How would you improve it?

I don't know.

Dr Crippen

I don't know.
Any fool can take cheap shots of easy targets.  But it is quite poor remaining in the cheap seats without a suggestion for improvement!

Any fool can take cheap shots of easy targets

Any fool saxon farm? Well come on then let's hear a few from you. That's what the forum is for.

Besides, they're there to be shot at, that's part of the entertainment they provide.

Well Dr Crippen, here goes fwiw!
Presentation ok but my impression was AP did not really want to be there. Harvey, I always enjoy his self deprecating humour and "one liners" (ok each to their own!)
Chamberlin, polished and professional.
Fitzgerald remains patronising and reading Jackanory would suit better.
Pendleton seems ok with a big timeform P. She has great versatality.
Hoiles imo is the best caller in The UK.

To improve imo
The opening credits should begin thus.

This Horse Racing programme "Is not to teach racing to the unbeliever - but merely to give pleasure to the converted. But for the unbeliever, the discerning eye may see something of those virtues that explain the enthusiasm of so many"

I hate anything being dumbed down.

What did me chuckle is one minutes let's explain how much you get back on a 9/4 winner , followed by we are looking forward to Altior , Douvan and co running at the festival.....whatever that is.

McCoy will always be a racing legend - the same as he's always been a miserable sod.

He can't help his personality it's what he is.

As people applauded him for being a good jockey, so they'll take the pee out of him when he appears on the telly for coming across as a miserable sod.

If he wants to stay in the limelight he'll have to take the flak that goes with it.

That's true but from a personal perspective I'd prefer not to have to see him being miserable every week and have to think "oh ****, not AP again".

The point about showing the races which happened before they came on air is a good one. The 'story' today was surely Lizzie Kelly's double - if they'd shown Coo Star Sivola's race, they would have been in a better position to emphasize that.

The Jonjo feature was good and I liked the fact that they were outside - Chapman is not my cup of tea but I can see him growing into that role. It did n't work when he joined the others at the end and his comments about Faugheen and Annie Power, though no doubt well intentioned from a punters' perspective, were rushed and out of context.

The idea of an intervention during commentary by Harvey/McCoy is worth persevering with - but just one of them, the races are relatively short and they risk talking over each other - could see AP adding value with his contribution there.

I thought Victoria Pendleton's delivery was excellent - much less hyper than when I've seen her on TV previously, she was poised and articulate but as others have said she's not really adding anything in terms of content.Ed Chamberlain did not seem quite as polished as he is on the football but I'm sure he'll be a success - he's very personable. 

There were some first day nerves and perhaps they were trying too hard. 

The umbrellas were too big

ITV will do well simply because the average ITV viewer rarely changes channels-and wouldn`t know where to find the C4 button...

Happy to report that I know no average (or better) ITV viewer

I see the Post only printed the positive comments from people. Some things in racing never change.

I wasn't able to watch it live as I was at Cheltenham. But I have since watched it and these are my comments.

It was good to get rid of Channel 4's annoying habit of showing jockeys and trainers arriving at the races with that infernal piano music.

My first impression was that Chamberlin was not as good as Nick Luck. However, he is a good broadcaster and will probably grow into the role. I thought Luke Harvey did well. When he's not acting the clown he can talk sense at times. I am not sure Sir Anthony is entirely comfortable in front of the camera. And if they are going to use him he will have to lose the miserable git persona. I have no idea why the weather girl was there. The weather on the day is what it is. A forecaster is not required.

Richard Hoiles was his usual competent self doing commentary. I couldn't understand the reasoning behind having Victoria Pendleton talking about the ground when she's only been in racing a short time. I can understand them using her in features in the preview programme about how she got into racing etc.

I normally like Matt Chapman when he is the anchor on ATR or when he is doing interviews on course. However, he did not seem to be successful yesterday. Doing stupid things like trying to see if a bookie has hair adds nothing and is cringeworthy. If they manage him a bit better he can be a success in the role.

They should have used Rishi for the interviews as any coverage of Fitzgerald is dire. At least he wasn't in the parade ring with Chamberlin etc droning on about "this horse, this horse." My only fear is that when McCoy can't be there Fitzgerald will take his place.

I am aware that Alice Plunkett is not popular with many but she was used OK yesterday. The feature on Jonjo was good but they should have shown the finishes of the two earlier races. That was a major gaffe.

However, we'll have to give them a chance. I am sure they will improve given time.

Excellent post, Clerkmore.

The Post seems to think it was terrific , can barely see a  negative word........not a mention of the first two races being shown for example(would they have shown Thistlecrack's run at Cheltenham which was before the programme began ?).

I keep reading on here about how the coverage was so much better than channel four but no reasoning why it is better. Come on it's not difficult, much better than channel four should mean plenty of solid reasoning forthcoming. All I see is lazy short answers, not good enough.

I didn't like it. Opening music dire. No earlier replays as mentioned by many others. Graphics are awful. No replay analysis like on the other side, pre race didn't impress me either, not much coverage of the horses, seemed rushed. Far too many staff, the introductions went on so long I thought I was going to miss the first race.

I thought Ed did ok but not in the Nick Luck class yet, and Hoiles describing the runners and riders was a nice touch, like the bbc used to do.

The tour de france and snooker is superb on itv, so I expect something similar with the racing. Looking through their racing character list doesn't inspire confidence at all, so improvements could take a while.

I agree with the comments about Tony McCoy. He was a great jockey in his time, but just doesnt cut it as a presenter or expert here. He has the same amount of charisma as a dead salmon. Poor show Tony poor show

had cogry 10/1

235 winc

rule 4

50%

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/results/01-01-2017/cheltenham/result/757505/betbright-casino-handicap-hurdle