Channel 4 Racing

Alec Swan said:
It's no use you sulking because of the absent Claire Balding, you'll just have to be patient! :wink3:

Alec.
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LOL, well done Alec at last some wit and mirth, in the context of Channel 4 Racing

Since the demise of Mac what is there to laugh about.

If there is any sulking on my part it is the absence of the lovely Emma Spencer.

Let us see what other posters have to say.

I have a potential broadside about 'dress code'.

However in the interim they could have a prize for the best racing joke of the day!
 
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The thing for me is....
Tha since the Lord JF left.....there is no one with any REAL knowledge of riding races/horses and the day to day stuff that generally goes on around racing and yards.
TBH...in nearly all the other sports on telly...they have ex rugby/football/event/showjump/swimming/hockey etc commentating....so why have C4 just abandoned racing....
Honestly?...I now watch with the sound down until either a yard visit or the actual race....sigh.:(
Bryndu
 
I suspect that we may all be losing sight of the fact that Ch4 Racing is a focused programme, focused upon the needs of the Gambler.

The gambler will care little for how pretty or well dressed or eloquent or personable a presenter is. The gambler will be focused upon the opinions of the pundit, the fellow gambler, and how the horse appears to be, at the lead up. I suppose that we should be grateful for the crumbs the we receive. For me, on NY's Day, the ever delightful and ebullient and enthusiastic Alice Plunkett, despite the fact that she said that she was in need of dry underwear, was the star of the show. I could become very fond of our Alice!

Mick F most certainly isn't John F, and never will be, but his opinions are certainly of worth, no matter how they're delivered.

No, whilst I take and understand your irritation, I feel it too, but it should be born in mind that we are a comparative irrelevance, sadly.

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
I suspect that we may all be losing sight of the fact that Ch4 Racing is a focused programme, focused upon the needs of the Gambler.

The gambler will care little for how pretty or well dressed or eloquent or personable a presenter is. The gambler will be focused upon the opinions of the pundit, the fellow gambler, and how the horse appears to be, at the lead up. I suppose that we should be grateful for the crumbs the we receive. For me, on NY's Day, the ever delightful and ebullient and enthusiastic Alice Plunkett, despite the fact that she said that she was in need of dry underwear, was the star of the show. I could become very fond of our Alice!

Mick F most certainly isn't John F, and never will be, but his opinions are certainly of worth, no matter how they're delivered.

No, whilst I take and understand your irritation, I feel it too, but it should be born in mind that we are a comparative irrelevance, sadly.

Alec.
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Alec that's all very well but as you can see from Bryndu's post it's not all about gambling.

I don't think it should be all about gambling.

Dress code is very important. After all there is a huge industry supplying riding and country wear.

Did I see Tanya on The Morning Line without even a sensation of make up this morning?

As far as I am concerned the presenters should dress and look the part.

They should also have a ready supply of witty cracks and jokes. That is one of the endearing features of Willie Carson.

If Bruce Forsyth can have some witty comments on Strictly, then Nick Luck can do the same.

Let me also focus on John Francombe, why is he not part of the team. I am constantly asked by my OH where he is!!! I am told there are a host of bored housewives across the length and breath of the country, who miss his dulcet West Country brogue.
 
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Alec Swan said:
I suspect that we may all be losing sight of the fact that Ch4 Racing is a focused programme, focused upon the needs of the Gambler.

The gambler will care little for how pretty or well dressed or eloquent or personable a presenter is. The gambler will be focused upon the opinions of the pundit, the fellow gambler, and how the horse appears to be, at the lead up. I suppose that we should be grateful for the crumbs the we receive. For me, on NY's Day, the ever delightful and ebullient and enthusiastic Alice Plunkett, despite the fact that she said that she was in need of dry underwear, was the star of the show. I could become very fond of our Alice!

Mick F most certainly isn't John F, and never will be, but his opinions are certainly of worth, no matter how they're delivered.

No, whilst I take and understand your irritation, I feel it too, but it should be born in mind that we are a comparative irrelevance, sadly.

Alec.
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All of what you say is totally true.
I shall continue to watch....but fear it may soon turn in to the same state as watching racing at the bookies:) (It is on when I place my yearly bets on the national and the Derby...honest:) )
Bryndu
 
Whilst I am commenting.

Why did Channel 4 leave the outside commentating on New Years Day exclusively to Emma, Tanya and Alice IN THE POURING RAIN. Whilst Nick and Co were in the nice warm studio.

Those ladies were soaked to the skin, indeed Alice said on camera and I quote, "right down to her nickers".

Lets be fair it was not comfortable for viewers or for them.

Oh and were was Claire Balding. That would be very interesting.
 
Let me also focus on John Francombe, why is he not part of the team. I am constantly asked by my OH where he is!!! I am told there are a host of bored housewives across the length and breath of the country, who miss his dulcet West Country brogue.

If memory serves....and I am happy to be corrected...the Lord JF did not want to renew his contract to go with the new format, as he did not feel it was 'right' how C4 was revamping the prog..and removing presenters.
Fo me one of my outstanding memories was of JF practice riding over the Cheltenham chase course....on the wonderful chestnut who to my shame I cannot name....an amazing insight in to riding over chase fences...:)
How many of the present presenters could do that?
This is the type of thing I believe is missing....and dry knickers:)
Bryndu
 
What I miss are the horses.

They barely show them in the paddock now and spend more time in the studio with the so called 'experts'.


( I thought Alice, Emma and Tanya did a fantastic job on New Years Day in such terrible conditions while the men in the studio just smirked)
 
Can I just add, if I want to watch computer games, I could watch my husband!!

For me, the best part now apart from the actual races,is the yard visits, and Mattie Batchelors peices.
I think that this mornings show, was a result of cancelled fixtures, and having to resort to plan B or whatever.
 
Judgemental said:
Whilst I am commenting.

Why did Channel 4 leave the outside commentating on New Years Day exclusively to Emma, Tanya and Alice IN THE POURING RAIN. Whilst Nick and Co were in the nice warm studio.

Those ladies were soaked to the skin, indeed Alice said on camera and I quote, "right down to her nickers".

Lets be fair it was not comfortable for viewers or for them.

Oh and were was Claire Balding. That would be very interesting.
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Of course they did. Has no one read 'Real Men eat Quiche', 1980's I know. Real men in the office make the girls do the work. We girls continue to put up with it.
 
Well I'm afraid I've given up. Used to love watching when we had behind the scenes stuff and JF's wisdom. Re appealing to gamblers, I assume C4 must be keeping comparison figures, have they managed to attract a larger audience I wonder?
 
claracanter said:
What I miss are the horses.

They barely show them in the paddock now and spend more time in the studio with the so called 'experts'.


( I thought Alice, Emma and Tanya did a fantastic job on New Years Day in such terrible conditions while the men in the studio just smirked)
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This exactly. Sick to death of listening incessantly to the so called experts. I have taken to turning the sound off.
 
They don't show enough of the horses in the paddock, they will show the odd one but all they seem to do is go though the list then go though all the different betting lists which gets rather tedious after a while!
 
Rollin said:
Of course they did. Has no one read 'Real Men eat Quiche', 1980's I know. Real men in the office make the girls do the work. We girls continue to put up with it.
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The reality, I'd suggest, is that the various roles are decided by the producer, not the presenters. Anyway, the delectable Alice makes a much better job of it than Richi What'sisface.

Alec.
 
im another who likes to look at the horse befiore the race, know who is riding it and who trains it and any extra bits of info. quite often the so called experts pick a few horses that they think will win and then something wins which we havent even seen!!!!! also they are all so bland and colourless, except for emma who thinks she is at a fashion shoot!!!!!!! and goes too far IMO. at least claire dresses for the races and is enthusiastic aboutthe whole thing even though she may make some gaffs...she makes the programme come alive...
 
Clare Balding was only ever going to do the BIG fixtures - Cheltenham, Aintree, Goodwood, Newmarket, Epsom etc. She may not be everyone's cup of tea and makes the odd mistake but she researches and knows her stuff, unlike others...

Whilst the BBC coverage wasn't brilliant, they still managed to show what matters - parade ring and race.
 
I find it very dull these days, & Alec is right it is slanted at what they think the "gamblers" will want. If you go onto The Racing Forum you will read that most of these "gamblers" are disatissfied with the coverage as well. I would think that most gamblers will have made their selections prior to the TV coverage, but what they will want to see is all the horses in the paddock & going down to see what is going to improve from the race to back next time out. This isn't happening any more & you never see the horses cantering down any more, you can tell a lot about a horse by the way it moves, one might have the knee action that suggests a love of soft going or another will flick it's feet in a way that means it will go on firm; in that way you would get an idea what to bet on in the future. No amount of analysis by the guys in the portacabin make up for observation yourself, of course it is best at the paddock rails & all the serious people go to the pre-parade ring. I don't bet myself, but I think racing is all about the horses & we need to see them. The coverage is so dry that any one new to the sport will just get so bored they will switch over to watch a film. There seems to be no atmosphere, The electronic Mozart is doubly annoying.
 
I watched it today for the first time in ages (my TV is usually tuned to Cbeebies) and was really disappointed. So dull, missed JF and missed the run through of runners whilst they went round the paddock, oh, and adverts DURING the programme - WTF??

Enjoyed the Sam Thomas peice which was too short and I was quite shocked re. the peice about St Nic Abbey, is there nothing they won't put a poor animal through for the sake of their bank balance?? :mad:
 
I know it isn't the BBC, but there seems to be a LOT of breaks for adverts. Way too many. Mick F is OK, he is a real jockey after all, but I miss JF too. He always had a lot of sensible comments to make.
 
Orangehorse said:
......., but I miss JF too. He always had a lot of sensible comments to make.
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As we all do. Do you remember when the "Whip discussion" was taking place? Jim Mcgrath was arguing with God (JF), and when Mcgrath contradicted him, for about the fourth time, JF turned and said "Go on then, you've ridden a few 'orses, you tell us how it should be done"! :wink3: There was laughter in front of and behind the camera!! To his credit, McGrath accepted the criticism with good grace.

Chanel 4 Racing is a poorer place without Mr. Francombe. I also still miss Alistair Downe he's a gifted orator.

Alec.
 
The spend far too much time in the studio and not enough time viewing the runners in the paddock. I would rather see the horses than listen to jaded analysis full of cliches.
 
Alec Swan said:
Anyway, the delectable Alice makes a much better job of it than Richi What'sisface.

Alec.
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rofl
In Richi's defence, he is a lot better informed than when he first appeared on the program, but we, the viewers have had to suffer in [comparative] silence for his "education" to kick in.
Francome left of his own free will, only a large paycheck will bring him back.
Viewing figures.............. I don't know if comparative figures are available, but if it is aimed at gamblers, . why?........ real gamblers will spend their time more profitably elsewhere.
 
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The one thing in their favour though, was that they went to Newcastle when Wincanton was abandoned. They haven't done this for a while; otherwise it would have been All Weather & glass cabin only.
 
I suppose the glass cabin is permanent as they need it to transport the glass table around, could we just have one "racecourse studio" presentation, to see it that would still work?
 
I still don't know why they can't just comment & do the pre analysis as the horses are parading & cantering down, like they used to do in the old days, it worked really well & killed two birds with one stone. Horse racing doesn't need all this slick presenting, are the presenters so vain they need to have their faces on screen all the time? Also there do seem to be rather a lot of them. The horses are the stars, everyone on all the forums I have been on are saying the same; the current presentation is dry, dull & driving those that love horses away. All we need is the horses before the race with a small amount of analysis, the odd interview, the prices, pre-race & the winning & placed horses. The occasional feature on a yard, horse or jockey (they do this rather well) wouldn't go a miss either.
 
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