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The 2025 Racing League

Ian_Davies

Ian_Davies

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Joined
May 7, 2023
Messages
4,694
Location
Hampshire
It's become very fashionable among what I often feel is racing and betting's self-appointed cognoscenti on social media to slate this now annual event.

Without wishing to add to their echo chamber, I too find the team concept flawed.

Punters just root for the horse they bet on - simple as - and the notion spectators will form allegiance to teams in risible.

But it is decent racing for a Thursday night and that's my more positive angle on it.
 
Decent prize money, Maurice, I wouldn't have any more integrity concerns than at most midweek meetings, possibly fewer tbh.

I shall certainly be watching (the actual racing, not the inbetween team nonsense) with interest.
 
It's huge money for the class of animal but you only need to read between the lines of some of the team leaders' comments to know that the racing is about as straight as the Shergar Cup, only for lesser horses.
 
Ian_Davies said:
It's become very fashionable among what I often feel is racing and betting's self-appointed cognoscenti on social media to slate this now annual event.

Without wishing to add to their echo chamber, I too find the team concept flawed.

Punters just root for the horse they bet on - simple as - and the notion spectators will form allegiance to teams in risible.

But it is decent racing for a Thursday night and that's my more positive angle on it.
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I’d say flawed is something of an understatement, though you’re right it is decent racing. There are also probably betting opportunities to be found if you have the time to dig them out.

I’m looking forward to see how those those famous Yorkshire folk, Ismail Mohammed, Jane Chapple-Hyam and Robert Cowell get on 😁
 
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Barnestormer said:
The concept is a bit like the hundred in cricket in that no fan of the sport wants it but it is thrust upon us and we are told we will all enjoy it.
Decent prize money on offer but I'm afraid I won't be tuning in.
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Good comparison. I'm the same with both, but at least I will watch replays of the races for clues.
 
Mr Whatoxo said:
If the racing doesn't appeal, don't forget Megan is lead presenter for ITV for this season.
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I suppose the upside to older men taking an interest in Ms Nicholls is that, in the highly unlikely event of things developing, her father is the one man in the country who wouldn't have a leg to stand on in terms of objecting to the liaison.

Moving swiftly on!

Lousy concept, but decent racing for a Thursday night, that's the Racing League.
 
barjon said:
If they want to attract the attention of the average Joe they’d be better off having teams of punters.
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Imagine teams of say 3 , with different types of rounds covering things like placepots & trifectas etc as well as the usual win & ew bets.
 
I do not understand the dissing of the Racing League ……mercifully on here we have the ignore button ………on the TV it is called the ON/OFF button ………..Simples 🤪
 
barjon said:
If they want to attract the attention of the average Joe they’d be better off having teams of punters.
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Developing this idea a bit:

To add a bit more interest and perhaps attract a new audience, maybe they need to introduce some form of mild punishment to pundits whose tipping doesn’t measure up. This could work for the Racing League and all other ITV Racing.

My suggestion is that at the start of each programme every presenter and pundit is given a £100 pot to bet with. At the end of the programme, they tot up returns and anyone posting a loss, is to be punished live on ITV (I think most viewers might prefer this to the singalong after Ascot every June). Of course, winners can be lauded in the usual way.

The level of punishment would be on a scale depending on how badly they perform, but could include:
  • Being slapped across the face with a wet fish.
  • Put in stocks and have wet sponges thrown at them.
  • Have to wear a dunces hat for the next programme they appear on.
  • Do 25 press-ups.
  • Get a smelly sock and make the losers drink a pint of beer through it.
  • Lock them in a cage with a naughty monkey with a bucket of shit.
Just a thought.
 

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