October
JulyFour blimey
It is to be hoped that the decision makers at Seven West who have promised us a new-look, professional approach to telecasting Victorian racing took time to see the excellent vision provided by Channel Four of Royal Ascot.
Production was first class with great camera placement. I particularly liked the camera right on the finish and the elevated shots, presumedly from a crane.
I was surprised with the quality of the commentators (except the guy who talked fashion), who were well versed with the form and obviously knew the participants well.
The anchor, Clare Balding, the young woman who was stationed at the barrier and the men in the studio who reviewed the race just run were excellent.
Interviewing the winning jockey from the ground on return to scale was much better than trying to do the interview from horseback.
Is it too much to have Seven employ commentators who know racing and can express themselves well? I am not too optimistic that the right people will be engaged.
In relation to the racing at Royal Ascot, I found the riding was very tight with quite severe interference at times.
And it is hard for the plebs to get a look-in with almost all major races going to the Arabs or to the dominant Irish stables.
Trying to get anything of note from Aidan O’Brien is as difficult as ever.
Finally, I consider Craig Williams’s Diamond Jubilee ride on Brazen Beau was as good as you will see and the criticism of him from English journalists was unwarranted.
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