Cheltenham Festival Commentating Team

THOMMO ON STANDBY

Just not funny.  The next thing you'll be telling me is Aussie Jim's coming out of retirement.

spoke to hoiles when he was in cape town for the Sa derby........he is commentating Thursday and friday

For my money, Mike C is one of the best - perceptive, notices things others would miss, rarely gets it wrong. (But Ch 4 did in his case...)

I pray no Cattermole on Tuesday Mark Johnston please.

remember Cattermole (near sure it was) in 2006 doing the on course commentary, in the Coral Cup Good Thyne Jack is getting detached going by the stands and Cattermole declares "no need to worry, Paul Carberry knows what he is doing" he knew what he was doing alright, he duly pulled up

Hoiles imo is easily the best commentator at the moment. Think back to 2011 Gold Cup "A who's who of Gold Cup history" was a great  line as Denman Kauto and Imperial C were together. I would have

Hoiles
Bartlett
Johnson

i cannot stand his forensic autopsy like approach to commentating - he is so obsessed with every minutiae he calls out every tiny mistake these wonderful and brave animals make -my dislike for him has crept up on me as i didnt realise at first but once i started noticing i really struggle to listen to him - i guarantee after half the fences there wont be many horses he hasnt criticised either minor or major. i fully accept he is accurate but too negative and turns what should be entertainment into a 'listen to me arent i clever spotting everything that isnt perfect' exercise - apologies rant over and each to their own - fully accept he is most peoples favourite and so am trying to find it in myself to tolerate him.

Unfortunately Chat A Mole is a standing dish.  A very good presenter but dreadful commentator.

btw i meant hoiles -  not that it matters what i think just needed to get it out so i can move on in life

My biggest beef with Cattermole is that he doesn't seem capable of internally processing and crucially reporting back what is taking place in big field races. Often what he says is happening and what we can see with our eyes is actually happening are two quite different things. Not sure if this is down to poor preparation beforehand but his low standard seems to drop further year by year. He must have some dirt on the Waley Cohens!

Hoiles and Johnson for me...Johnson loves revving up the crowd with his fav callouts in the Supreme..recall Cue Card in 2011 grt stuff

Yes, Johnson's call in the 2011 Supreme is superb stuff and essential pre-Festival build up watching. "And Cue Card, begins, to make ground between rrrrrivals!" as the crowd bellow their approval. Fantastic stuff, exactly what it needs.