Never so brave up 10lb to115
Ancient Rome down 2lb to 100
Akkadian thunder up 4 to 99.
Ramazan down 4 to 92
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Ascot Take Outs Day 5
- Thread starter barjon
- Start date
Ancient Rome down 2lb to 100
Akkadian thunder up 4 to 99.
Ramazan down 4 to 92
Ian_Davies
Conditional
I do love revised OR Tuesdays! 
Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 27,987
It's easy not to notice [self-perceived] imperfections when the message is educational and insightful.
Mr Whatoxo
Amateur Rider
All good points, but might struggle to get agreement to point 4.
1. Why not.
2 and 3. Don’t mind.
4. No thanks, leave early starts for the jumps season.
5. Bang on.
Mr Whatoxo
Amateur Rider
I think it’s a bit simplistic to interpret viewing figures being down with something being wrong with the product. As well as Friday and Saturday viewers increasing, one of the key stats indicated that the % audience share across the week increased from 9.72% to 11.7%. This is indicative of people being out and about in the hot weather, rather than in front of a TV screen, and may suggest the audience held up quite well. More data needed to make big decisions I would say.
Of course, there are things we all might prefer to be a bit different. I may be in a minority, but I think Francesca Cumani is great. Megan isn’t my cup of tea, but does give the odd forthright opinion. Unfortunately, I agree Ken P and Brian Gleason add little to the product and I’m ambivalent towards Luke - perhaps keep him to NH, along with Mick Fitz. Agree on Ruby, AP and Kevin Blake comments. I should just say I think Richard Hoiles is superb, not just as a commentator, but his all round knowledge of Racing issues, which he can explain in terms the non-racing fan can understand. Even when watching racing on Sky or Racing TV, I often switch over for his commentaries.
Sky coverage was a bit disappointing, so I watched more ITV than I would had Racing TV still held the rights. Agree that all that Fashion crap is a nuisance, but I suppose there are some viewers may find that interesting.
Mr Whatoxo
Amateur Rider
Dump Cumani, she's going downhill and her voice is becoming ever more grating. Get Jinnyj in instead.
Would jinnyj still be able to run our forum competitions if snapped up by ITV? and would Francesca then be available to take over if jinnyj was too busy?
Would jinnyj still be able to run our forum competitions if snapped up by ITV? and would Francesca then be available to take over if jinnyj was too busy?
Mr Whatoxo
Amateur Rider
Ramazan 92, I like.
Ian_Davies
Conditional
Tbf, racing fans/punters have never had so many viewing options.
There's ITV racing at the populist end, the specialist racing channels for the purists and, for "anti-talking heads" extremists like me, the option of turning the TV on at post time and off again as they flash past the post, or just watching pictures of the actual races (the only visuals that actually matter) on any number of betting apps.
You can control the level and extent of your personal exposure to it all like never before.
Royal Ascot crowds were up this year, so they won't change a thing - why would they?
The Cheltenham Festival and the Derby meeting are colossal rip offs in freefall, Royal Ascot, though hardly cheap, lets kids in free and has a variety of enclosure options to suit a variety of pockets.
The racecourse probably couldn't care less about the TV audience numbers - "maybe fewer watched at home because more actually attended, we'll have some of that!" could be their take on it.
Royal Ascot is the indisputable star of the Show - the jewel in the crown of British (televised) racing.
There's ITV racing at the populist end, the specialist racing channels for the purists and, for "anti-talking heads" extremists like me, the option of turning the TV on at post time and off again as they flash past the post, or just watching pictures of the actual races (the only visuals that actually matter) on any number of betting apps.
You can control the level and extent of your personal exposure to it all like never before.
Royal Ascot crowds were up this year, so they won't change a thing - why would they?
The Cheltenham Festival and the Derby meeting are colossal rip offs in freefall, Royal Ascot, though hardly cheap, lets kids in free and has a variety of enclosure options to suit a variety of pockets.
The racecourse probably couldn't care less about the TV audience numbers - "maybe fewer watched at home because more actually attended, we'll have some of that!" could be their take on it.
Royal Ascot is the indisputable star of the Show - the jewel in the crown of British (televised) racing.
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Yes so do yorick and myself.
It was drawn on the wrong side last week so 4lb is generous.
Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 27,987
I think jinnyj would happily allow someone else to take over the comps and TFT did a sterling job last week.
I'd send Francesca to fk back on the next fast boat to Oz.
The rest of my piece was just a petty personal rant.
There was a positive comment early last week about Sky's coverage. I happened to see it one day but switching away to other tracks kills the momentum of the coverage.
RTV didn't show it so I presume they don't have the rights.
It didn't really affect me too much last week, to be honest. I was studying between race on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so had the TV on in the man cave next door and STV player on my laptop beside my desk so that I could hear what was being said but little of it was that interesting until Ruby looked at the replays. I stopped studying for those and for the races themselves.
I watched most of Friday and Saturday and by about 3pm on Friday I was thinking how poor the coverage was.
Hoiles's little analyses are watchable but I don't like him as a commentator. For me, his delivery is too conversational and he often calls horses at the back when you think he's continuing to call the leaders, eg, "A makes the running by a neck from B on his outside, with just in behind on the rail C going well, D, E, F and G - at which point I'm looking at the third fourth fifth and sixth - bringing up the rear of the field." So I now have to look to the back of the field to check where they are, meantime he's back to who's in fourth and fifth, etc. I find it very annoying. All it needs is a re-positioning of the adverbial clauses of place to the beginning of that part of the commentary for it to make sense and he's been commentating for long enough to have been told by now. Somebody high up at ITV must like him. I much prefer Simon Whatsisface on RTV. On the rare occasions I get to hear American commentaries I can't help thinking how much more they give to the viewer.
(Another wee rant over.)
I'd send Francesca to fk back on the next fast boat to Oz.
The rest of my piece was just a petty personal rant.
There was a positive comment early last week about Sky's coverage. I happened to see it one day but switching away to other tracks kills the momentum of the coverage.
RTV didn't show it so I presume they don't have the rights.
It didn't really affect me too much last week, to be honest. I was studying between race on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so had the TV on in the man cave next door and STV player on my laptop beside my desk so that I could hear what was being said but little of it was that interesting until Ruby looked at the replays. I stopped studying for those and for the races themselves.
I watched most of Friday and Saturday and by about 3pm on Friday I was thinking how poor the coverage was.
Hoiles's little analyses are watchable but I don't like him as a commentator. For me, his delivery is too conversational and he often calls horses at the back when you think he's continuing to call the leaders, eg, "A makes the running by a neck from B on his outside, with just in behind on the rail C going well, D, E, F and G - at which point I'm looking at the third fourth fifth and sixth - bringing up the rear of the field." So I now have to look to the back of the field to check where they are, meantime he's back to who's in fourth and fifth, etc. I find it very annoying. All it needs is a re-positioning of the adverbial clauses of place to the beginning of that part of the commentary for it to make sense and he's been commentating for long enough to have been told by now. Somebody high up at ITV must like him. I much prefer Simon Whatsisface on RTV. On the rare occasions I get to hear American commentaries I can't help thinking how much more they give to the viewer.
(Another wee rant over.)
Ian_Davies
Conditional
You've got access to the colours, you can see the race, what do you even need a commentator for, Maurice?
They're nearly all dire in their own different ways and tbh their predecessors back in the day were even worse - looking back on old commentaries on YouTube, classic bits of theatre like Red Rum 1977 aside, I must as a teenager have had the critical faculties of a special needs gerbil to have ever thought Peter O'Sullevan was any good, Julian Wilson was even worse when standing in for him and on the other side John Penney sounded like he called every race while chewing a mouthful of gravel.
Rant matched.
They're nearly all dire in their own different ways and tbh their predecessors back in the day were even worse - looking back on old commentaries on YouTube, classic bits of theatre like Red Rum 1977 aside, I must as a teenager have had the critical faculties of a special needs gerbil to have ever thought Peter O'Sullevan was any good, Julian Wilson was even worse when standing in for him and on the other side John Penney sounded like he called every race while chewing a mouthful of gravel.
Rant matched.
I’ve been to Ascot a few times but never to Royal Ascot. I wouldn’t be able to cope with the dress codes and the general air of excess. When I was a teenager in the 1970s I imagined the top hats and tails would soon be gone. I never expected that 50 years later nothing would have changed. The same goes for the Derby meeting, of course.
There are people who look and sound like they dress that way all the time or at least seem to fit the part, but most people look desperately uncomfortable. Ironically this is especially true of anyone who is on the short side, as many professional racing people tend to be.
The racing itself is great, especially on the round course. The wear and tear on the straight course makes for an unpredictable draw bias from day to day, which is frustrating for punters, but it’s still brilliant to watch.
I saw the whole meeting on TV, mainly on Sky Sports. I think Alex Hammond has a nice way of keeping her guests from taking themselves too seriously and some of them are worth listening to. I did find myself drifting over to ITV at times trying to dodge the ad breaks but would soon return.
There are people who look and sound like they dress that way all the time or at least seem to fit the part, but most people look desperately uncomfortable. Ironically this is especially true of anyone who is on the short side, as many professional racing people tend to be.
The racing itself is great, especially on the round course. The wear and tear on the straight course makes for an unpredictable draw bias from day to day, which is frustrating for punters, but it’s still brilliant to watch.
I saw the whole meeting on TV, mainly on Sky Sports. I think Alex Hammond has a nice way of keeping her guests from taking themselves too seriously and some of them are worth listening to. I did find myself drifting over to ITV at times trying to dodge the ad breaks but would soon return.
barjon
Rookie
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2020
- Messages
- 4,535
The trouble with Ascot for me is that the big fields usually mean that the camera stays on a very wide view which makes it difficult to sort out any horse that interests. Thus, I listen to the commentary as well (usually on silent) which diverts me to the horses he happens to mention.
For the rest, I generally let it wash over me - it’s all harmless enough. If my subconscious hearing picks up something interesting I can pick it up on the subtitles which run well behind the pace
. BBC subtitles are even worse, really awful 
.
For the rest, I generally let it wash over me - it’s all harmless enough. If my subconscious hearing picks up something interesting I can pick it up on the subtitles which run well behind the pace
. BBC subtitles are even worse, really awful .
Mr Whatoxo
Amateur Rider
Rant - might be a good title for a new thread. I suspect it might be a busy one!You've got access to the colours, you can see the race, what do you even need a commentator for, Maurice?
They're nearly all dire in their own different ways and tbh their predecessors back in the day were even worse - looking back on old commentaries on YouTube, classic bits of theatre like Red Rum 1977 aside, I must as a teenager have had the critical faculties of a special needs gerbil to have ever thought Peter O'Sullevan was any good, Julian Wilson was even worse when standing in for him and on the other side John Penney sounded like he called every race while chewing a mouthful of gravel.
Rant matched.
Mr Whatoxo
Amateur Rider
Ramazan raced off 105 when 8th, Btn 3.75 lengths, on unsuitable GF ground in last years Stewards Cup. Might not even get in off 92 (would have last season). 103 when beaten .75l in Great St Wilfred, possibly on wrong side. Think that may be his first target this year. Maybe then Ayr Gold Cup (close 2nd in 2023 off 101 on GS - I think his preferred surface).
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Mr Whatoxo
Amateur Rider
She is, and doesn’t hold back from asking difficult questions.
Nick Luck and Simon Holt were sacked just because they wanted new faces at ITV . Oli Bell I think is improving but is dumped in the old Thommo role which is a waste - Harvey and Fitzgerald are terrible . As for Meg Nicholls and Adele Mulrennan - racing's nepotism at work not talent
Robicheaux
Apprentice
Switch on TV when stalls are about to open for the first race.
Race over, switch off. Repeat till end of last race.
Race over, switch off. Repeat till end of last race.
Mr Whatoxo
Amateur Rider
So this is why the viewing figures have fallen!
Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 27,987
You've got access to the colours, you can see the race, what do you even need a commentator for, Maurice?
They're nearly all dire in their own different ways and tbh their predecessors back in the day were even worse - looking back on old commentaries on YouTube, classic bits of theatre like Red Rum 1977 aside, I must as a teenager have had the critical faculties of a special needs gerbil to have ever thought Peter O'Sullevan was any good, Julian Wilson was even worse when standing in for him and on the other side John Penney sounded like he called every race while chewing a mouthful of gravel.
Rant matched.
The colours are available but I'd need to look for them.
I usually just listen for the off then watch the race so often don't know the colours. If I do know them I often go to mute and watch the race unfold myself, interpreting with my own eyes what the jockeys are up to (which is usually no good).
There was a rant thread some time back. It was busy for a while but then nae bastert contributed to it. Another rant over...
Robicheaux
Apprentice
I'm only interested in the race !
Ian_Davies
Conditional
Robicheaux just succinctly summarised what I've taken probably thousands of words in hundreds of posts across multiple forums to say and repeat ad nauseum over the years.
THIS^ should be a rule for LIFE!
Barnestormer
Amateur Rider
On Saturday I was switching between the Test Match and ITV racing.
My wife loves cricket but not so horse racing as she hates to see animals hurt.
She turned to me and said why is it that the commentators and presenters of the cricket are more professional and the horse racing presenters seem more like game show hosts.
I said I don't know how would you improve it.
To which she replied:
"They could approach Ant & Dec"
My wife loves cricket but not so horse racing as she hates to see animals hurt.
She turned to me and said why is it that the commentators and presenters of the cricket are more professional and the horse racing presenters seem more like game show hosts.
I said I don't know how would you improve it.
To which she replied:
"They could approach Ant & Dec"
