An old mans club ? Don't talk daft, how is it ?

Plus you say we are not giving the new hosts a chance. I think I may have seen this Balding woman a few times in the past, i do believe she popped up on our TV screens once or twice this year.

To me C4 have lost the man in the street touch. Thommo and Fat Al are a big loss and Francome is a monumental hole they have to fill. I like Mick Fitz, he is very good but is he a Francome ? We shall have to wait and see.

Could John Parrot do it if Tanya, had to go on leave, as he has done it on the BBC.

Is JP a IMG employer is he a BBC one

Won't Tom Lee do it ?

I don't no to be honest, I don't really watch Horse Racing much, but I mentioned John Parrots name, as I no he has done similar with for the BEEB.

Rishi Persad, are his BEEB days over now he has moved to Channel 4 Racing, cause if he hasn't if he is still involved in the Snooker coverage, wont they need cover for him

Seems a surprising thing to say given Alice Fox-Pitt, Lesley Graham, Tanya Stevenson and Emma Spencer were all high profile in their coverage

Cheltenham is off tomorrow so four races being broadcast from Musselburgh.

The 'old mans club' comment is directed at the overall tone of the show. Francome, Cattermole and Down were all incredibly dull and monotonous, McCririck was just out and out annoying. I have to say I'm gutted that Thommo is going, thoroughly entertaining and informative.

Whilst Emma Spencer and Alice Plunkett may have been 'high profile' they were always overshadowed by the likes of Down and Cattermole.

As for losing the 'man in the street touch' I've never read so much crap ever before. C4 Racing is only aimed at racing fans, not the casual viewer. Therefore the refresh was much needed, especially when they have the biggest race meetings next year. They will want to start attracting more casual viewers so that they break even revenue wise.

The man on the street is the man that Thommo could associate well with. Look at how he always mingled with all the racegoers, experts and occasional visitors alike. Can't seeing Nick Luck connecting the same way

I see Jim Mcgrath getting mentioned a lot via channel 4 on sky EPG. Is that the Jim Mcgrath that used to commentate for the BBC?

No, it's a different one.

Channel 4's Jim McGrath was a director of Timeform and has been on the channel's racing coverage since it began (and ITV before that).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_McG...h_commentator)

Doubt they'll call on Parrott if Tanya was absent; any leave she would have would be taken on a "quiet" Saturday.

As for Rishi Persad, I'm sure he's freelance, like Clare Balding, so he'll still be seen on the Beeb for snooker, though on weekdays for the 3 tournaments that they televise.

Whilst mentioning Clare Balding, if people aren't aware already, she's had to relinquish her Rugby League presenting duties (probably to Mark Chapman), but will still do the Boat Race in the spring for BBC TV and hopefully Wimbledon in the summer for Radio Five Live.

And she starts hosting a Saturday evening gameshow on BBC1 from this weekendd

If he won't be available for weekends, they may as well get rid of him from the snooker completely and find a second presenter who can be available every day. I know Hazel does most of the weekend presentation, but they need back up in case she comes down with an illness.

Not really. IF there was a problem at the weekend, I am sure John Parrot could present.

Emma Spencer has tweeted that she was due to be on tomorrow but now won't be appearing until 26 January.

Mmm...............bit of an inauspicious start

Clare obviously didn't fancy trekking up to Scotland so her and Mick Fitz are presenting from Nicky Henderson's yard.........

Nick's a pro though...................he's yomped North

Nick Luck and friends are at Cheltenham and they're taking the course commentary from Musselburgh of Darren Owen.

Don't think he has Swing Nick and co are still sat in Cheltenham!

Not a big fan of the new theme tune, didn't seem to get going.

Of course this is the definative C4 racing theme!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPREXKPNc8I

The theme music is not good a good show should always have a good powerful intro to get you in the mood.

They seem to have used the ATR style 1993 Sega mega drive graphics which is not a good thing.

When did ITV Broadcast their last horse race?

I'm new to.C4 racing but must admit the new graphics are awfull 80s style. So will there be mote racing on 4 now and is 4 ravcing basicly a freeview of racing uk as I notice they seem to cover the same courses.

I think that's just coincidence as RUK has nearly all the main courses so it's most likely that C4 will be showing races that are on RUK

ATR still has a couple of decent tracks - Doncaster and the top irish tracks so C4 will show, for example, the St Leger and the Irish classics

I don't like the new blue graphics, especially when the runners and riders are listed.

It's probably just because they're broadcasting from the studio in Cheltenham rather than at Musselburgh itself, but it feels totally devoid of any personality and atmosphere. Nick's face is completely expressionless though.

Hopefully, I'll be able to gauge the new format a bit better when the next meetings are aired on Saturday.

I was very disappointed that so many of my favourites have gone, especially Tommo, but like others have said before me, lets give Ch4 a chance to prove itself. For a kick off, I would suggest they start broadcasting live a lot earlier than the usual 2pm. I wouldn't miss The Simpsons one bit - it's only a 'filler' surely?

Bit difficult to gauge the new format today really, think Saturday will give us a better idea.