Lee Mothershead is a disgrace

Sprouts

He's very good ''friends'' with Gerry Hannon, and he writes an article in Saturdays Racing Post saying its time for Des Scahill to step aside because Des is disintersested and more into Man Utd than his job. He lets it off to print when hes out of Punchestown and gone home and couldn't be challenged by anyone. He has nothing to do with Irish Racing and only a wet day in the racing post. He should have a some respect and not be taking cheap shots to get his ''friend'' Dessies job.

Goldcupfav

Sprouts wrote: »

He's very good ''friends'' with Gerry Hannon, and he writes an article in Saturdays Racing Post saying its time for Des Scahill to step aside because Des is disintersested and more into Man Utd than his job. He lets it off to print when hes out of Punchestown and gone home and couldn't be challenged by anyone. He has nothing to do with Irish Racing and only a wet day in the racing post. He should have a some respect and not be taking cheap shots to get his ''friend'' Dessies job.

Have to say i enjoy Gerry Hannon's commentary a lot more than Des Scahill.

SRFC

dessie is past it imo.. rte's race commentary wasnt much better though at punchestown

Goldcupfav

SRFC wrote: »

dessie is past it imo.. rte's race commentary wasnt much better though at punchestown

Tony O'Hehir does RTE commentary. Isnt great either imo..

Sprouts

Goldcupfav wrote: »

Have to say i enjoy Gerry Hannon's commentary a lot more than Des Scahill.

Fair enough, you are well entitled to your opinion, but getting Mothershead to throw mud at the gent is out of order, Mothershead has nothing to do with racing here anyway.

Itsdacraic

Des Scahill has been very poor the past couple years. Missing fallers, calling the wrong fallers, etc.

Whyno

Itsdacraic wrote: »

Des Scahill has been very poor the past couple years. Missing fallers, calling the wrong fallers, etc.

Anyone is better than Thommo....

abouttobebanned

The man deserves some respect though.

smartaform

Mothershead's a spoon and i feel ANY article bagging anyone should not be allowed to print in the Racing Post...
At this moment in time the industry is on a knife's edge and the only thing he can write about is about Dessie - by the looks of it to enhance his buddies job prospects.... I've never bothered with any of his articles as his head is only in place

Back to the commentary, where do the next batch of commentators come from??? There's a few ok ones at P2P meetings and i feel they should be given a chance at a few meetings... RTE's commentator is rubbish - worse than dessie IMO....

We need someone like Ray Warren - youtube Ray Warren (rugby league commentator in Australia) you need excitement and ability to read a race. Lets attract people to a sport that is exciting and NOT BITCHY

westlife2010

Did not read the article but if this gentleman has at pop a Des and no other commentator then that is horribly wrong. How can you have a go a Des and leave the likes of GG, Tommo and Jim McGrath alone. GG has totally lost his accuracy, Jim Mcgrath (IMO) I have never liked as a commentator. Have always found his reading of a race all over the place. And don't even get me started on the biggest joke in racing.....TOMMO.

UrbanSea

I quite like Jim McGrath,maybe I'm wrong,that the Australian?

NewApproach

Des Scahill has completely lost it in the last few years, he should have gone ages ago.

Tbh I don't really care about Mottershead's friendship with Jerry Hannon or anyone else, but I think highlighting just how bad Scahill is is a good thing

Aidric

It's funny I was gonna start a thread on Dessie Scahill today but then saw this. He sounds completely disinterested for a while now. Ok he'll get himself up for the odd Grade 1 but other than that his commentaries are a bit all over the place.

Johner

greetings wrote: »

I quite like Jim McGrath,maybe I'm wrong,that the Australian?

Aussie Jim is terrible imo.

deewhy

I have to say I am fed up with the Irish Commentators calling wrong horses or missing fallers (with the odd muffled cough thrown into the mic as well) - a good example being the banks race last week, where Ruby had to point out coming to the last that O'Heithir had been calling the wrong horse (Heads on the Ground instead of Freeny's Well).

The standards are appalling when compared to UK course & racing channel commentators. People like Richard Hoiles, Mark Johnston whose ability to call out distress signals, easy travellers, mistakes together with their genuine excitement about whats happening in the race makes it a great part of the day out.

As stated in an earlier post the industry in Ireland is on its knees - dont underestimate the power of the commentator in generating excitement and are a big hook in drawing people into racing. Quite simply our commentators are not up the required standards - time for change.

By the way Tommo is a complete tosser

IMO Ruby was excellent last week - especially when commenting on in running ... that is what we should be looking for in the future.

Morgans

Its clear to anyone who watches racing that Hannon and Gary O'Brien should be involved with RTE. Des Scahill is miles past it.

It doesn't stop Mottershed being the biggest pr1ck of the lot of them. 99% of anything he says/writes is utter twaddle.

It is amazing that at this stage Thompson is a far better caller than Aussie Jim or Graham Goode. While its clear that he doesnt care, he doesnt make as many outright mistakes as that pair. Should have been pensioned off a decade ago.

Aidric

Does Scahill work as an independent contractor or is he under a contract of employment with HRI?

cson

He'll have cost a good few people on Betfair a few pound over calling the wrong horses which he's done quite frequently of late.

abouttobebanned

Ruby called just about everything wrong last week lol. Psycho jumping well...and then wallop. Pretty funno imo

Johner

abouttobebanned wrote: »

Ruby called just about everything wrong last week lol. Psycho jumping well...and then wallop. Pretty funno imo

A horse can be jumping well and then fall you know.

Sprouts

abouttobebanned wrote: »

Ruby called just about everything wrong last week lol. Psycho jumping well...and then wallop. Pretty funno imo

Ssssshh dont say anything bad about Lord Ruby in here or they'll gang up on ye. He did invent horse racing after all.

NewApproach

cson wrote: »

He'll have cost a good few people on Betfair a few pound over calling the wrong horses which he's done quite frequently of late.

Tbf anyone betting money in running on the sole word of the commentator deserves to lose imo.

NewApproach

I used be a fan of aussie Jim years back, but in the last couple of years he really has got awful. At aintree just gone by, he was absolutely shocking. Simon Holt/Richard Holies are a million miles ahead of him.

Nulty

I think theres a real difference in liking a person (not disliking them!) and them actually doing their job well. And by well I mean be at the very top of their trade.

I like Jim, I like many of the commentators, but that doesnt mean I think they're great at their job. I dont dislike Des, but I have to admit I hate his commentary. I dont think he should be the number one commentator in this country. Its just like going around in circles. A pain to listen to.

That being said, Im not delighted to hear him being attacked by a British journalist but I tend to agree with the sentiments, regardless of my opinion of Mottershead.

Sprouts

The Racing post should ask Mothershead why he's writing about Irish commentators and whats his association with Gerry Hannon, he threw in Richard Pugh in there to throw people off the scent.

Morgans

Richard Pugh also very good and a lot better than the existing establishment. (Scahill and O'Hehir) Don't mention Peter O'Hehir or Peadar Flanagan. Mottershed is the "journalist" I dislike most in the industry but he is not wrong here.

convert

I've actually found some of Pugh's commentary to be inaccurate at point-to-points over the years and there have been quite a few occasions where he's called the wrong horse as winning in tight finishes.

Whyno

abouttobebanned wrote: »

Ruby called just about everything wrong last week lol. Psycho jumping well...and then wallop. Pretty funno imo

He actually was jumping and travelling well. I really loled when this happened. This happens regularly though. Horse travelling well then jumps well and catches the commentators eye then the very next fence ends up on its arse. I thought rubys insight and eye for watching who was travelling best and who wasnt etc was excellent.
Mark Johnson for me is the best commentator by a mile at the minute. Mike catermole is a dose of ak also.
It is actually shocking to think that thommo is actually better than some of the fools of commentators :eek:

smartaform

Thing with tommo is you know exactly where your horse is... He references - in the green we have ++++ and he has that bit of excitement needed by commentators.
I'm surprised people think he's so bad, i do think he's better than a good few of the hacks that are calling now...

Back to the main topic of the spoon that is Mothershead, he has some serious questions to answer and has abused his position in the RP to attack a senior figure of Irish Racing...
I'm further annoyed by the fact the Racing Post threw in a snippet from the HK meet on Sunday -

Nonetheless, betting turnover on the tenraces for the second biggest day in Hong Kong racing resulted in a healthy handle approximately equalling £90 million.

And that is all on the topic!!!

Why not use that as the starting point for how Racing can actually change for the better??? Of that £90 million, over £30 million went directly back to the Industry!! How much is gambled daily and how much is given back to the industry?? 2%...... and top officials are still clueless as to how to make racing better.

BUT having a go at someone not realy involved in the media is a far better excercise.

smartaform

I also 2nd convert's reply about Pugh - he can be off the mark BUT somewhere there needs to be the opportunity created by the Turf Club to train new budding commentators!

convert

smartaform wrote: »

BUT somewhere there needs to be the opportunity created by the Turf Club to train new budding commentators!

I was watching the coverage from the Fairyhouse festival last month and seem to remember something about a young commentator starting out and they gave him the opportunity to commentate on the bumper each day. I was distracted at the time, so I'm not sure of all the details or who the guy was, but I do remember hearing a little bit of the commentary. For a guy who was just starting out I thought he was ok, and reckoned he'd improve lots with time and experience.

Rickos

Whyno wrote: »

Anyone is better than Thommo....

Thommo??? I cannot abide that gormless twat. He's awful, what with his fake sincerity, lack of knowledge and is supposed to be as tight as they come.

The Morning Line is bad enough but when that clown is on, he makes it even worse.

Seanohea

Apart from what mottershead has said about scahill, I can't stand mottershead, I can't read his articles or watch him on tv, I just find him so annoying and unnatural on tv, and his writing is drivel, I don't know how he got to be a leading writer with the racing post. I get disappointed whenever I see he has a big article in the paper after I've spent €2.50 on it.
I went to a lot of race meetings in around London last year, and he seemed to be at every important occasion, swarming over jockeys and trainers like a fly on ****e.

Rickos

NewApproach wrote: »

I used be a fan of aussie Jim years back, but in the last couple of years he really has got awful. At aintree just gone by, he was absolutely shocking. Simon Holt/Richard Holies are a million miles ahead of him.

I agree with all of that. Used to like Aussie Jim, but you're right, he has gone back over. He's now lost the gig for the Guinneas.

There are a lot commentators/pundits who I'm not that keen on - but it is lile that in other sports too. Mind, racing has a load of them - Thommo and Alice Plunkett are tight up there with the worst.

I think Holt is a very good commentator and I like Dave Duggan and Gary O'Brien. I was at Sandown on Saturday and, once again, Nick Luck is a tremendous MC. Sure, he's got that posh accent, etc., but he knows his stuff and "gets" the sense of occasion very well.

westlife2010

Rickos wrote: »

I agree with all of that. Used to like Aussie Jim, but you're right, he has gone back over. He's now lost the gig for the Guinneas.

There are a lot commentators/pundits who I'm not that keen on - but it is lile that in other sports too. Mind, racing has a load of them - Thommo and Alice Plunkett are tight up there with the worst.

I think Holt is a very good commentator and I like Dave Duggan and Gary O'Brien. I was at Sandown on Saturday and, once again, Nick Luck is a tremendous MC. Sure, he's got that posh accent, etc., but he knows his stuff and "gets" the sense of occasion very well.

From a presenting point of view, Gary O'Brien is top notch. He just lacks that 'show biz' clowning that the UK racing channels/programmes seem to adore. No bull **** and very sharp with his racing knowledge. Channel 4 started that 'top jock, comments in running' thing with Francome (like him as a presenter) many years ago and they (francome & commentator) developed a very smooth sounding mid race analysis. Ruby's (understandably, first time) was very raw and not helped by the commentators seemingly thrown by his mid race imput. RTE are a joke, and if you sit back and absorb the comparison of Presentation, quality of the actual race viewing & information provided from the RTE & Channel 4 productions you will apreciate how third world RTE are when it comes to the production of a racing programme

Rickos

westlife2010 wrote: »

From a presenting point of view, Gary O'Brien is top notch. He just lacks that 'show biz' clowning that the UK racing channels/programmes seem to adore. No bull **** and very sharp with his racing knowledge. Channel 4 started that 'top jock, comments in running' thing with Francome (like him as a presenter) many years ago and they (francome & commentator) developed a very smooth sounding mid race analysis. Ruby's (understandably, first time) was very raw and not helped by the commentators seemingly thrown by his mid race imput. RTE are a joke, and if you sit back and absorb the comparison of Presentation, quality of the actual race viewing & information provided from the RTE & Channel 4 productions you will apreciate how third world RTE are when it comes to the production of a racing programme

I'm not too familiar with RTE living in England but some of Channel 4's presentation is very good with lots of camera angles, some decent presenters and, by and large, they concentrate on the racing (Morning Line apart which can be poor many mornings). At least Channel 4 has n't gone down to the level of the BBC - the coverage of Aintree was dreadful, and that's despite having Mick Fitz and Dunwoody working. I like Clare Balding too but she seemed to have been told to dumb down the coverage - big shame.

krustydoyle

Sprouts wrote: »

Ssssshh dont say anything bad about Lord Ruby in here or they'll gang up on ye. He did invent horse racing after all.

ha ha well said...

Sprouts

convert wrote: »

I was watching the coverage from the Fairyhouse festival last month and seem to remember something about a young commentator starting out and they gave him the opportunity to commentate on the bumper each day. I was distracted at the time, so I'm not sure of all the details or who the guy was, but I do remember hearing a little bit of the commentary. For a guy who was just starting out I thought he was ok, and reckoned he'd improve lots with time and experience.

Thats James Griffen, he's an amateur rider, his dads a trainer. Worked in the Curragh on the mic in the parade ring, when they had money.

smartaform

Earlier this month at Tallanstown P2P they had a guy doing the MC and it added something to the place, i took some friends who hadnt been before and they thoroughly enjoyed the guy and the whole atmosphere - perhaps something to look at??

convert

smartaform wrote: »

Earlier this month at Tallanstown P2P they had a guy doing the MC and it added something to the place, i took some friends who hadnt been before and they thoroughly enjoyed the guy and the whole atmosphere - perhaps something to look at??

There's been something similar at the Kildare's point-to-point in Punchestown for the last few years. There's a guy who announces the presentations, the winning connections and sometimes gives some info on the horses in each race and who has good and recent form.

I'm pretty sure some of the other point-to-points have it someone to give some info on 'in form' horses, too. I can't remember them off the top of my head as I can't remember if I actually heard them while I was spectating or on my way down to the start!

Sprouts

Its a really turbulent time for commentators at the moment. Tony O'Heir always worked at the Grand National for the BBC, but not this year, because of cutbacks he was told, but he was the only one dropped. Jim McGrath lost the job with the BBC because of some poll. Gary O'Brien was told by Racetech he couldn't have a job with them because they didn't want an Irish accent doing it.

Huntthe

M'head works for ATR who televie Irish racing.He is entitled to point out what everyone knows .Dessie is bored out of his tits commentating on racing. If your talking cheap shots, than maybe it's accusing him of only writing the article because he's mates with Hanon.

Ruby is a brilliant jockey as everyone knows, however I don't think he's a great embassador for racing (don't think he's trying to be be either) but his insight and observations during Punchestown where excellent.

smartaform

convert wrote: »

There's been something similar at the Kildare's point-to-point in Punchestown for the last few years. There's a guy who announces the presentations, the winning connections and sometimes gives some info on the horses in each race and who has good and recent form.

I'm pretty sure some of the other point-to-points have it someone to give some info on 'in form' horses, too. I can't remember them off the top of my head as I can't remember if I actually heard them while I was spectating or on my way down to the start!

Always some excuse :D

robtri

smartaform wrote: »

Always some excuse :D

yep always some excuse

Aidric

Sprouts wrote: »

Jim McGrath lost the job with the BBC because of some poll..

When did this happen. Wasn't he commentating on the national?

convert

smartaform wrote: »

Always some excuse :D

Yep!!

Sprouts

Aidric wrote: »

When did this happen. Wasn't he commentating on the national?

He has been taken off the guinneas and no longer the main man

Morgans

I knew something didnt feel right about the last statement. He may have been removed by Newmarket racecourse, rightfully so IMO, but Channel 4 of course are covering the guineas on terrestrial tv. I think whoever commentates on Royal Ascot will be the BBC's main man. He covered the final half mile of the national, which is usually the preserve of BBCs main commentator.

Whatever poll removes him in favour of BBC's John Hunt will be well run.

westlife2010

If you need any more evidence why Jim McGrath is a very poor race reader please watch the replay of yesterday's 5.25 at Lingfield

http://www.attheraces.com/VideoConsole/?va=LIN_2010_04_30_08_1725 .

A 5 runner race that a first time commentator could provide an accurate race analysis. The second fav, Fairy Flight has a dream race with the odds on jolly (out in front) attempting to run out at the first bend and everything else pulling too strongly. Buick has FF in the perfect position (in the box seat behind the jolly, settled well, must have traded long odds on 3 out when the fav was begining to be nudged along and FF was still swinging along on the bridle). Into the straight Buick on FF gets a dream run off the bend a little over a length of the leader. The jolly finds loads in front and quickens 5L clear of the field, with FF finding little and plodding on for a distant second. McGraths comment pertaining to Fairy Flight close home of "starting to make some ground very slowly, but too late" is lazy, disinterested commentary at best......

sting60

convert wrote: »

I was watching the coverage from the Fairyhouse festival last month and seem to remember something about a young commentator starting out and they gave him the opportunity to commentate on the bumper each day. I was distracted at the time, so I'm not sure of all the details or who the guy was, but I do remember hearing a little bit of the commentary. For a guy who was just starting out I thought he was ok, and reckoned he'd improve lots with time and experience.

James Griffen from rolestown north co. Dublin,real horse country draper,Stafford etc.I dont think James holds a licence anymore he never rode a placed horse.His dad does not hold a licence ,he trained Feltrim hill lad a number of years ago.He is a very nice young lad but i dont think commentating is his direction as he holds a degree in equine science.His dad Paddy currently runs a small rearing operation of which Henderson,knight and other english trainers have purchased his stock.

sting60

convert wrote: »

I was watching the coverage from the Fairyhouse festival last month and seem to remember something about a young commentator starting out and they gave him the opportunity to commentate on the bumper each day. I was distracted at the time, so I'm not sure of all the details or who the guy was, but I do remember hearing a little bit of the commentary. For a guy who was just starting out I thought he was ok, and reckoned he'd improve lots with time and experience.

James Griffen,Rolestown north co. Dublin beside Swords.James i dont think holds a licence anymore.His dad Paddy trained Feltrim hill lad a number of years ago but now only has a permit licence.he operates a small mares stud now with most been sold to england.James has a degree in equine science so i dont think commentating is going to be his choice.