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TV coverage

Ian_Davies said:
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Intelligence is relative - contrary to popular myth, racing is NOT full of "geniuses."

In fact, it's mostly populated with ex-public schoolboys who, being the family idiot, weren't bright enough to go into the City, or even become a Tory politician.

So instead they obtain a qualification at an agricultural college in being able to distinguish between a tractor and a combine harvester and then the old school tie and family connections gets them a job in racing.

I've met literally hundreds of them over the years.

Anyone of above average intelligence and capable of occasional independent thought will stand out

Blake has a brain, but Stephen Hawking he is not.
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I absolutely get this, the class bit.

I'm not against the upper classes, I just want equity for others!

I was reading a piece in the paper the other day about how few from the working class are making it in the medical profession as doctors especially because of the cost involved..

Very depressing.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Couple of thoughts here, Maurice -

1 Weetabix is actually an ultra-processed food (porridge is better for you).

2 But Weetabix isn't nearly as ultra processed as ITV Racing is - you shouldn't even be watching it, it's bad for your health and you know more than all of them put together anyway. 😂
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Has there ever been a worse cereal than Shredded Wheat ?
 
The Fortune Teller said:
I absolutely get this, the class bit.

I'm not against the upper classes, I just want equity for others!

I was reading a piece in the paper the other day about how few from the working class are making it in the medical profession as doctors especially because of the cost involved..

Very depressing.
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With me it's not even about being "chippy," or the politics of "envy" etc.

I'm 62 now, racing as a career has long since been left behind by me, and when I was a young man I made my life choices - I used to work with and drink in the same Fleet Street pubs as many racing media modern household names.

I chose my own path, they chose theirs, and some of them were (and no doubt still are) good blokes and good luck to them - I wouldn't want to go racing literally every day and stand behind some TV podium like a muppet week in, week out, or have some other job in the game.

But a lack of equal opportunity - and it's everywhere, not just in racing - damages the economy and society as a whole.

Nothing wrong with there being high earners in the top jobs, but they need to be there because of intelligence and hard work and not because of what families they were born into, or what school they went to.
 
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Ian_Davies said:
But a lack of equal opportunity - and it's everywhere, not just in racing - damages the economy and society as a whole.
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Yes, I've been saying this for years aswell, Ian.

The only thing I think we differ on, is The Royal Family, who I would allow to stay because of their part in our constitution and history.

But other than that I can't argue with any of what you say.

I think social equity has been put on the backburner with all the other problems going on in society and the wider world at the minute.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I can't imagine Gleeson away from the camera being the idiot he appears to be on screen.

Maybe I'm biased and it's the Irish in me but I've always considered an educated Irish person to be a lot more educated than the educated British person (well maybe not the educated Scots...) so I want to believe that Gleeson is a mild-mannered, kind soul who has accepted the McCririck 'act the obnoxious fanny' role because he's getting good money for doing it.
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for some one so knowledgably about the betting markets its sad to see him playing the village idiot on ITV...but yeah its easy money for him
 
Desert Orchid said:
I can't imagine Gleeson away from the camera being the idiot he appears to be on screen.

Maybe I'm biased and it's the Irish in me but I've always considered an educated Irish person to be a lot more educated than the educated British person (well maybe not the educated Scots...) so I want to believe that Gleeson is a mild-mannered, kind soul who has accepted the McCririck 'act the obnoxious fanny' role because he's getting good money for doing it.
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He is an affable auctioneer

Not sure Luke is a fan mind
 
Desert Orchid said:
1. Weetabix is fine when you can't be arsed to cook porridge.

2. I know I shouldn't be watching it. I think it must be a psychological thing: watch it to see how awful it can be.

I keep saying if I ever win the Euromillions one of the first things I'd do is book myself a series of sessions with a psychoanalyst. There's so much I want to understand about why I am who/what/how I am.
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We all should.My sister came out with a theory about our family about 6 months ago which I instantly identified as being true - doing so has made an incredible difference to my life.The truth will set you free.
 
granger said:
He is an affable auctioneer

Not sure Luke is a fan mind
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He is a very successful auctioneer based in Ardmore. I met him 25 years ago and didn't like him -if you aren't of use to him he isn't interested in talking to you.As a betting analyst on RTE he brings nothing to the party -basically all the punters are backing all the favourites.When I met him I found him to be sullen and abrupt.
 
Ardross said:
There are a lot of very posh people with apparently very little talent in racing broadcasting - how Rupert Bell and Aly Vance ( whose omnipresence on the microphone was one of the downers of this Festival beats me ?
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Rupert Bell is occasionally on Irish radio -I find him enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
Aly Vance is obviously well connected.
 
PlaceBacker said:
for some one so knowledgably about the betting markets its sad to see him playing the village idiot on ITV...but yeah its easy money for him
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PlaceBacker said:
for some one so knowledgably about the betting markets its sad to see him playing the village idiot on ITV...but yeah its easy money for him
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Offers zero in the way of serious analysis on RTE -he is there because he is a safe pair of hands.Johnny Ward stood in for him years ago and was well prepared and actually referred to the betfair place market.Gleeson just turns up and wanders aimlessly -he is stealing a living on RTE.
 
Kudos to former Talking Horses member Gary O' Brien who refused to let Betfair PR man talk his usual nonsense on RTV.Baz was bigging up the betfair super boost of 11/4 Fact to File -Gary challenged him about its availability to everyone and Barry was forced to admit that terms and conditions applied.
 
The Fortune Teller said:
Yes, I've been saying this for years aswell, Ian.

The only thing I think we differ on, is The Royal Family, who I would allow to stay because of their part in our constitution and history.

But other than that I can't argue with any of what you say.

I think social equity has been put on the backburner with all the other problems going on in society and the wider world at the minute.
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Nepotism, too: I absolutely hate it.
 
LUKE said:
We all should.My sister came out with a theory about our family about 6 months ago which I instantly identified as being true - doing so has made an incredible difference to my life.The truth will set you free.
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That sounds like it has the makings of a seriously successful book, Luke.

My brother has been writing his memoirs for a number of years now. Just half an hour here and there when it occurs to him to write some more and I should say that he does have an incredible way with words and I hope he gets to finish and publish them. I'm sure it will be a great read.

I'm still trying to gently persuade Orchidette to publish her thesis. Her tutor/mentor said it was the most wonderful piece of serious writing she'd ever read because of her turn of phrase and appropriate inclusion of humour.

(I put the way with words and humour they have down to our Irish blood.)
 
I noticed today the ITV morning programme came up with yet another gimmick, a 'professional punter' called Tom Collins.

The guy looks like he's only just started shaving and his background, he tells us, is that he started on a BHA programme some years ago before being employed by the RP.

I have to say, I have never heard of him.

Didn't they have another 'professional punter' on giving tips a few years ago? How did that go? Not well, I presume, otherwise I imagine he'd still be there causing prices to plummet right left and centre.

I didn't watch all of the programme but did they ditch the Timeform star of the day and ratings running along the bottom of the screen in a feature race?

Good to see Jason Weaver back in decent form but not really looking forward to 'Cesca's grating voice later in the day.
 
I'd been watching ITV Racing on mute in the background but, even silent, it annoyed me.

Just a succession of well-heeled winning owners wearing bits of dead animals, or thinking they're a character because they wear a garish suit, shirt or tie, who are frankly not of this 21st century world, being fawned over, no doubt to the bemusement of a Saturday afternoon ITV daytime urban audience.

Thankfully my ancient TV can't get ITV4 so I'm spared it today - I really do enjoy watching the racing more on my iphone.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I noticed today the ITV morning programme came up with yet another gimmick, a 'professional punter' called Tom Collins.

The guy looks like he's only just started shaving and his background, he tells us, is that he started on a BHA programme some years ago before being employed by the RP.

I have to say, I have never heard of him.

Didn't they have another 'professional punter' on giving tips a few years ago? How did that go? Not well, I presume, otherwise I imagine he'd still be there causing prices to plummet right left and centre.

I didn't watch all of the programme but did they ditch the Timeform star of the day and ratings running along the bottom of the screen in a feature race?

Good to see Jason Weaver back in decent form but not really looking forward to 'Cesca's grating voice later in the day.
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Tipping Tom they called him.

He did used to appear on a few of the Racing Post podcasts, without making a great impression on me as a good judge. Going back 2 or 3 years I recall it being mentioned that he had some US racing expertise - whether he does or not I don’t know as I have no interest in their racing. Also seen him pop up on Attheraces from time to time.

They certainly had some reference to Timeform ratings, showing Liberty Lane top of adjusted ratings for the 3.00 - though I don’t take much notice of those.

Can’t agree about Francesca - but tend to watch the racing channels on a Saturday, as I find ITV spends too much time telling us what has happened in the past and what we’ve got to look forward to next week, rather than concentrating on what is going on in the current race.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I noticed today the ITV morning programme came up with yet another gimmick, a 'professional punter' called Tom Collins.

The guy looks like he's only just started shaving and his background, he tells us, is that he started on a BHA programme some years ago before being employed by the RP.

I have to say, I have never heard of him.

Didn't they have another 'professional punter' on giving tips a few years ago? How did that go? Not well, I presume, otherwise I imagine he'd still be there causing prices to plummet right left and centre.

I didn't watch all of the programme but did they ditch the Timeform star of the day and ratings running along the bottom of the screen in a feature race?

Good to see Jason Weaver back in decent form but not really looking forward to 'Cesca's grating voice later in the day.
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Tom Collins is a top notch tipster at American racing -strong opinions backed up by a Good preparation.He moves markets on American racing.
 
If anyone is thinking about a Racing TV subscription, now maybe the time to it, as they have a £12 a month offer (apparently 59% off) until Sunday. About 40p a day, so pretty good value.
 
So glad I decided not to have lunch today.

I reckon I might have ended up redecorating the man cave if I'd seen a half-naked Chapman so soon after eating.

The word gross rears its ugly head again.

And what half-wit decided it was a good idea to stage interviewing the presenters in beauty salons, barber shops and tanning parlours??
 


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