ITV your verdict so far

Plunkett would be the only one I would keep

you lost all credibility for future posts

It's basically identical to CH4 last year.

Only difference is Chamberlain for Luck (both fine but I prefer Luck), Bell for Persad (50/50 on that one), Chapman for Tanya (both cringeworthy) and Hoiles for Holt (both good but preferred Holt). They have kicked out the form/betting guru's Cunningham and McGrath altogether leaving McCoy and Fitz to state the bleeding obvious and just like Ch4 they have Brian Gleeson getting too much screen time.

very dull, I think Luck was more genuine than Chamberlain who comes across as forced and wooden, Fitz and McCoy is a TV double act from hell, dont mind McCoy that much

What was Ms Baldings question??

double act from hell

you are back in the good books

oli asking the same questions as rishi 'what does it mean to u,what does this mean to u blah blah blah'YAWN

Gleason was awful there

Plunkett should be nowhere near a racing programme, she is appalling in every way.  Fitzgerald should be sacked on the spot.  There's just far too many of them.

He looked like Quasimodo lurched over at the end...might have been a subconscious tip for "da BELLS...hill"

why is everyone wearing blue suits

It's better than Channel 4 because it's comically worse

Gleeson should have been run off the tv years ago,nothing to add except cringeworthy paddywhackery.

Plunkett strikes me as the type who cant get enough

She asked him about the trainer of his that was using drugs and what he knew about it or words to that effect. No one else would touch the subject with a barge pole. It was one of those moments where you have to take your hat off to the person and say well done

Plunkett is a goer, thats why she got my vote in the filthy chit chat thread

I'm really enjoying ITV Racing. I much prefer it to Channel 4.

They would be better off hiring the statue than the real AP to present. Jeez a potato has more personality

Oli has got to stop asking the stupid Rishi questions

The whole presentation comes over as flat.

I keep hearing the word absolutely from the itv mob, it's driving me absolutely mad, and if they keep it up, the tv will be getting absolutely smashed to bits.

The actual race commentaries are poor,i thought the QM was desperate and totally lacking in atmosphere.

As a programme overall.i don't think they are doing too bad.

McCoy's just said Douvan has beaten all these horses before easily.

He's only actually beaten two of them before - Fox Norton and Simply Ned.

Every Tragedy has a comic figure,and Makybe Diva plays the role perfectly.

Brilliant coverage and a brilliant team.

MC R

Absolutely

I preferred Jimbo and Cunningham, who were the dogs bollocks compared to Harvey and Fitzy who are the dogs droppings.

Its ok

It really needs Dessie Scahill to jazz up the finishes.

M/D..do you ever criticise anyone or anything?..you appear to be in constant La La Land

Brilliant because I still have Countdown taped and that's a bonus

they should get Alan Partridge for the fill ins - would be hilarious

I know he has a job to do but if only Ed could tone down the everyone and everything is great buzz he's on.

McCoy's got a different suit on today.

He must have took advantage of the two for one offer at Matalan.

You must get your suits there Dr C?

Dull and dysfunctional line-up

I'm not proud stewarty.

If the charity shops haven't got anything suitable, I have been know to splash out at Matalan.

Put it this way, if Gordon Ramsay ever does Ramsay's Racing Nightmares he couldn't pick a better programme.

They are desperately trying to make out it's better than CH4 because of higher viewing figures but that's just because some plebs never turn over from ITV.
If you put the identical programme on BBC1 it would get an extra half million viewers just like that - but that doesn't mean the show is better.

agree with unclepuncle here. It's basically the same show.

most of the presenters are cliche spouting machines. if you're going to have a boring, cliched show, you might as well put lucy verasamy on as the main presenter as that would get the viewing figures up (not the only thing that would rise )

But on a serious note, if 1 million people are watching the show, probably ninety percent of them are thick as pig****. if you did some kind of serious form analysis, it would just go over their head.

tbf  they may as well just show their regular programmes and put the races on during the breaks instead of commercials .

would probably be shorter

why do they think they need so many people to run the show,

Chambs
Fitz
AP
Plonker
Bicycle girl
Luke
Gleason
Matt
Olly
Lucy
Hoilesy

FFS, have I missed any out

Personally I do don'the like the race commentaries.  Simon holt was by great.  The new commentators are trying way to hard. For example callingredients for a stewards enquiry after the first race. Come on ffs.

Don't know what happened there.  my phone changed some words.  here is what I meant to say.

Personally I don't like the race commentaries.  Simon holt was  far better.  The new commentators are trying way to hard. For example calling for a stewards after the first race. Come on ffs.

I think everyone is trying too hard. At times it's almost frantic in its delivery of OTT excitement, drama, humour, jollity etc etc. But none of it is real or has any substance. It's akin to the ' great efforts ' put into Children  In Need skits.
This false,strained, over zealousness to be ' having so much fun '. Is very tedious.

What Facts says..

Plus AP's dead pan humour should be saved for a rainy day.

It's not any better than channel 4, McCoy has the personality of a wet paper bag and fitzy...well fitzy is fitzy, an absolute clown,
They made a big boo boo not giving holt the commentary gig, he's out on his own when it comes to commentating, who could ever forget his commentary on vautour in the Ryanair last year, "a gazelle in equine form"
Hoiles just doesn't do it for me.

Watched it today as RUK had Huntingdon dross on.
I thought it was  a massive improvement on C4. The absence of Cunningham , McGrath, Balding and Stevenson was greatly appreciated.
I prefer Ed to Lick Suck. And prefer Hoiles to Holt.
As a racing programme for a general audience it fitted the bill very well.

Quite like the new set up except for Pendleton who seems out of her depth and more so Richi Parsad who is just a waste of space!
Does he think we don't recognise him with that beard?

Chambs - used to edit the Sports Advisor mag years ago for those that remember it; still not sure about him fronting ITV racing though...

Fitz - the cliche clown

AP - awesome jockey over fences; sits on them too often on air.

Bicycle girl - As someone else has said, way out of her depth.

Luke - rattles on a bit, but quite good comedy value.

Matt - was obviously trying to stay professional today after sounding like he'd done his b******s on Neon Wolf!

I've run out of energy to comment on the rest; it all just feels like it's been dumbed down to try and atract a bigger audience.

Maybe we whould come at this from another angle and state who would make out ideal presenting team?

NEED TO GET RID OF THAT MID-RACE 'THOUGHTS FROM THE STUDIO' BIT. MISSED COUNTLESS MAJOR INCIDENTS WHILE AP WAS GIVING HIS POINTLESS VIEW 'HOW IT WAS GOING SO FAR' SUCKS THE DRAMA OUT OF THE RACE...

Agree think the mid race comments are pointless all they do is just state the obvious just stay with the commentary. It is more entertaining than channel 4 give me the likes of Chapman and Harvey who are up for a laugh than the likes of Mc Grath and Tanya but then again there are lot of others on here who seem to hate characters like them ...

It is better than the BBC coverage from the 1970s, who would abandon Cheltenham when it clashed with the fücking Budget; just to show the fücking Budget, instead of Julian snidey Wilson, who once shat himself when a steward invaded the box, to tell him precisely why there wasn't a steward's enquiry.

I can't believe they've given a job to that godawful Irish betting bloke raising his voice at the end of everything he says. Someone should tell Mr 'put it into words' to shut the f..k up if he can't come out with something less imbecilic. Alice Plunkett and Luke Harvey are the two bright spots imo.

Alice Gushing Plunkett now has the role of asking a shi'thouse question, and then cutting short the interview before they've fully completed a shi'thouse reply.

At least they are not using her at the gushing end of races; so far.

Alice Plunkett and Luke Harvey are the two bright spots imo.

Calling them bright spots amid the mess is a bit like telling the bloke who went into hospital to have his appendix out only to be told they amputated his legs by accident, that there was a bright spot because the geezer in the next bed wanted to buy his slippers!

Had two days and I'd like to say  that I've watched every minute so I am properly entitled to give an opinion but I turn over to ATR or streaming of other meetings so often.The 50% or so I have seen confirm the expectations I had when I saw "the team".
1. Jockeys make terrible pundits/ presenters. Not confined to racing: football generally the same.But Luke is ok (bit of fun at times). AP (sorry,AP) and Fitzy just contribute nil. We need the form experts. Big Al £expected" Willoughby Court to run well: that was enough for me. I was thinking of backing him but now I did at 16/1 to make it a winning day.He had a good day one as well.
3. Dump Matt: he is just too annoying. Can't see a redeeming feature. At least Big Mac was fun at times.
4. Poor Alice gets pelters (Rishi as well at times) but they have they unenviable task of doing "the interviews". Boring; stultifyingly boring. Can't remember when an owner, trainer or most jockeys said anything of interest. Nico de B was amazingly honest to say Might Bite would not have won had there not been a loose horse for him to chase in the final 50 yards.
5. Ed ok. Commentaries good.
6. Victoria? Would prefer Alex Hammond.

Cant help feeling there is something odd about them standing on that podium with with microphones in hand, and sicking a mic in  winning  jockeys faces and asking how did that feel gets on my wick.

There's far too many of them - 4 or 5 people is all that is necessary.  Immediately stop these meaningless "interviews" with the winning jockey as soon as they cross the line, plenty of time to interview them afterwards.  Plunkett is annoying and absolutely pointless.  Fitzgerald is a dreadful broadcaster, says the same things all the time and is incredibly boring.  Changes are urgently needed.

Unfortunately dod they have no choice in the matter as that's what they are told to do.

The point i am making fife is it is utterly pointless

It's got the makings of a Gd show.
Get shot of dull twit fitz, & the idiot Luke, & it's on the right path.

But Luke is the racing expert

bell seems very nervous on the morning show.

stuttering and strangling his words.

They just showed a replay of three horses doing a piece of work and played a crowd sound bite in the background!

bell seems terrified of ruby walsh

racing should headhunt jeremy paxman

Bell is having a nightmare this morning, asking Ruby why he is smiling ffs, stuttering and basically asking carp questions about future riding tactics and then repeating his questions.

I find Bell's interviewing excruciatingly bad. Ruby was spot on.

How i miss John Francome

Agree Zen

ITV mus think it's ok because Bell has his Hollywood smile which will please the ladies.

Surely O B should know Ruby's m o by now.... that was embarrassing !

Trouble is , his smile comes with a La La  Land empty head.

What the ****s wrong with oli bell,doing his nice but dim impression,the mans a quivering wreck asking a load of inane questions,more like a 12 yo schoolboy.& now fitz

Somebody needs to step in here and send Oli home.  Can't see him making it through until 11.00

sack bell. comes across as ungenuine and asks inane questions. boring as well.

put lucy in the same role

The whole show is one mess of inane questions by every presenter.

Luke will be in charge for the second half of the programme today.

Now i haven't really watched the programme apart from turning over when Plunkett was interrupting Skelton as he was trying to saddle Mister Mayagi for yesterdays Coral cup , and if that was anything to go by the " credits" at the end must be the best part of the "SHOW"

looks its free+not aimed at peopel who come on here.

dont like it switch off.simple.

Bell seems to have grown a backbone now Ruby has left the studio

hes settled down now,god knows what was wrong with him.

wonder if nicholls+harvey swopping stories on the ex wife?

lucy wearing black leggings today

Chauffeured in, so the tw@t  can't sit next to him.

That's a bit harsh Facts, you nasty liberal

Has there been a race yet that Ed hasn't said was 'fascinating' afterwards!

Previous race Fitz told us the favourite had ear plugs in his ear.
Fascinating!!!!

Hoiles for Holt a poor deal

I have ear plugs in and the mute button on when fitz is on, and I don't even watch ITV racing.

Anything was an improvement on what had gone before. It would have been impossible to be more dull than the likes of Cunningham and McGrath. That said they are going to struggle with the change from jumps to flat. They got lucky on Saturday with Weaver tipping a few winners and clearly they hand-picked the guests. Even Moore seemed to make an effort. How long is that going to last?

Weaver was a revelation to me on Saturday. Only remember him of old, when I used to watch ATR. Dismissed him and Harvey as clowns.
But this Weaver on the first day of the Flat, showed no hysteronics,was articulate, knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. Refreshing.

Why does Oli do far more talking than the 'experts' who are supposedly there to do just that?

I started off not enjoying ITV's coverage, particularly the Opening Show from which I would expect to glean a certain amount of USEFUL hints for the afternoon's racing, only to find it more like a boring  afternoon magazine. Cheltenham week, on the other hand, was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed the 4 days. Obviously the equine talent played its part, but the ITV team rose to the occasion. Unfortunately we are back in the doldrums especially as far as the Opening Show is concerned and I would definitely make some changes. Ed Chamberlain, as others have said, overdoes the aren't we fantastic, isn't it great, this the !st time etc etc and Alice Plunkett just isn't on the page. "my grandmother told me about the ITV 7" is one of her best quotes. I used to do the ITV 7, bookmakers used to print forms for your multiple bets, Alice's grandmothetr definitely DID'NT tell her about it! Today's ITV 7 is a total misrepresentation of what it used to be and is obviously aimed at the lottery brigade, which for me just about sums up ITV's attitude towards racing's aficionados. I have loved racing for more years than I care to mention and I miss the likes of Simon Holt and before him the great Sir Peter and I agree with another poster that Clare Balding would have been much more worthy of fronting the program. Mick Fitz is a nice guy and Luke and Ollie likewise. I've never liked Richard  Hoiles, as my ex wife used to say, "he's got the3 kind of face you'd like to smack" and his remark on Satuirday after Jason had tipped a bag of winners, "I'd rather follow Ryan Moore for the season" smacked of jealously and I wish him luck, Ryan Moore -£371.81 to a level £1 stake last 5 years! Anyway, I can't say that I miss Cunningham and McGrath and Chapman beats Stevenson by a country mile,so I suppose ITV comes out on top, but only on the process of elimination.

agree with you driver about hoiles. really smug guy who's syrupy smug voice wants makes me want to vomit.

on the whole though the itv product is pretty good and a massive step-up on channel four. just wish we'd get more of lucy verasamy though!

Got so used to channelS 415 and 432
Can't get used to it yet

Watched for the first time on Saturday and did not enjoy it - Olli Bell was too hyper for my taste - I prefer a much more relaxed approach not the frenetic presentation displayed by him at Doncaster - not for me but just wish ATR would move into the 21st century and deliver their pictures in HD - even Matt Chapman does not have the same effect on me as Bell does ....

And Hayley - dreadful ......

Jason was much better without his sidekick ......

Jason was really good on Saturday, he had obviously put in plenty of preparation and it showed.  Both him and Luke Harvey are so much better when they are not fooling about with each other, and both of them need to walk away from that Friday night nonsense on ATR.
Hayley, as predicted by many, was massively out of her depth and it wouldn't surprise me if she took out her jockey's licence again. Plunkett is appalling in every way and should go back to her posh friends at the pony club without any further delay.  Fitzgerald is dreadful with nothing interesting to contribute and an annoying voice that grinds into me.  He should be shown the door after Aintree.  I quite like Oli and he's growing on me, Rishi is harmless enough, and we'll see what Ed is made of this week.

I think it is o.k.so far - it is good to see some different trainers being interviewed and the general tone is ok, there is too much bookmaker rubbish being spouted but that is the way of the world now and Fitzgerald is harmless he never says anything worth hearing so just turn the sound off when he is on - Plunkett is actually detrimental to the show and needs to go - there is no point in having her there if she has nothing to say and annoy people while saying it at great length.