The next time we see Channel 4 Racing- there will be a whole new team headed by Claire Balding! I am very subdubios about this new team! And sad to see some of the old fav's go! What do we all think of the new look of Channel 4 Racing?
Woolly what the **** is subdubios? That's a ****ing classic mate I don't think there'll be any racing on New Years Day. If there is, give the new team a chance. People should embrace change more openly. Remember all the fuss about the new whip laws? No one ever mentions it these days
Clare Balding's a class act and I won't be dissapointed to see the likes of Mcrirrick go. I suspect the real acid test will be Cheltenham and how well they do that. Hopefully it will be great.
Been one of those days mate! I was meant to be going on new years day too, doesnt look a bad card! But anyway Im sure they will do well ! But is a shame Francombe is going! always gave some valid points and his knowledge was extensive. Claire did a good job imo on BBC racing so will be interesting to see!
Claire Balding will be a good addition but not a fan of Mick Fitz and he's no substitute for JF imho. His 'insight' on ATR usually extends to option (a) tipping up any Henderson horse or, if none in the race, option (b) tipping the favourite. The sad facts are though that there doesn't appear to be any other terrestrial stations interested in racing anymore. This was highlighted to me by the beebs radio coverage of the King George on Boxing Day. I was in the car so had no other option. The race lasted around 6 1/2 minutes and the commentary was interrupted three times by football updates. Twice to inform listeners that other than a corner nothing much had happened at Old Trafford and once to provide similar info re the situation at the Stadium of Light. Shocker.
Racing is unfortunately a controversial sport, and the masses know nothing about racing! I see it from both sides, I work occasionally at a racehorse rehabilition centre (moorcroft) -talking of that they have just got Ballyfoy (gary moores horse) and he has come in bit of a bad state injuries etc. and on the other side I am going to start to do some point to pointing. But the masses just know very little about it. Like most I am a huge footy fan but the stations aimtoward this and it easy listening figures!
I'm a football fan too Wooly and if a goal had been scored then fair enough. But they interrupted the Old Trafford game to bring commentary on the KG but then interrupted that to go back to OT to inform listeners that nothing had happened. It was truly bizarre.
I think it's great that all the Racing will come from Channel 4. Not bothered about adverts as long as they don't come just before a race. As for the presenters, Clare Balding is a great addition. I think she has a great relationship with all the jocs & trainers and therefore she will be fine. Mick Fitzgerald will be his usual pathetic self so hopefully he won't be on very much. So glad Jim has stayed on. Always tell you when he's backed one in the race. I don't have Racing UK so I haven't got a clue what Graham Cunnigham is like so I will learn something new on Tuesday. Obviously Francs has left a massive hole for Channel 4 Racing. Nick Luck just doesn't warm to me. The Morning Line's are as dull as could be because of him and that needs addressing. With Francome missing, I cannot see where the humour will come from and every programme needs a bit of humour. Just like when Barry Dennis always wound up Lesley Graham. TV Racing Gold! Back to Nick Luck, I don't know how he has won as many awards for presenting because as far as Channel 4 is concerned he isn't very good at all. Alice Plunkett is dull and so is that Emma Spencer. Not looking forward to it, but I hope they prove me wrong when the programmes begin on Tuesday.
It is a bit early to be commenting on the ânewâ Channel 4 coverage, since we have not actually seen it. As I habitually ignore the between-races nonsense, it does not matter to me who fronts the programme. Clare Balding just represents the further onslaught of the âminoritiesâ onto our TV screens. There are more coloured people and ethnic minorities on our screens because of political correctness and the queers are here to stay as well. If she does the job well then fair enough. Channel 4 will have adverts just before every race just like Sky has adverts just before the football kick-off because they are more dependent upon adverts than Sky as they have no subscribers. If the weather is as bad in 2013 as it was in 2012, I will hardly be having a bet so the bookies can advertise as much as they like. As a matter of fact my 2013 racing schedule means that I may spend more time at Longchamp than all British courses put together. The BBC has dropped our minority sport but the mostly bad changes implemented in recent years may see me virtually drop the sport. I hope that Channel 4 can bring in a new crowd to replace the likes of me.
Jim Mcgrath, Graham Cunningham and Nick Luck the rest are a shambles, Balding is professional when her brother doesnt have a runner, but shes absolutely useless to the punter.
Quarter Moon - is that tongue in cheek and it's gone over my head? I'm no fan of racism or homophobia. If i've read it right you should be ashamed of yourself. There's no place for that in today's world.
It will be a refreshing change and whoever fronts it and offers support and info will not be a patch on the NOT606 racing team, all of whom are wizards.
I will give it a chance but i do have concerns Biggest losses will probably be francome & down Does anyone know why they have sacked Down? I just don't get it- the others i can see the reasoning - although I think more people may miss Big Mac than they care to admit
steveo you have a point there.. i'll have to watch on new year's day to see what it's like. i usually watch everything on replay because between races CH4 give the results of previous races at other meetings i haven't seen yet on john mcrirrick, i was at a newmarket evening meeting once about 20 years ago (before i knew anything about racing or betting) and i passed john Mc in between things and he was twice my height in a massive black cloak. i knew who he was for some reason, and i had to get out of his and his cloak's way, which i thought was a bit rude to small people then later on when it was dark suzi quattro played. we were all standing and and i was at the back (wondering about her black catsuit and oddly placed butterfly on it) and i felt a presence and i turned round and thought, oh that's that man again, turned round again and he was gone, completely out of sight like a bat in his black cloak. but he's been a kind of mascot for racing. like the relative who has to be there even though he's mad. but there are presenters who are bad but don't have any effect on us which is doubly bad. i feel for the guy really, he's out of touch a bit, out of line a lot, but i'll miss him being about really, although he was excrutiating sometimes. that's probably what i'll miss actually. he's got some terrible one liners about him i'm sure.
I can understand why channel 4 have said goodbye to the likes of Big Mac & Thommo, but to replace them with Mick Fitz & Rishi Persad is astonishing to say the least. Channel 4 should have got rid of Emma Spencer & Alice Plunkett & they should have done alot more to keep Alistair Down, Clare Balding will do a good job. Happy New Year to everyone on 606.
I rarely watch racing on terrestrial telly, and I doubt that's about to change. I'm surprised they couldn't find a place for Mike Cattermole though. And while Alistair Down may not be everyone's cup of tea, he added a mixture of poetry and passion that wil be pretty difficult to replace. Other than that, they've got a decent team there.I think Mick Fitz is an excellent pundit, personally.
