I did put ATR on this afternoon and listened, or should I say suffered at the hands of Matt Chapman. I can't work him out, he talks inane drivel for most of the time and seems to want controversy. I have noticed on many occasions as he gets embroiled in arguments via e-mail generally related to some stupid thing he's mentioned in relation to a poor ride, a close finish or some other meaningless subject. He will argue black is white and rarely seems to admit to any fault or error. Today someone emailed the show to say he had annoyed them so much they would no longer listen. I was thinking of running a spread on the number of times he would say "errr" or "right"
Anyway he is probably a decent guy but his racing knowledge is appalling and today he admitted he was not a tipster....everyone breathe a sigh of relief! He then said that 99% of presenters were also not tipsters and very few of them could/would make a living from punting. This brings me onto my main reason for writing this post..I know I do tend to waffle!!
A good friend called me to say he'd heard a whisper that RUK was in trouble. They are allegedly haemorrhaging viewers and it's starting to bite so to speak. I am not sure if this is true but it was quite funny when the following day RUK called and asked if I wanted to take advantage of a reduced fee offer?? I already have RUK but I was annoyed they wouldn't offer me the same deal!
I love watching racing but I admit to hating the TV coverage. I am sure I have vented my spleen on here more than once.
If you look at pure value for money then RUK has to be the worst value available. £20 per month for one channel and you get hundreds of channels via Sky on a basic package. Okay, I admit it is a specialist subject and I am a fan but I also have to say the coverage is appalling IMHO.Generally you have a presenter and an expert. They tend to stand there like a pair of book ends looking at each other and then switching to the camera. They blow warm air up one another's.......and talk total guff about the race. We get to hear "I passed the horsebox of that trainer on the journey here" or "He was the first trainer I saw when I arrived" or "the owner is here today" and they use these mundane and very old clichés to offer some kind of tip, a reason why you should back a particular runner. Unfortunately they also find out clichés to describe other runners so when the race is run they manage to throw in the "we gave a mention for that runner!" At this point I am screaming at the TV "yes along with every other sodding horse in the race!"
Now, having heard Matt Chapman's statement about presenters not being tipsters I have to ask myself one simple question "What the **** do they do then?" Seriously, what are they there for? I listen to their inane drivel and you can count the winning tips on the finger of one finger....as Matt Chapman stated live on TV! Why do we need them, why are they paid to sit/stand and offer nothing but bog standard facts anyone could glean from the racing post or another racing website? Surely we could ditch them and concentrate on commentary on the paddock/gallop to the start/gathering at the start etc? We wouldn't have to leave some total guff to suddenly switch to an already started race!
Then we have people like Jim Croc McGrath who stands in the paddock reading from the Racing Post. He mentions the horse box, seeing the trainer, blah blah blah. He talks about the sire and the dam and how it performed last time out, all taken from the Racing Post. Then when push comes to shove they ask him for his selection he offers the profound words he always utters "I'll stick with the favourite I think he will take the world of beating!" AAARRGGGGGHHHH! How did I know you would say that Jim!! So the favourite is stuffed out of sight but undeterred and without an inkling of embarrassment he says "I did say this one ran well last time out so maybe that race put him spot on" yet another classic aftertimer quote!
Our sport is suffering, recent cheating cases have done us no favours but the TV companies covering racing just continue with the same old crap day in day out. The weekend is no better with Channel 4 simply presenting the same guff but on a grander and more shiny scale! They sit around the TV table and talk incessant drivel and offer nothing of use at all. If they don't want to offer a tip for a runner they should either say so or get another job! I do like some of the guys, Andy Richmond offers sensible data and puts it into a context everyone can understand. He will oppose the favourite and give valid reasons for doing so. He will also admit he is wrong is said favourite wins. I don't mind Eddie Freemantle as he also offers selections against a favourite but won't do it for the sake of it. If he thinks the favourite might win he will still offer "at 2/1 I would back it but at 6/4 I will pass!" Now at this stage of my rant they are the only two who spring to mind.
I reckon we should ditch the experts and have a single oncourse presenter for BRIEF pre and post race interviews and the commentator for the race. As previously mentioned they should concentrate on the horses in the parade rings, on the way to the start, at the start, loading etc etc. Forget the hot air and concentrate on the racing!
Oh I must add James Willoughby, aside from the recent mention of his expanding gut rather than the racing, I like him. He knows his stuff and he's witty too!
Don't even mention the subject of the commentators....OMFG!!
Rant over, soap-box put away!
