Is that the Jim McGrath who is on C4 now? I had no idea he had been around so long, he doesn't look old enough.
It is the same guy, he has been on ITV and C4 for years now. Probably their longest serving horse racing pundit/commentator now.
Funnily enough Beverley, which is my local course, has its one and only terrestrial TV outing of the year this Saturday with the Beverley Bullet. Commentator will no doubt be Malcolm Tomlinson.
Some of us older gentlemen remember John Rickman, who used to always doff his hat at the start of a race meeting. I really do miss Rickman, John Oaksey and Brough Scott who made racing fun to watch. Julian Wilson I was never a fan of, too staid, a name dropper and apparently very stuck up. The BBC probably had the best commentator, but the rest of their team were poor.
Clare Balding is contracted to present just five more days for C4 and her final appearance is expected to be on Boxing Day's King George. It is thought the BBC may move back into horse racing when C4's deal ends in 2016. - The Sun
Well I wouldn't miss Balding on C4. On the whole I prefer I C4's coverage to that of the BBC though sadly it has become more like the beeb's since she joined and the other recent changes.
Channel 4's Racing is now unwatchable, why do they need like 12 presenters?
Nick Luck, Clare Balding, Mick, Graham, Emma, Rishi, Tanya, Gina, and the other bloke who does the SP's?
Gina Bryce's contribution during York was 2 minutes per day discussing fashion.
Emma seems to have a repertoire of 8 questions she rotates weekly and Mick & Graham are 'excellent' with their hindsight, any fool could do that!
I used to watch TML & C4 Racing every week, but since about 2010 I rarely bother. I still bet but do it online and then simply check Sat evening to see if I have any winners, more exciting that the Lottery draw
Mick Fitz, excellent pundit, reads a race so well
Alice Plunkett, really good fun host
Simon Holt, best commentator in the business by a mile
Negatives for me
Graham Cunningham, talks too much, tries to be funny and is dull
Claire Balding, great presenter but I miss the Fat Al and Alice show or Mike Cattermole
Tanya, sorry she may know her stuff but she is no TV presenter
I would love to see Fat Al, John Francome and Thommo back but alas it won't happen.
Mick Fitz, excellent pundit, reads a race so well
Alice Plunkett, really good fun host
Simon Holt, best commentator in the business by a mile
Negatives for me
Graham Cunningham, talks too much, tries to be funny and is dull
Claire Balding, great presenter but I miss the Fat Al and Alice show or Mike Cattermole
Tanya, sorry she may know her stuff but she is no TV presenter
I would love to see Fat Al, John Francome and Thommo back but alas it won't happen.
Al might return as he does still do a little big of voice overs for them but the others won't .
I do wish they'd do more fashion and have Gok on every week interviewing the jockeys about their choice of silks. (now where has that rolleyes smiley got to).
Funnily enough Beverley, which is my local course, has its one and only terrestrial TV outing of the year this Saturday with the Beverley Bullet. Commentator will no doubt be Malcolm Tomlinson.
Got to love Malcy T's calls at Beverley. Particularly when it's a close finish. Such a good commentator.
Some of us older gentlemen remember John Rickman, who used to always doff his hat at the start of a race meeting. I really do miss Rickman, John Oaksey and Brough Scott who made racing fun to watch. Julian Wilson I was never a fan of, too staid, a name dropper and apparently very stuck up. The BBC probably had the best commentator, but the rest of their team were poor.
May as well include Ken Butler on your list as well who if I remember in his latter days used to stand in for Rickman and Oaksey and was paddock commentator?
Always thought Jimmy Lindley was a good paddock commentator for BBC at that time unlike John Hanmer, Richard Pitman was also ok provided he never had to speak about Jenny:D
Got to love Malcy T's calls at Beverley. Particularly when it's a close finish. Such a good commentator.
He is a very good commentator I agree and he always seems to like Beverley. Mike Cattermole did one meeting last year. He popped into the tea bar under the commentary gantry after one race and my dad asked him "why they never tip any winners on Channel 4 ?" He took it in good spirit, laughed and said he agreed then bought me dad a Kit Kat.
C4 had their best Morning line in ages last Saturday.
Why? Because they had a true character of the sport on (Sir Mark Prescott) and they let him have air time.
It's quite simple really, Horse racing is full of characters and these need to be encouraged.
Mick Fitz, excellent pundit, reads a race so well
Alice Plunkett, really good fun host
Simon Holt, best commentator in the business by a mile
Negatives for me
Graham Cunningham, talks too much, tries to be funny and is dull
Claire Balding, great presenter but I miss the Fat Al and Alice show or Mike Cattermole Tanya, sorry she may know her stuff but she is no TV presenterI would love to see Fat Al, John Francome and Thommo back but alas it won't happen.
I agree. She's been at it years now but she still looks extremely uncomfortable in front of camera.
I'd have the aforementioned Jim McGrath as a positive too -really knows his stuff.
I think Malcolm 'he's lashing home on the outside' Tomlinson is a great commentator and a shame he doesn't get the big meetings instead of being stuck at Beverley, Market Rasen etc
I think Malcolm 'he's lashing home on the outside' Tomlinson is a great commentator and a shame he doesn't get the big meetings instead of being stuck at Beverley, Market Rasen etc
That's because the big tracks enlist the likes of Richard Holies, Ian Bartlett, Mike Cattermole, Stewart Machin and Mark Johnson as their racecourse commentators.
That's because the big tracks enlist the likes of Richard Holies, Ian Bartlett, Mike Cattermole, Stewart Machin and Mark Johnson as their racecourse commentators.
I think Malcolm 'he's lashing home on the outside' Tomlinson is a great commentator and a shame he doesn't get the big meetings instead of being stuck at Beverley, Market Rasen etc
Is Malcolm still heavily involved with acting? If that still takes up a bit of his time it's possibly explains why he doesn't get more regular high profile races
Is Malcolm still heavily involved with acting? If that still takes up a bit of his time it's possibly explains why he doesn't get more regular high profile races
I don't think it is anything to do with his acting. As pointed out, most big races are on C4 so they use Simon Holt or Richard Hoiles and most big courses have their regular commentator ( Holt, Hoiles, Cattermole, Machin, Johnson etc ) who do the races on the track.
Comments
It is the same guy, he has been on ITV and C4 for years now. Probably their longest serving horse racing pundit/commentator now.
Funnily enough Beverley, which is my local course, has its one and only terrestrial TV outing of the year this Saturday with the Beverley Bullet. Commentator will no doubt be Malcolm Tomlinson.
Are you saying the other Jim McGrath is insane ?
I agree, just been reading up about him. Can't believe he is 60 next year, he could easily pass for mid 40's.
Love to see a clip of him presenting back in those days.
Nick Luck, Clare Balding, Mick, Graham, Emma, Rishi, Tanya, Gina, and the other bloke who does the SP's?
Gina Bryce's contribution during York was 2 minutes per day discussing fashion.
Emma seems to have a repertoire of 8 questions she rotates weekly and Mick & Graham are 'excellent' with their hindsight, any fool could do that!
I used to watch TML & C4 Racing every week, but since about 2010 I rarely bother. I still bet but do it online and then simply check Sat evening to see if I have any winners, more exciting that the Lottery draw
Mick Fitz, excellent pundit, reads a race so well
Alice Plunkett, really good fun host
Simon Holt, best commentator in the business by a mile
Negatives for me
Graham Cunningham, talks too much, tries to be funny and is dull
Claire Balding, great presenter but I miss the Fat Al and Alice show or Mike Cattermole
Tanya, sorry she may know her stuff but she is no TV presenter
I would love to see Fat Al, John Francome and Thommo back but alas it won't happen.
Al might return as he does still do a little big of voice overs for them but the others won't .
May as well include Ken Butler on your list as well who if I remember in his latter days used to stand in for Rickman and Oaksey and was paddock commentator?
Always thought Jimmy Lindley was a good paddock commentator for BBC at that time unlike John Hanmer, Richard Pitman was also ok provided he never had to speak about Jenny:D
He is a very good commentator I agree and he always seems to like Beverley. Mike Cattermole did one meeting last year. He popped into the tea bar under the commentary gantry after one race and my dad asked him "why they never tip any winners on Channel 4 ?" He took it in good spirit, laughed and said he agreed then bought me dad a Kit Kat.
Why? Because they had a true character of the sport on (Sir Mark Prescott) and they let him have air time.
It's quite simple really, Horse racing is full of characters and these need to be encouraged.
I agree. She's been at it years now but she still looks extremely uncomfortable in front of camera.
I'd have the aforementioned Jim McGrath as a positive too -really knows his stuff.
That's because the big tracks enlist the likes of Richard Holies, Ian Bartlett, Mike Cattermole, Stewart Machin and Mark Johnson as their racecourse commentators.
Is Malcolm still heavily involved with acting? If that still takes up a bit of his time it's possibly explains why he doesn't get more regular high profile races
I don't think it is anything to do with his acting. As pointed out, most big races are on C4 so they use Simon Holt or Richard Hoiles and most big courses have their regular commentator ( Holt, Hoiles, Cattermole, Machin, Johnson etc ) who do the races on the track.
No i dont think he is. He is only mid 20s i think. Good commentator, very good in fact.
http://hunterchases.com/
Yes i agree, I was impressed