ENGLISH TEXTS
training on the racecourse, and the cameras are right there with them, along with the roving reporter and rider Sally Ann Grassick, who gathers the latest insights from the teams. There’ s talk of winning chances and current form, but also of emotion and the unique personalities of the horses. Viewers feel as though they can reach out and touch champions like Galopin des Champs. The tone is set for the afternoon broadcast. Around a dozen presenters, reporters, and pundits are on the ground at Cheltenham, including three former Gold Cup winners: Ruby Walsh, AP McCoy, and Mick Fitzgerald. Being on a major channel, the goal is to captivate a wide audience while also catering to more seasoned racing fans. The recipe: a mix of sporting analysis, expert horse insight, compelling stories, betting tips, cameras close to the action … all delivered with a healthy dose of fun, but also underpinned by solid technical coverage. Viewers found themselves shedding a tear alongside the teams of Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty, two horses who had shone at the Festival two years ago under jockey Michael O’ Sullivan, and who triumphed again this year in tribute to the jockey who sadly passed away in February. Or sharing in the emotion of Charlie McCarthy, who“ would have swum across the Irish Sea” just two weeks after cancer surgery, to witness the vic- tory of his Kopek des Bordes in the … Michael O’ Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. There were emotions, but not only that. Of course, betting is an integral part of the coverage. A specialist tracks odds movements and speaks with bookmakers and punters in the betting ring, while the experts share their predictions— supported by stats, data, and interviews. After the races, thanks to explanations from Ruby Walsh in a production van with multi-angle camera feeds, even the least experienced viewers could understand why favourites like Majborough and Jonbon were defeated, or appreciate the brilliance of Rachael Blackmore, who delivered a stunning win in the Stayers’ Hurdle aboard Bob Olinger. And let’ s not forget the entertainment element, because great TV also means great fun. On ITV, it’ s ever-present to capture that elusive casual audience. At the start of Thursday’ s broadcast,“ St Patrick’ s Thursday”, the crew took to the stage in the Guinness Village to put on a show, ending the segment with a traditional Irish song, sung in chorus with hundreds of racegoers. Also in the Guinness Village, former England footballer Peter Crouch honored a lost bet with Paddy Power by buying a round of 1,000 pints(£ 7,800!) for the crowd after an Irish victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle. ITV Racing has already been honored with two BAFTA
Awards- the UK equivalent of the Césars, with categories including television— for its coverage of Cheltenham’ s opening day in 2023. That program was named Best Sports Broadcast, beating out the Women’ s Football World Cup Final and the Men’ s Wimbledon Final. Enough to make you want to watch more racing on TV, and maybe even head to the races in person!
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VICKI GIBBINS’ CHRONICLE
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CHELTENHAM, BUT NOT ONLY
The middle of March marks an important moment in the Irish racing calendar. Yes, representatives from Ireland descend on a small corner of the Cotswolds for the Cheltenham Festival. Yes, preparations and provisions begin for the curtain-closing Punchestown Festival. But more importantly, for the bloodstock afficionado and the keen stallion watcher, the Curragh plays host to the first two-year-old race of the new flat season. It is a contest that can provide an early clue to the
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