Re: Channel 4 Racing & The Morning Line
I hate it, hate it, hate it. I never watch racing anymore, if there's a race I want to see I'll watch it on the internet later.
Fortunately she's mostly gone, but I despise Balding. She doesn't know a thing about horses, if she does (which she should) she hides it very well. I hate her fluffy horsey attitude and she's incredibly patronising and has a very superior air.
Cunningham is useless, he might be able to back horses but again he couldn't read a race if his life depended on it. He doesn't seem to have a clue about riding or horses or horsemanship and tends to only praise jockeys who have thrashed horses. I've had a couple of heated 'debates' with him about racing and his opinion has always been incorrect, he wouldn't listen to mine but miraculously changed his the next week to agree with the 'experts' in the RP. (don't even get me started on the RP)
I like Gina Bryce, though I think she's a weak presenter at the moment. She's very knowledgeable and I have enjoyed a couple of good conversations with her.
I have never liked Rishi, though he's got better over the years. He still come across as a bit of a bumbling idiot.
Spencer and Fitzgerald serve a purpose i.e. they know a lot of the jocks personally so they can talk to them in a way other presenters can't. So I guess I can't complain about them too much.
McGrath I like, his knowledge has always been good, but him and Francome worked so well. He's too reserved on his own.
I really miss Francome for his sense of humour and his knowledge of horses, racing and riding and Alistair Down for his amazing writing and descriptive abilities.
Luck is the new bumbling idiot, though he has improved.
The impression I get from talking to some of the team is that there's a lot of emphasis on 'widening participation' and they feel they are rather neglecting the 'old timers'. More seasoned viewers stopping viewing the show probably accounts for the drop in figures.
I personally find it way too dumbed down with too few people expertly and coherently able to read races and explain why one horse may have run badly. Maybe I'm biased, I've grown up watching horses (real horses, not on TV) so find it easy to spot when something isn't moving right or why it may have stopped etc.
I also find it too 'fluffy horsey' with features often starting with Balding stroking a horse or feeding it in a stable. Racing is NOT like that, it is hard, tough, exhausting and at some times cruel. These horses are athletes and there to do a job and should be portrayed as such. I feel trying to persuade people who maybe are on the fence about it that these are lovely cuddly ponies is false and that racing would have a much better 'rep' if people could be honest about what it really is. But I guess in modern times people can't cope with the hard truths can they?! (Mind you, that's another issue entirely)
I'm sure there's more, but that's my rant for now!!
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