Jockey Club Racecourses news
Festival great Walsh honoured at The McCoys A KEY date for all big names in the jump racing world, The Jockey Club Jump Awards brought the episode one as they met their doubles with an introduction of how to be a presenter and tips of what you should – and shouldn’t – do or say on air. From learning to walk and talk with a mic, and understanding the Hosted for the first time by the entertaining Mark Durden-Smith and racing presenter Hayley Moore, guests were treated to a Grade 1 three-course dinner in The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse, before the awards began. As Sir Anthony McCoy was away playing golf with Tiger Woods and JP McManus he left a message for the audience sending his apologies. There was recognition for the stars of our sport, with such as Tiger Roll, Nico de Boinville and Altior among the popular winners. Noel Fehily landed the Judges’ Choice Award, sponsored by WO Lewis, following his retirement announcement at The Festival TM ITV Racing’s Mini Me’s steal the show FOLLOWING a lengthy search, Cheltenham Racecourse has unveiled its new TV stars of racing, as five of its Junior Jumpers TM were auditioned and chosen to star in a new series called ITV Racing’s Mini Me’s. The three-part series sees the Mini Me’s meet their doubles Ed Chamberlin, Alice Plunkett, Oli Bell, Richard Hoiles and the one and only Matt Chapman. Each were taught the tricks of the trade with the final episode letting them loose on air. From the production trucks, to using the GoingStick, the Mini Me’s were in the heart of the action as their ‘big’ presenters taught them all they would need to know to be a star of the small screen. Aged between eight and 15, the journey began for the Mini Me’s in great and the good together to celebrate the achievements of the 2018-19 season.
all-important terminology for that ‘long sticky thing’ presenters hold, Mini Ed, Oli, Alice, Richard and Matt were able to put their skills to the test on Festival Trials Day as they went live for episode three. A very glamorous Mini Alice put her interviewing skills to the test as she caught up with jockey Nick Scholfield about what The
Festival TM presented by Magners means to him, while Mini Matt stood strong among the hustle and bustle of the punters down by the rail. Mini Ed perfected his extraordinary welcome in front of Cleeve Hill, with Mini Oli getting all the latest news down on the track with head groundsman Ben Hastie. Practice makes perfect for
racing programme starts at 1pm. The presenting team will be led by Nick Luck, Lydia Hislop and Gary O’Brien. Luck on Sunday, less than 48 hours after The Festival has finished, will review the four days with special guests and in-depth comment and debate. Racing TV broadcasts racing from 61 racecourses in Britain and Ireland, including 90 per cent of all Graded and Group races in Britain and Ireland. That means the complete build-up to The Festival is on one channel. The channel is available on Sky 432, Virgin 536 and 511 (GB and Ireland), BT TV, TalkTalk, Freeview and YouView 261, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Vodafone (Ireland). For more information visit racingtv.com. Mini Richard Hoiles as he rehearses his commentary for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup . . . perhaps he may know something we don’t! The ITV Racing Mini Me episodes can be seen on Cheltenham.co.uk/junior-jumpers or Cheltenham Racecourse social media channels.
Racing TV has the complete Festival
package – all week long RACING TV is the only place to see all 28 races from the pinnacle of the jumps season and the TV and digital channels will broadcast more than 32 hours live from Prestbury Park. The Festival TM presented by Magners gets under way on the channel with The Road To Cheltenham preview programme on Monday, March 9. Lydia Hislop and Ruby Walsh will set the scene from Cheltenham – just 24 hours before the flag falls for the start of the showpiece. From Tuesday to Friday the channel will be on air from 10am with Mark Your Card, which sets viewers up for the day with a mix of features and race previews, before the live
presented by Magners 2019.
The night however, belonged to
Ruby Walsh, who was the well- deserved recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by Dodson & Horrell. The most successful Cheltenham Festival jockey with 59 winners to his name, and a multiple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Ruby reflected on his incredible career in the saddle. The McCoys 2020 will take place on Friday September 18 at Cheltenham Racecourse. cheltenham.co.uk
March 2020 The Festival 65
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