He would do Hoiles works for the Racing Post

so would I both hoiles and holt are really good

I think the people at the top of horse racing blame C4, or specifically IMG, for the steep decline in audience over the last few years. They may even have produced a blacklist of talent for whoever won the new contract.

Seems a bit silly when you think about it. While it might make sense with the presenters, pundits and interviewers as they are perceived to be the face of the coverage it doesnt seem right holding that same view over the commentator. The commentator wont affect viewing figures whatsoever. People are hardly going to look at the TV and say "I'm not going to watch this as I dont like the commentator" and that makes a mockery of it if it is true.

Furthermore if IMG are to blame then how come some members of the C4 team such as Mick Fitzgerald and Rishi Persad are rumoured to be moving over to ITV as well. IMG brought them in after all. It seems that because they appeared on the old BBC coverage that they can come over. It just isnt a balanced way of doing it.

Full credit to Simon Holt for openly talking about his disappointment on not getting a role on ITV.

I will be gutted if Emma Spencer doesn't transfer to ITV for their horse racing coverage.
She is very knowledgeable and drop dead gorgeous to boot.

I think she is pretty poor compared to the others. Looking at who they have now i think its safe to say she isnt going across.

Her questions are pretty pathetic... Think she is very poor.

Knowledgeable certainly not but she does have the look's.

For me very much a outsider to move across.

Yep. The recruitment of Francesca Cumani - for whom there are many similarities - sealed her fate.

She is pretty knowledgeable.
Just because she is a good looking woman, people assume she doesn;t have a clue.

She can't keep still though - she's always fidgeting around!

I forgot; plus the (rumoured) recruitment of Hayley Turner as well!

What she knows about racing can be written on the back of a stamp. Typical airhead trading off of family connections to get a job on C4 Racing

Has nothing to do with it at all, but will stick with my point her knowledge and her question asking is very very poor.

Even as a non-seasoned horse racing watcher week in, week out. Emma Spencer is not great. 1 or 2 horse racing folk I know think she is a big weak link.

There's an interview with Simon Holt in tomorrow's Racing Post Weekender.

Mark Johnson confirmed as second commentator for ITV

Ooh, not good. Not a fan of his over-rehearsed style.
Always feel is commentating for his race night audience

On his day he is very good and always accurate but can be pompous, too loud and too Americanised

Good choice there i must admit, always liked hearing Johnson on Racing UK and a very very reliable and strong number 2, however saying that i would of preferred him as number 1 and Hollies as number 2 but equally a strong partnership in the making.

Different in way's to Hollies as he can be on the quiet side and can take a lot to get him excited and to a different level of commentary.

Luke Harvey and Jason Weaver will also be doing some work for ITV http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...=last7DaysNews

The key line on that article is the last one.
If the government ban gambling advertisements in the daytime that's racing of our mainstream channels for ever.

Methinks a word or two is missing from that line...

Do tell...