TUESDAY ON TV

THE Opening Show on ITV4 initiated the Royal Ascot televisual feast, where all 30 races from the meeting are broadcast live on ITV/TV3/ Relegated to ITV4 to make way for the World Cup.

The rather extensive presenting team previewed the action from the car park before the hoardes of picnickers descended on the royal venue.

The ITV Racing team is nothing if not substantial with, including A.P. McCoy who did a feature with Aidan O’Brien from Ballydoyle, 18 faces counted in various duties over the course of Tuesday’s two broadcasts.

The Opening Show team was Oli Bell in the presenting chair, with Francesa Cumani alongside Jason Weaver and Matt Chapman making up the panel, with Rishi Persad roving the course.

This was armchair ride for Oli who only had to rein Chapman in once or twice. Jason Weaver had the look of a man who had walked into a pub, taken the only vacant seat, then slowly realised his good fortune was actually bad, as it was beside Chapman.

The analysis was summed up by their (correct) assessment of the Queen Anne, as “wide open” but then all four tipped the top two in the betting. Still, it was enjoyable appetiser ahead of the main course.

The message from ITV racing’s coverage was clear. This is really important. It’s a big deal.

It’s the Olympics of horse racing. It means everything. Not important enough to let the football move to a different channel, but if Brexit Britain has taught us anything what you say and do rarely have to correlate.

BIG BUDGET

The other thing that is big about this meeting on ITV is the budget. Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani did the opening link from a helicopter then got into a Porche. It was so over the top it could have been a scene from the Galway races in 2006.

When they did make it to the course a seemingly never-ending team was unveiled.

Brough Scott was up first with Johnny Murtagh and Jason Weaver was back too, trying to predict the stories that would unfold.

Brian Gleeson looked happier than Jason Weaver to be paired with Matt Chapman in the betting ring, although this appeared to be tested over the course of the broadcast.

At this point one may have expected some racing or analysis or even a waffle about fashion, nope, still only abut half way through the introductions. Keep up.

Rishi and Oli were on parade ring and jockey interview duty, Richard Holiles on commentary, Mark and Charlotte back on fashion, Lucy Verasamy on weather, there are 40 cameras too apparently and Kevin Blake and Emmett Kennedy in the ‘Social Stable”. It’s not actually stable though if one was to nitpick.

That massive budget spent on Porches and helicopters for Cumani and Chamberlin and Kevin and Emmett don’t get so much as a haynet for props when they are supposed to be in an actual stable!

Time for the royal procession and another presenter comes along, Katie Mitchell analyses the royal parade. The Queen’s hat is yellow, in an obvious nod to Colombia who happened to be on the other channel, and apparently the first leg of the Queen’s lucky 15.

Once the racing gets going the team kick into gear and as an antithesis to the big budget, global superstar laden predictions in the build up, it’s a first Royal Ascot win for Eve Johnson Houghton and Charlie Bishop, with the perfectly named Accidental Agent.

quote of the day

“It is a dream come true. In all the 20 years I have been coming to Royal Ascot, my dream was just to have a horse run at Royal Ascot. Then we start in a Group 1 and do it; I don’t know what to say.

This does mean more [than breeding Triple Crown winner Justify] and always will. This was the most important and means everything to me. Juddmonte allowing me to bred that mare to Frankel meant everything, believe me, because I love Frankel so much.”

Owner/breeder John Gunther

ON TWITTER

Eve Johnson Houghton@johnsonhoughton

So so chuffed. Accidental Agent. 1st Royal Ascot winner, 1st Group 1 winner. Thank you Mum,@bishopcharlie12 & my amazing team. Unbelievable. #teamWoodway

Shane Anderson@Globalgallop

Imagine what Winx would have done to that Queen Anne field. #imagine

Katherine Ford@KfordEquidia

Eve Johnson Houghton is the first female trainer to win a Gr1 at Royal Ascot since Criquette Head won the Coronation Stakes with Gold Splash in 1993. Before that, Rosemary Lomax won the 1970 Gold Cup with Precipice Wood. Just 3 in 50 years.

ArchieWilkinson@_awilkinson

Blown away by Calyx yesterday, and have taken the 20/1 about him for the 2000 Guineas. Worth noting that 6 of the last 13 Guineas winners had made their debuts by this point of the season. [from June 10th]

Neil Payne@NeilPayne

What a brilliant day for two champions on Jthe course, now delivering as sires at the place they stamped their class on. #Frankel & #Kingman all class at @Ascot congrats @JuddmonteFarms

Pat O’Brien@PatOBrien_twt

Get in you little beauty Lagostovegas. I totally disagree with the commentator’s name calling. Clearly Lagos to Vegas not LA Gos To Vegas as he called it home.