Fitzgerald on ITV racing team is similar to.............

hard to believe that ITV are as out of touch as channel 4 are but it seems they are

its over before its even started for me

think he is the one person almost everybody agrees shouldn't get a job.........unbelievable

Fitzgerald is so bad it's embarrassing watching / listening to him.
I'm starting to think that he must have a close relative who is involved with the recruitment process.

This confirms my own fears that racing is dying a slow death.It looks as
though some people are trying to hasten its demise

Surely Chamberlin did not agree to this addition to the team.
Whoever in authority sanctioned this has alot to answer for, and it really augurs badly if people in management at ITV have come up with this blunder after having had so much time to get it right .

Terrible news. You can't possibly argue he will be popular with people not otherwise interested in racing. I'd rather watch paint dry than listen to him.

Before too long it'll be This Morning with Holly and Mick,Mick and Decs Saturday Night Takeaway,Mick Fitzgeralds Celebrity Juice etc etc etc...................

I'm impressed that Mick still has an agent! No wonder he's got so many jobs!

Does this mean that McCoy doesn't want the gig?

If ITV are to be judged on viewing figures, then the appointment of Fitzgerald will ensure that they hit an all time low.
Who is responsible for this crazy decision to give him a job ?

ITV give airtime to reptiles like Kyle,Andre, Katie Price et al so no surprise at the dreadful team they're building up here

Imagine that Thompson must be getting quite excited because this team is so bad that he's likely to be the next name revealed as joining it

This team is the worst assembled since Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 heroes

You have to conclude that he was the only person who put himself forward as the National Hunt "expert", so he got it by default.
If they let him appear spouting his crap about the Flat, then some serious questions need to be answered.

when I read that one of the bosses of ATR had joined the itv racing team I feared the worse

I think hes a good addition, always upbeat and positive and willing to say it as he sees it, and is especially good when it comes to informing the viewer on the jumps form. Hayley Turner is the big mistake - quite the opposite of Fitzy -  flat in her delivery, never commits to a strong opinion and does not express much insight. You'll be happy Fitzy is there after listening to her.

A baffling and incredible appointment. Fitzgerald offers nothing in terms of insight, analysis or presentation skills. Indeed the opposite is true.

Even his mucker Harvey has despaired, off the record of course, at the limited amount of preparation Fitzgerald does.

RIP terrestrial racing coverage. In terminal decline.

wonder if ed is regretting leaving sky

Sorry okok - I can assure you most people on here will never be happy he's there.  We all know that every jockey is popular in the weighing room.  He's told us again, and again and again, so struggling to see what else there is he'll be bringing to the "new" format..

He also tells us that every jockey has nice hands and that no one works harder than them.

And I expect there will be lots and lots of "nice horses".   In fact, EVERY horse will probably be "nice".

every time fitzy opens his mouth you expect to say something worthwhile.............but instead its outer bile

theres only one best tonic • August 30, 2016 12:12 PM BST
Before too long it'll be This Morning with Holly and Mick,Mick and Decs Saturday Night Takeaway,Mick Fitzgeralds Celebrity Juice etc etc etc...................

...mick fitzgerald's it'll be alright on the night, britains got fitzgerald...

I think you might be on to something here tonic

can see fitzy jumping out of the plane on I'm a celebrity get me out of here.............hopefully minus the parachute

cheeky Irish chappy made everyone laugh with his "better than sex" quip - the rest is history...

okok - he never says it as he sees it - never has an opinion unless it's a 'nice horse'  or 'popular guy in the weighing room' - never heard him criticise anybody in his life.

The nature of this forum is that you can guarantee that most comments are extremely negative. People who couldn't lace the boots of those that they continually slag off should look at their own limited skills.

Subscribe to RUK and avoid the pain of watching the new ITV racing circus.

Apologies for continuing the Yorkshire Ripper theme, but anyone who thinks Fitzgerald says it as he sees it, has to be hearing voices. Have to disagree with Pompey Mike, just because I don't know how to fix a car, doesn't mean I can't criticise a rubbish mechanic. The role of presenter, infers a set of skills, which in Fitzgerald's case, I just don't see. Months in advance of the first programme, the team chosen, tells you everything you need to know, about what awaits us. Nice horse, trainer is a great guy, jockey deserves more rides than he gets... Insert your own cliches.

Anyone who wants to defend fitzgerald need only  watch him shooting right up walsh's ar5e when Geoff banks had the temerity to question the mare's race at the festival.

Where is the logic in attempting to resurrect the racing on ITV by using people associated with its demise previously on CH 4.

Mick Fitzgerald and Hayley Turner. Great news as far as I`m concerned.

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekQ_Ja02gTY

Fitzgerald is verbal GASH

He is truly truly dreadful

Sorry, ITV - but this reall y is it...

I was prepared to accept the Cumani girl - my own experience was she she's a jumped up pretentious arrogant know-all xxxx... but apparently she's done well in Oz so hey let's give the girl a chance (forget the fact her mother is a grade A, dyed in the wool beeeeatchh and her father a has-been, living on ancient glories and hand-outs from oil-rich idiots who didn't know better)

I was prepared to bite my tongue on Haley - never much of a jock but reasonable as an "Expert voice" and easy on the eye (yeah, i wouldn't say no - I admit!)

But FITZGERALD???!!!


YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS???!!!!

Turner and now Fitzgerald, bad to worse.

The more the merrier ,hope they tell all the viewers to get an exchange account opened asap and start punting the tips they will dribble out.


Should be a licence to print money.

can't they call it channel4 racing on ITV

meet the new boss.....same as the old boss!!

Don't worry be happy, they will be getting Aunty Balding to do the more important meeting.

It is similar to the couch guesting on the sooty show.

Where is the logic in attempting to resurrect the racing on ITV by using people associated with its demise previously on CH 4.

Exactly this. Just brain dead beyond belief.

neither fitzy or hayley turner are capable of of performing the role of a pundit as both are clueless in the extreme and i will never watch itv .These type of appointments will do nothing for viewing figures things can only go one way and thats down

I would guess this is o do with one thing the Grand National
He did say sex on TV before the watershed. They will role it out every year on the biggest day for viewing figures.
The brain dead general public still finding it funny.
You do have to wonder if Fitzgerald on the casting couch is better than riding the Grand national winner.

It is worth noting this is all Jamie Osborne's fault if only he could have given Rough Quest a ride in the Hennessey that was on the same level of competence as Mr Fallon on Ballinger Ridge we would not be in this position.

Words fail me. I will not watch in any case > Imperative to have atr ruk

I do wonder who starts these threads. If you guys need pundits to tell you what to back you really shouldn't be on Bf in the first place.

Its not about that Brigust,most of us find it impossible to listen to his voice and that's before he starts to utter his crap.
Consequently I am unable to watch a program which may well be informative, because of this droning voice.

To be a guest on a show like this you have to be insightful, original and entertaining - it's nothing about getting the guest to tell us what o back brigust - it's about having a grea show to showcase racing. Fitzgerald adds less than nothing. Cannot believe he doesn't read the forum either.

Your requirements are clearly different to mine Bilbo. Who, today, fits the bill as far as your requirements are concerned?

not fitzy

surprised at you brigust...given your love of the brigadier I assume you were brought up with osullevan ...Julian Wilson and the bbc..............but you think fitzy is ok

racing is f***** without  terrestrial coverage..............but iyo its safe with the likes of fitzy

Cardifffc Fitzy is required to discuss more horses in a day than the likes of Julian Wilson would discuss in a year. Plus the majority of races in front of Fitzy are low grade dross whereas the races Julian Wilson had in front of him were often the best around at the top meetings.

Coverage of racing on ITV will be supported by the bookies advertising and it will not necessarily matter who the pundits are. Regular punters will watch ATR and RUK anyway so not a lot will change there.
Do you really think the views of this forum carry any weight. Most of you guys would criticise whoever was on anyway therefore devaluing anyone listening to you.
I think Fitzy will be OK. He as earned his spurs on the racetrack, where it matters, and I have no problem with him getting a job in front of the TV. You may prefer to reward someone simply because they have the gift of the gab but I don't think like that. Fitzy is not doing me out of a job. And he is probably not doing you out of a job. But you seem to b bothered that he is doing someone better out of a job. Why don't you tell us who you think that is?

bigust,

Julian Wilson had a privileged start to life that afforded him a decent education, and as a presenter on BBC he was knowledgeable and erudite. His main qualities in my opinion though was that he treated the viewer as being as equally knowledgeable and well informed as himself. I tend to find Fitzgerald's contribution condescending and banal, and the sound his voice very irritating. Decent jockey that he may have been doesn't mean that he is suitable TV pundit let alone that he would never ever be capable of presenting a live broadcast in the same way that Wilson managed so well.
Another thing Nick Luck isn't included in the ITV team, lets hope that he will be back on RUK

im amazed

agree with kevo........chucking lucky and keeping fitzy is baffling

fitzy doing the punditry is a joke

Why is it a joke cardifffc?

He used to be very decent if my memory serves me correct.

Would have been a great opportunity for Katie Price and Adrian Chiles.

Any chance someone could email this topic to ITV executives? "Nice haarrse", "one of the unsung heroes in racing", "great lad" etc. etc. etc.

statsman..........you are serious??

Why is it a joke cardifffc?

He used to be very decent if my memory serves me correct

Decent ?   ... as a jockey, yes he was.  As a jockey coach,  he probably is.    But as a broadcaster he is absolutely terrible and hasn't got any better in the 5 or 6 years he's been at it.  For all the media training that must have gone into him he's got worse if anything.  I'm amazed ITV can't see it, and when the viewing figures hit an all time low it will be too late.

I meant with regards his Morning Line charity tips.

I couldn't care less if he's got a gig or not. I very rarely watch it and when I do, he doesn't bother me

statsman......he makes so many stupid comments.........his voice grates you.......his tipping record is not that good...he had a tipping line that ceased...........hardly likely to stop if youre successful...I happen to think he is a decent chap but he is not suited to tv.....especially when you see nick luck discarded............that's like replacing messi with peter crouch

it will be disastrous for racing if terrestrial tv...........think the stakes are high......we really need itv to be successful.........I hope it works but I have grave doubts......

if terrestrial ends*

You don't seem to be on your own regards Fitzy.

I'm in a minority, as I've said, he doesn't bother me.

I'm unaware of his failed tipping line.

All I know is that he did very well with his Charity bets on the Morning Line a few years ago

jim McGrath had a tipping line with timeform.............not sure how it went but the fact its no longer would suggest it failed...........and GC tipping line is well documented

Anybody interested in the Mick Fitzgerald tipping line should read this.  It was a horrible little scam that he associated himself with.

http://www.puntersverdict.co.uk/articles/march-2012/mick-fitzgerald.php

Cardiff your pen is going to run out of ink with these anti MF threads. People might imagine you have an agenda.

arkle.......ive said he is probably a decent chap but I care about racing being on terrestrial tv...with people like fitzy on the box I think its doomed............once it goes from our screen theres only one way its going to go.........downwards

I watched the bbc transfer deadline last night............I learned far more about the players from the journalists they had in the studio rather the ex players...........you don't have to be ex jockey to be pundit...........in fact they are the worst pundits..........willie carson was on our screen for years couldn't string a few sentences together.........even if he was a good pundit you couldn't tell as his delivery was so awful

You are dead right about Carson!

He's passed on the useful view that Elliot's here running in a carp novice hurdle isn't a superstar.

Priceless

Carson once said on live TV that horse legs never grow from when they are born. Julian Wilson knew bugger all but he was born with a large silver spoon in his mouth and he was fed some good info from his posh mates who either owned the horse or trained it. As for Mick he has absolutely no skills, sounds awful, looks awful, the things that you would expect to have to become a good commentator.

The Horseracing industry has adopted Mick Fitz...there's no way out now.....

incredible. most annoying bloke in the country

I thought it was you.

He's been even more lamentable than usual today. Opining that it helps if a horse is fit.

Well well well.

Carson said that Freddie Head was his compatriot.

From Steeplechase news letter:
Poor old Mick, friendless in this world of social media critics. Since the announcement of his inclusion in the ITV team, I’ve read nothing but brickbats. I hope Mick kept a hold of his body protector when he retired from riding.

As a broadcaster, I think he’s improved two stones since he started. He’s almost always relaxed, comfortable and confident when they cut to him (he has the odd blip as they all do, even Clare). He’s lost that early rabbit in the headlights look and concentrates much more on his interviewee and encourages responses.

Although talkative by nature, he seems to me more thoughtful these days about what he says – which is where he seems to come in for most flak. But what do people want from him? He can’t be insightful and incisive about every horse; he talks about dozens of them every day. They each have a head and a tail and a jockey and form which is usually not dissimilar to everything else in the race. He’s not dissecting the plans for the Hadron Collider.

To those who think it’s easy, try this: go and get an empty bottle and set it bottom towards you on a shelf eyeline-high. Now talk to it about racing for a minute without hesitation, deviation or repetition. You will not get through ten seconds before you’re a blubbering wreck.

On a separate note, Nick Luck will be a huge loss, I think. His only failing seems to be in the eyes of class warriors for his appearance, accent and lucidity. He’ll be sorely missed.

Anyway, it’s all heading south. ITV’s four years will, I believe, be the swansong for racing as a terrestrially broadcast sport. It’ll end up having been on TV for about as long as I’ve been around, and maybe, like an old salmon coming home to die, ITV will prove a welcoming and appropriate final resting place.

We should all stop complaining and savour the coming end of an era.

To those who think it’s easy, try this: go and get an empty bottle and set it bottom towards you on a shelf eyeline-high. Now talk to it about racing for a minute without hesitation, deviation or repetition. You will not get through ten seconds before you’re a blubbering wreck.

Give me the same number of hours of free media training that Fitzgerald has had before I talk to a bottle.  I'm sure I won't be a "blubbering wreck" then.

Nobody doubts that Mick Fitz may well now be able to present a lot better on camara etc and indeed may be better than he was. Also I don't doubt he may well be engaging company. However being more polished is the very least a broadcaster should be and what we're after is insight which I'm affraid to say isn't provided. He's part of the club and doesn't want to rock the boat. Nick Luck is a good broadcaster and is a very good in the main role he presently occupies in so far as his presenting skills go. But I'm affraid to say the sycophantic nature of the questions in interviews and the lack of even a very slight challenge when all (including him) know there are often deeper questions that could be asked is what grates (think US Army Ranger at Chester) and his social background has nothing to do with it. The present Channel 4 output is dull and banal with little depth although yes they can all present well.

What needles those of us on here is that we know that the people are out there and it could be so much beter.

Kevin Blake, Paul Haigh, Gary O'Brien, Alistair Down, and Ruby Walsh would all be very good. Why is Walsh better than Fitz? He isn't scared to say what he thinks even though he may also be part of the club and he most definitly doesn't such up to people. Gary would be very good in the Nick Luck role and Kevin has been a breath of fresh air with his insightful analysis of areas that aren't even covered in the Racing Post.

It look like ITV have dumbed it down a level so expect zero crytical insight but plenty of banal interviews carried out by people who know less than most on here. Whatever I think of Channel 4 the output was a solid 7 out of 10 but it looks like things are going downhill.

Has anyone passed this thread to itv. May make them realise along with the hundreds of others.

I have a theory that Fitzgerald was second choice after for some reason McCoy hasn't got the gig. The big question is why didn't McCoy get the gig?

It's a 100-1 shot ITV chose Fitz over McCoy without a good reason (IMO)

JT......They won't give a toss. I've met enough of these marketing types down the years to know that they'll not be interested.

Here's a tick list for their target audience:

* Like a cheeky bet but this is a small part of his/her life. Form book too complicated lets keep it simple
* Interested in other sports and only horses to a lesser degree.......Why is this if they like a bet? How can we "engage them"
* Enjoys their holidays and going out but equally likes a good entertainment programme....Ant and Dec etc.

How can we attract our target they ask? I think we've found the answer. One of the blokes with a beard in the room asks "What about the racing enthusiasts?" They watch anyway won't they as there's nowhere else to go is there?

ruby walsh is still riding

Let me see, reading through these thread the ones that don't cut the mustard for various reasons are as follows:

Fitzy
Cattermole
Cumani
Harvey
Weaver
Boysie
Enzo
McGrath
Thomson
Chapman
Turner
McCoy
Stevenson
Cunningham

and previously

Carson
Wilson

so far that is.

I think I can find a common denominator, can you?

Is it that theyre all ****?

Similar to MISS PIGGY advertising SAUSAGES.

Racing and Golf are relatively minor sports that are shown on TV on a regular basis. Golf coverage is based on the sport itself, without attempting to jazz up the programmes in order to appeal to non golfing fans. The presenters are almost irrelevant compared to the golf.

Racing, as is the case with C4, and now, as looks to be the case with ITV, go down the route of trying to produce programmes that are often annoying to the core racing audience,with dumbed down coverage,as they chase a wider audience. I think that is why we get all these opinions about the presenters rather than the racing itself.

that's an excellent point mike

the complexities and intricacies of racing are to be championed not dumbed down

the horses are the stars, and to a lesser extent the personalities involved trainers, owners, jockeys etc

I suppose the points raised show the complexities of the problem.

Some want the numbers so that racing remains on terrestrial tv while others want the programme to be more complex therefore reducing the numbers.

Some want more betting others want less betting.

And most on here I guess don't really know what they want.

Personally I never watch C4 racing but I do record the Morning Line when I'm in the UK. I flick through it to see if there is anything for me, which isn't very often but I record it just in case. They almost never cover the races I bet in or have on the trainer or jockey of something I am intending to back. When you consider the very limited amount of time available when you take out the betting, racing (sometimes they have quite a few races)and advertising slots there will be little time left for anything else. 

Golf is different because it is relaxing to watch and I know a lot of people who watch and play golf but almost no-one who watches or goes racing. So perhaps we are lucky that ITV think they can pay for a minority sport to be televised through advertising revenue. They should applauded not criticised. Luckily bookmakers will be happy to advertise on ITV to an audience that will include newcomers because their drive for new accounts well reach an audience of sorts they want to target. Anyone who watches ATR or RUK will already have an account I guess.

It won't suit everyone but there may be the odd nugget to enjoy as there are on RUK and ATR with racetrack tours, jockey interviews and stable visits. I guess I should be happy for that and with the record button it works for me.

brigust......who said Wilson didn't cut the mustard...........don't think anyone has him on the list as no good...people of my age  and probably your age hark back to the halcyon days of osullevan Wilson lindley and john hamner

I did like Julian Wilson, O'Sullivan was a commentator, but I suggest you read the 2.59 thread.