Julian wilson. RIP

[HawkWing]

I personally don't understand why Clare Balding is rated so highly as a presenter. I get the impression that she is dialing it in for Channel 4 now and there were certain stand out stinkers that I can remember - the Carlton House Derby, anything Andew Balding trained (think it was at Royal Ascot where she cheered) the Liam Treadwell interview, Even Dr.Newland this year in the grand national was poor. Better than Carson and Parrott accepted, not sure if she is better than Emma Spencer or Mike Cattermole (and neither of those are near the top of the list)

Was too young to judge Julian Wilson but was the face of racing for me as a child. Seemed to be genuinely interested in the sport, not just presenting as a job.

 

[an capall]

He was old school mannered and interesting. Always seemed to keep an ear out for interesting information.

 

[Ardross]

Julian Wilson was a good commentator there is no doubt and one can see why he was pissed off that O'Sullevan hung on so long that he was usurped by Aussie Jim by the time the former retired .

Racing coverage was so good in many ways in those days - OK there were some oddities like Ken Butler presenting from Newmarket's July course with a cigarette and his rather strange Kenneth Williams style , old John Rickman raising his hat - but all the best meetings were covered and in detail , there was weekday racing on BBC or ITV very regularly not just Ascot, Goodwood etc . With the exception of Variety Club day at Sandown celebs were barely seen !

I agree that it doesn't help Channel 4 that Clare Balding just swans in now for the best meetings - it is as if she is not there the racing is not considered to be top bracket . I think Nick Luck has been a surprise failure his knowledgeable Racing UK presentation style has not taken well to dumbing down . Cunningham just does not work at all .

I think Alastair Down being relegated to the odd feature was a mistake and they would do well to get Sean Boyce from ATR he is wasted on that shite channel.

 

[Desert Orchid]

Julian Wilson was a good commentator there is no doubt and one can see why he was pissed off that O'Sullevan hung on so long that he was usurped by Aussie Jim by the time the former retired .

Racing coverage was so good in many ways in those days - OK there were some oddities like Ken Butler presenting from Newmarket's July course with a cigarette and his rather strange Kenneth Williams style , old John Rickman raising his hat - but all the best meetings were covered and in detail , there was weekday racing on BBC or ITV very regularly not just Ascot, Goodwood etc . With the exception of Variety Club day at Sandown celebs were barely seen !

I agree that it doesn't help Channel 4 that Clare Balding just swans in now for the best meetings - it is as if she is not there the racing is not considered to be top bracket . I think Nick Luck has been a surprise failure his knowledgeable Racing UK presentation style has not taken well to dumbing down . Cunningham just does not work at all .

I think Alastair Down being relegated to the odd feature was a mistake and they would do well to get Sean Boyce from ATR he is wasted on that shite channel.

I agree with much of this, Ardross. I suppose the Ken Butler - John 'brass monkeys' Rickman presentation approach just had to go if the programme was to modernise, much as I loved the harmless eccentricity of Rickman. I'd much sooner watch him than that horrible oaf McCririck.

I hope in time C4 can either get Balding to front the programme more regularly or just get shot of her. But I suppose she's really only doing what the Beeb did with Des Lynam and Sue Growler. If it was made clear from the outset that all she'd be doing was fronting the showcase meetings that would be OK but she was put forward as the new face of c4 racing.

I don't have any problems with Cunningham. He doesn't come across as 100% comfortable in front of the camera but neither did Wilson. I would like to see Cunningham get more rein to educate the viewing public about the merits of sectional times.

Relegating Alistair Down was a mistake but I just wonder if there are still issues with him that are stopping the decision-makers from trusting him with more responsibility. If there aren't then they are making a mistake in not using him a lot more.

I don't have access to RUK or ATR so can't comment on Luck or Boyce but luck does a perfectly passable job on C4. I can tell you that the women in my life like Alice Plunkett's mumsiness (even if she's nothing like that off camera).