair Down piece. The Festival would not be the same without him.

 

[Judgemental]

I for one am damn glad there's no Emma Spencer at the premier meeting of the year, she's so out of place in the NH scene but fine for flashiness on the flat.
Miss Mike a lot and of course JF but the team have done far better than I dared hope when they first started; only one I'd change now is Richi although he wasn't too bad today (yesterday).

The whole presentation is boring, we like some rasamataz, excitement and jolly jokes. Bring back Mac all is forgiven.

It's an endless dreary diatribe aimed at people who are dedicated racing buffs, not 'John Q Public' who want some fun with their racing viewing.

As for this business of poking a microphone under the noses of trainers and owners in the paddock and asking pointless questions.

Ms Balding some amusing wit and mirth please?

Tell me Maesfen why can't we have a bit of flashiness and a few lookers, along with decent looking males. I stress that is requested for and on behalf of the OH and her chums?

We do like attractive erudite people with our racing.....

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I forgive anything as Alistair Downs pieces just make everything fine! And I do not not not want John mc back, just makes me turn off the tv. The only one I don't enjoy is Richie just because he's too earnest like a schoolboy asking for an autograph...

 

[Judgemental]

What a joy to see and hear Alice Plunkett anchor both Channel 4 Racing and the Morning Line today.

 

[Dobiegirl]

^^^^^^^

I agree and what a professional job she did, Knowledgable and with the right sense of warmth, I think she should do it every week. I loved her interviews of winnings jocks who seem to be more than happy to chat to her, Rishi on the other hand I got the impression he was barely tolerated. He has improved though since he joined Channel 4.

Did anyone spot Derek Thompson running after the winning horse to do an interview, he was doing it for the radio and had a cumbersome apparatus strapped to his back. Considering he is recovering from cancer I thought it was very sad to see him in this position.

Forgot to add it was an absolute delight to have Alistair Down back and to hear his eloquent take on preceedings, hope its just not a one off he is sadly missed.

 

[Maesfen]

Tell me Maesfen why can't we have a bit of flashiness and a few lookers, along with decent looking males. I stress that is requested for and on behalf of the OH and her chums?

We do like attractive erudite people with our racing.....

Lol but she dresses like a tart - which is fine for the dandy flat but totally out of place for NH. You don't see Alice or Clare wearing the wrong sort of things, they always look smart but ES looks like they've dragged her in off the street or she hasn't been home from the party the night before; it looks cheap.

Agree with Dobie totally too, was great to hear Alastair again, always just right.

 

[Judgemental]

Lol but she dresses like a tart - which is fine for the dandy flat but totally out of place for NH. You don't see Alice or Clare wearing the wrong sort of things, they always look smart but ES looks like they've dragged her in off the street or she hasn't been home from the party the night before; it looks cheap.

Agree with Dobie totally too, was great to hear Alastair again, always just right.

I am appalled by your comment and leap with chivalrous alacrity to the defence of Emma Spencer, she most certainly does not dress or look as you as you suggest.

Indeed I was standing at the edge of the television/announcers outdoor pen - call it what you will, quite recently at Newbury, Paddock Side and I was therefore, within feet of Emma. I was impressed by her poise, turnout, presence and the way in which all who came into contact were put at ease etc.

I feel your comment is wholly offensive and you should make a public apology on this forum.

I hope she reads your post and takes issue with both the Fat Controller and Horse and Hound!

 

[Maesfen]

You'll have to wait a very long time before I retract that comment or even apologise for it and yes, I would tell her myself; I did also leave feedback on the Ch4 Racing site to the same effect. There is no need for anyone on TV to advertise their wares least of all in a decent sport like racing.
Nobody is denying she has grown into the job very well, her work is not the problem, she'd be very good for radio; it's just her turnout for NH when her vanity overrides sensibility.

 

[Judgemental]

You'll have to wait a very long time before I retract that comment or even apologise for it and yes, I would tell her myself; I did also leave feedback on the Ch4 Racing site to the same effect. There is no need for anyone on TV to advertise their wares least of all in a decent sport like racing.
Nobody is denying she has grown into the job very well, her work is not the problem, she'd be very good for radio; it's just her turnout for NH when her vanity overrides sensibility.

Turnout, turnout! There speaks somebody who hunts with a pack of hounds that does not know how to dress correctly after the opening meet. Coming out in tweed

I am told, in the vain and forlorn hope of ingratiating themselves with 'John-Q-Public' that they are are more 'prolier than thou'.

I would suggest you need a lesson or two in turnout and the psychological presentation that folk expect both in TV Presenters on the Racecourse and in the Hunting Field!

I did not notice the Hunt Servant Escort to the winners at Cheltenham in Tweed. It would be too awful to contemplate.

 

[Alec Swan]

Lol but she dresses like a tart - which is fine for the dandy flat but totally out of place for NH. .......

I am appalled by your comment and leap with chivalrous alacrity to the defence of Emma Spencer, she most certainly does not dress or look as you as you suggest.

.......!

Maesfen my dear. J_M is surely a dilettanti and a fop. To be gushing over the Ms Spencer, whilst from what I can see of it, passing over the delectable, educated, erudite and interesting, Alice Plunkett, is approaching an offering on Crimewatch.

Alec.

ps. Maesfen, I wouldn't worry too much, the jolly old J_M will understand such distinctions.

 

[Judgemental]

Maesfen my dear. J_M is surely a dilettanti and a fop. To be gushing over the Ms Spencer, whilst from what I can see of it, passing over the delectable, educated, erudite and interesting, Alice Plunkett, is approaching an offering on Crimewatch.

Alec.

ps. Maesfen, I wouldn't worry too much, the jolly old J_M will understand such distinctions.

Alec, Fop yes, dilettante no. I have spent a great deal of time looking at the relationship between the world of horses and what I like to term 'John-Q-Public'.

I stress the following has nothing to do with racing or TV Racing commentators or indeed horses generally.

However one has to look at how the youthful elements of society, who are not short of pennies, wish to conduct themselves. A very good example is The Only Way is Essex. I am told by my friends in Essex that those on the programme are real people and waves of folk want to emulate their lifestyle.

I mentioned in an earlier post a recent visit to Newbury and in my opinion, a large percentage of the crowd throughout the Stands and Bars were of the stamp of The Only Way is Essex. Well dressed, sharp suited males (in the North American Sense) and females highly made up, teetering on heels and not leaving too much to the imagination when it came to dress code. Along with buckets of champagne liberally gracing the main stand, the steps and parties of racegoers on the grass.

Yes, it was all Flat Racing but NH has to look at the creeping cultural revolution.

Finally, you obviously missed my post on page one concerning the lovely Alice Plunkett.

 

[Alec Swan]

......I am told by my friends in Essex that those on the programme are real people and waves of folk want to emulate their lifestyle.

.......

Psst, Maesfen, J_M has friends in Essex. Dear Lord, what next? Before we know where we are, the dear man will have chummed up with politicians.

J_M, as fond of you as I am, I sometimes despair of your standards.

Alec.









, before others judge me!

 

[Maesfen]

Turnout, turnout! There speaks somebody who hunts with a pack of hounds that does not know how to dress correctly after the opening meet. Coming out in tweed

I am told, in the vain and forlorn hope of ingratiating themselves with 'John-Q-Public' that they are are more 'prolier than thou'.

I did not notice the Hunt Servant Escort to the winners at Cheltenham in Tweed. It would be too awful to contemplate.

That would indeed have been a crime as Wynnstay Tweed is not their uniform.

Interestingly, whether you approve or not it has been proved many times that by changing to the tweed has improved the public (particularly from drivers) perception of us no end and they no longer show their disdain/disgust if, by any chance they are held up by hounds or the field; people seem to have become far friendlier because of the tweed which can't be a bad thing. This piece was written in The Spectator in 2006, it's still valid -

"When I wrote about the Wynnstay Hunt last week, I forgot to mention an interesting change they have made since the hunting ban. They have got rid of the red coats, traditional for the huntsman, whips and hunt members, and replaced them with their own tweed, cut like a coat rather than a jacket and bearing the gold buttons of the hunt. The effect, I was told, was instantaneous. The former wearers of the red coat ceased to get any of the V-signs and shouted abuse from motorists that had been quite common before. The red obviously brought out something atavistic. A clear disadvantage of the change is that it is much harder to see the huntsman a long way off. But no one, looking at the Wynnstay tweed, could say that there has been a loss of elegance."

This article first appeared in the print edition of The Spectator magazine, dated December 9, 2006 -


Do you have an aversion to the greens of the Beaufort and Heythrop or the gold of the Berkeley?

Psst, Maesfen, J_M has friends in Essex. Dear Lord, what next? Before we know where we are, the dear man will have chummed up with politicians.

J_M, as fond of you as I am, I sometimes despair of your standards.

Alec.
, before others judge me!

Lol Alec; I too have a friend who lives with an Essex postmark, she hates it just because of the link, I tease her mercilessly about it!

Essex can be a beautiful county with very nice people but sorry, even as a child, I remember it was always known for white stillettos and slappers which is very unfair on the majority of the residents.

 

[AdorableAlice]

We nearly had a splatted Richi when trying to interview a winner.

What a pity the horse did not have a better aim.

The chap drives me potty with his stupid questioning of the jockey 'what did that feel like'. I cannot see the point of having an interviewer at the finish.

The horse should just pull up, have a handler by him immediately to slack the overgirth, keep walking and return to the paddock, then the interviews can be done.

 

[happyhunter123]

Interestingly, whether you approve or not it has been proved many times that by changing to the tweed has improved the public (particularly from drivers) perception of us no end and they no longer show their disdain/disgust if, by any chance they are held up by hounds or the field; people seem to have become far friendlier because of the tweed which can't be a bad thing.

I like the Wynnstay tweed, I think it looks very smart. There is some psychological reason why the colour red stimulates feelings of anger! Never much liked seeing all of the field in red thought-always thought that it should be reserved for masters and hunt staff. Still would rather see members of the field (and hunt staff) in black coats though, possibly with the hunt's distinctive collar in the case of masters and staff

 

[suestowford]

Bring back Mac all is forgiven.

why can't we have a bit of flashiness and a few lookers, along with decent looking males.

Two contradictory statements in one post, well done!

 

[Judgemental]

Two contradictory statements in one post, well done!

In his day I bet Mac was a real ladies delight.

However what we need on Channel 4 Racing is a witty raconteur.

I wonder what the job pays The master of the one liners and straight faced double entendres because I would'nt back any of the females to crack a good joke or two. Nor would I give any odds on the males to engage in any badinage either.

 

[Judgemental]

You'll have to wait a very long time before I retract that comment or even apologise for it and yes, I would tell her myself; I did also leave feedback on the Ch4 Racing site to the same effect. There is no need for anyone on TV to advertise their wares least of all in a decent sport like racing.
Nobody is denying she has grown into the job very well, her work is not the problem, she'd be very good for radio; it's just her turnout for NH when her vanity overrides sensibility.

Maesfen and what gives you the right to make such outrageous comments and not to apologise. It would seem that you have some sort of personal problem with the lovely Emma?

Furthermore National Hunt racing needs some colour and glamour!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Furthermore National Hunt racing needs some colour and glamour!

It has all the glamour and colour it needs, top quality thoroughbreds competing at the top of their game.

Fake tan, short skirts and high heels are the tools of a pole dancer and not needed or appropriate on a racecourse.

 

[Luci07]

It has all the glamour and colour it needs, top quality thoroughbreds competing at the top of their game.

Fake tan, short skirts and high heels are the tools of a pole dancer and not needed or appropriate on a racecourse.

We met a group of girls dressed as above at Cheltenham on ladies day. They were dressed as though to go clubbing. They were all very pretty and nice girls but I would perhaps point out that the way most women choose to attire themselves at NH meetings is borne out of bitter experience. I certainly chose what I was wearing from from bad memories of sinking heels when trying to get around a course!

I went with a good girlfriend who is an avid race goer and wears fantastic colourful hats. Indeed she was photographed constantly as looked great, so you can dress correctly and with a bit of sparkle too.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Was really happy to hear an Alastair Down piece. The Festival would not be the same without him.

I second that, he is also great in a crisis, as his thought processes are so well measured.

 

[Miss L Toe]

P.S. Well done Channel 4, I enjoyed watching every minute of day 1, and thought it was great. Saw a bit les of the other days, but still very professional.
I hate the advert inserted a minute before the off, that is my main ctiticism.

 

[Maesfen]

Maesfen and what gives you the right to make such outrageous comments and not to apologise. It would seem that you have some sort of personal problem with the lovely Emma?

Furthermore National Hunt racing needs some colour and glamour!

Perhaps I should change my user name to Judgemental.

Why I will not apologise is because it is what I think and last time I heard, free thought is still OK. If anyone puts themselves into the public eye they have to put up with what others think of them. I make no bones that I think ES dresses like she's on the pull which is a shame as she now has the gorgeous Mike C at her side so has no need to advertise her wares.
As others have said, you dress according to the circumstances not as if you're about to go clubbing.

NH has all the glamour it needs in the shape of fantastic horses and the jockey silks; they are the stars of the show, nothing should compete with them.

 

[It's Me Megan]

I hate the advert inserted a minute before the off, that is my main ctiticism.

That advert drives me crazy!

 

[Dobiegirl]

I was pleasantly surprised about the whole coverage, we even got to see horses in the paddock but realise that was because they were only covering the one meeting. As always Ted Walsh brings humour to the programme but missed his bantering with JF, having him there though improved the whole ambience.

Anyone who goes NH racing regularly dresses for the weather and there were loads of ladies who were warm and elegant something Emma Spencer wasnt, she looked like a fish out of water to me the way she was dressed as though she had dressed for a flat meeting.

 

[Judgemental]

Well there you are then. I think some of you are all being very unkind to Emma, pretty as a picture, very vivacious, extremely well spoken without one of those dreadful regional accents (viz the hair advertisment from Geordie land) well turned out and above all extremely knowledgeable about horses and racing. Also I believe born and bred at Newmarket.

Seems The Bitch Pack are drawing the coverts in Tuesday country.

Delightfully and overtly feminine

(Regional accents in women there should be a law).

 

[Echo Bravo]

I thought Mike Cattermole had gotten engaged to his long time girlfriend and that wasn't Emma Spencer?????

 

[Judgemental]

So nice to see Emma on The Morning Line.

Very sunny and clearly well received in the Haydock Park studio.

My OH and her other yard chums are anxious for John Francome to rejoin team.