THE ITV Cheltenham TV coverage began with the presenters queueing at the gates to get in and Alastair Down is quoted by Ed Chamberlin: “Cheltenham is for everyone, a place where Dukes meet dustmen.”

The Dukes may be in hiding this year, but I race up town to get a Racing Post and catch a workman outside the shop saying “I have to go over there now to do my bets”, heading to the BoyleSports office across the road. Yes, maybe everyone is engaged in Cheltenham.

On ITV, A.P. McCoy thinks it’s going to be the best Festival since it went to four days.

We can’t wait for the “they’re off” but that took some time in many races!

There are 12 presenters and a commentator covering the show for ITV. At the start for the opener, Luke Harvey doesn’t recognise Harry Cobden has been replaced by Paul Townend on Too Bossy For Us.

That first race result gives hope to the Brits, who provide the first four finishers. It’s a bit of a downer as J.P. McManus had reported that Willie confidently told him it didn’t matter which race Mighty Park ran in.

Before the Arkle, Charlie McCarthy, owner of Kopek Des Bordes, is confident: “If he jumps, he wins.” But it’s Danny Mullins who gets the Irish back on track with Kargese even if she was the third choice of punters and she seems to get a bit of a quieter reception passing the line.

Paul Townend is philosophical: “I thought I had it won, but that mistake at the last, novice chasers!”

Later in the day, as Paul passes the post in front aboard Lossiemouth, we notice a giant billboard in the pull-up area featuring the same jockey and mare, proclaiming ‘Nothing Feels Like Cheltenham’. They sure got that one right, for here they are in real time after sharing yet another Festival victory. In the winner’s enclosure, an emotional owner Rich Ricci acknowledges the applause.

There was some negative comments on social media regarding ITV’s use of the influencers GK Barry and Calfreezy, not an aficionado’s cup of tea on a week like this. “Everyone looks amazing,” Barry, a TikTok and reality TV star, told us. “I just come for the vibes!” Don’t we all!

The up-side was, no matter how little they knew about racing, they have 2.9 million followers between them on Instagram. Such is the modern world of communications and any slight engagement with the masses might be better than none.

Camera angles

ITV’s live race camera angles are very annoying. Who thought it a good idea to use a side-on shot of the vital second last hurdle? All you can see is the horse next to the rails. The charge to the second last is a feature of the County Hurdle on Friday.

Similarly, the drama at the last two fences in the Arkle is almost missed by changing shots. In the Turners Hurdle on Wednesday, it’s the same. As the field charges to the second last, the head-on shot was perfect. Why change?

We miss Bossman Jack’s final hurdle error as he was coming with a run, as the angle changes to a close-up shot of the leader. The ‘from the sky’ drone images are way too far away to see horses jumping down the side in the Ultima, as Konfusion exits. Yes, the review gives more insight to how things happened but we want to see as many runners as possible in the closing stages of the race.

Racing TV’s are much better. If it’s not broken, don’t bloody try fix it.

The jockey interviews all hit the mark and the riders come across so well when asked what this meeting means to them, in particular Harry Cobden speaking to Matt Chapman on ITV and later Charlie Deutsch with Lydia Hislop on Racing TV.

Tom Stanley and Daryl Jacob work well together down trackside on RacingTV and get some nice on the spot reactions to winners from Padraig Roche and again Gordon Elliott on Thursday.

Brian Gleeson meets former minister Charlie McCreevy in the ring where Johnny Dineen reports from the Fitzdares pitch that “Tuesday was a dirty day.”

Good addition

No Drama This End, they said? Wednesday began with the eclipse of the favourite and there was drama aplenty. Drama at the start led to drama after the finish. The ITV post-race short comments with the beaten jockeys are a good addition to coverage and they struck TV gold here when Declan Queally was asked about the false start.

“Being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville, not very nice. I am an amateur, coming over here and riding in front of my kids. Horrific.”

De Boinville responded: “Maybe he should look in the mirror.” ITV were quick to package the clip and it went viral on social media.

The parade ring team, Mick Fitz and A.P., seemed to agree Queally had a right to go where he did at the start. Ruby, in his race review, noted: “That’s the same Nico de Boinville who rode Jonbon last year and put his head on the tape so maybe he needs to look in the mirror as well.”

The starts proved a negative all week. Ruby summed it up: “It’s 2026, how no one has devised a tape that can roll ahead of the horses that can be released. We can send missiles after fighter planes in the Gulf, but no one can devise a rolling fly-away tape.”

On Wednesday, Oli Bell catches up with Rachael Blackmore in the Ladies Hall area, where there are a lot of men! But the news is that one in three racegoers are female. Wrapping up the day, Willie seemed well confident of a bold show from Il Etait Temps, a bit of the old GSI. I took his advice, deserting Majborough at the last minute.

Dave Nevison wrapped up the day on Racing TV when asked for his highlight. “Paul Townend’s judgement.” No differences of opinion there.