Champions: Full Gallop a rollicking good ride – but will it pass the test with the general public?

5 months ago 66

SO for those of you who watched it what did you make of Champions: Full Gallop on ITV Friday night?

I’d be surprised if most racing fans didn’t enjoy it, and to be quite honest if you read this column you are probably a keen follower of the game.

Can the superstar cast of jockeys become household names thanks to Champions: Full Gallop?[/caption]

The real test will be if someone is gripped who has never watched a horse race was. Time will tell, as viewing figures will eventually reveal all over the six episodes.

My Saturday NAP

PYFFO (2.05 Market Rasen)

I fancy him to make all under Jonjo O’Neill Jnr for Jonjo O’Neill and AJ O’Neill – phew!

I certainly kept my eyes open and glued with pleasure.

Of course, you might think I would say that as an ITV presenter, but I hope you would also know that I have always tried to say and write exactly what I feel.

That said, I’ve watched and relished many racing-orientated movies that in reality were dreadful. So I’m possibly not the best person to ask!

Champions: Full Gallop follows the story of the 2023-24 jumps season, with increased access to connections and characters in the game – jockeys, trainers and owners.

Friday night’s episode on the main ITV network – the first three are now available on ITV X – concentrated on the King George VI Chase run at Kempton over Christmas.

Jockeys ganging up on Nico de Boinville to try and stop Shishkin from starting was particularly interesting, while Gavin Sheehan was clearly shocked at the size of eventual winner Hewick.

Incidentally, when a preview was shown in London on Tuesday night I kept a close eye on De Boinville.

Although there were one or two jovial moments for viewers, the jockey did not smile once re-living the memory of Kempton’s showpiece when Shishkin stumbled and unseated him in the closing stages.

The defeat still hurts De Boinville. It will forever. Being denied probable victory does not sit easy with him.

As with all these types of shows, every viewer will come away thinking why did producers not do this or that.

I’m the same.

Before you get bogged down about that, though, you have to remember each show is just 45 minutes long. At the end of the day, you can’t put everything in.

There seemed a lack of willing to show horses falling, which is part and parcel of jumps racing. We have to be confident in our sport.

Bryony Frost was also late out for the King George after it appeared officials failed to tell her – the only female rider in the race – that riders should head out to the paddock. That’s not a good look.

Added to that Hewick’s trainer Shark Hanlon plays a huge and entertaining central role.

But it’s not ideal for the show makers that Hanlon has been in the news for the wrong reasons recently. Maybe that won’t matter.

I’d also have liked those used for comment not to have been sat still. Why can’t they have personalities too?

If you are talking about the dangers of the sport be in the back of an ambulance with a rider being treated.

If you are discussing the importance of the King George be stood next to a board of previous winners and mention a few of them.

Many of the public – even those who don’t watch racing – have heard of Desert Orchid. Remind people this is the race he farmed. He’s got Red Rum appeal.

Ultimately, though, I’m excited to see more.

There’s no doubt Harry Cobden plays a blinder as a class act – and a funny one – in every sense.

That will come as no surprise to those Sun readers who came to our 2023 Cheltenham Festival Preview in which Cobden was absolutely brilliant, particularly after a couple of beers at half time.

On that score one of the most frustrating parts about this show is the cliche idea that this is a sport where the characters of its participants are not widely seen.

It’s just not true.

I spend a lot of days every month on track interviewing people to show their personality to the viewers.

If you don’t think that happens then you simply don’t watch.

A classic example was at the low grade meeting at Chepstow on Thursday, when Gina Mangan, David Probert and Saffie Osborne were terrific. And the same happens every Monday night at Windsor.

I wish, though, that it was possible more often. All you need is time to show off all the great people in the game. It’s the fixture list that stops that happening. Nothing more, nothing less.

Next Friday’s episode concentrates on last seasons’s jumps jockeys’ battle.

Oh yes. It’s Hollywood Harry against Bangor-on-Dee Bowen!