Racing

Saturday 26th January saw the return of top class NH racing and another chance for the new look C4 TV to make an impression.

This all came together at 1.50 when Clare Balding approached trainer Nickie Henderson and announced that ” racing’s on and we’re all raring to go!” She had failed to appreciate that Henderson was at that very moment in just about the worst possible situation any trainer can experience:  bedevilled by circumstances (foul weather, cancelled meetings, and Cheltenham getting closer and closer), he was about to run Sprinter Sacre, possibly his best horse ever,  on ground so soft as to be almost unacceptable, and he was agonising over the possibility that he had made a big mistake. Consequently he was almost speechless with nerves, and this disappointed his interviewer, who seemed at a loss to understand why on earth a man in his position should be so unforthcoming. Happily Sprinter Sacre was superb and won with his head in his chest.

Undeterred, Clare was at it again before the 2.25 when she cross-examined Anthony Knott, owner of Hunt Ball, one of the runners. Mr Knott has been known to put on noisy and gymnastic exhibitions in moments of jubilation, particularly when Hunt Ball has won races, and Clare clearly expected him to put on a performance for her and her  public. Once again she was disappointed: Mr Knott was in exactly the same quandary as Henderson. He was worried to death and made no effort to hide the fact. I am happy to report that Hunt Ball ran very well to finish third.

Because of the circumstances, that afternoon was so full of tension, worries and doubts that there was real drama in the air. Perhaps Miss Balding would have been better advised to introduce her public to the real facts of life on a racing day of this unusual nature, rather than try to coat the proceedings with a layer of soft soap.

Early days for the rest of the new TV team, but it certainly lacks the brightness, the colour and the wit of the old gang. The dead wood is gone, but so has quite a lot of the talent. Still, it’s early days…

Rugby

The good news is that as we speak all Premiership matches screened by Sky and/or ESPN this winter are trialling the experiment of a TV Match Official (TMO) who is empowered to ask the on-field referee to stop the game in cases of possible foul play. A new and vital additional power.

Interestingly, the same experiment is being trialled in South Africa. If this trial is a success, and if the TMO becomes a permanent feature of top-class rugby,the game could be saved from the thugs who have done their best in recent years to cripple opponents and to bring the game as a whole into disrepute. Fingers crossed, it is just possible that Andrew Hore’s right  hook to Bradley Davies’ jaw may have triggered a most salutary backlash.

The Six Nations begins this weekend, and I am perplexed. The autumn internationals convinced me that world rugby was currently in a state of slump. Whereupon England positively scintillated against New Zealand. In that area, I am curious to see what happens next. As regards the other five participants, I still think the standard may prove pretty ordinary – but I would be delighted to be proved wrong.

Sunday a.m.

I am still perplexed. England beat Scotland by about the same margin that they beat New Zealand in the autumn. I shake my head in confusion. There is something wrong with the form. We need more evidence.

[[Sunday p.m.

Harking back to the last paragraph, Scotland played pretty well. There used to be a time when they made very effective use of guerrilla warfare.  In the present era of big men crashing and bashing, such tactics could be very effective. There must be veteran Scots who know what I’m talking about. Today’s management should seek them out and listen to what they have to say.

I only watched half of the European Union match. France seems to be in a real bad slump – I have no idea why. However, it’s an ill wind… and I am pleased to see Italy showing signs of life.]]

In Saturday’s other game, Ireland beat Wales. This doesn’t surprise me. Back play depends on quick ball. Wales fielded a scrum half who claims the right to consider his own  options before handing the ball on. That road leads to ruin.  I also saw Welsh backs hurling the ball into touch on several occasions. I thought that “Get the basics right” was one of the principles of the Welsh approach to the game. Oh dear, oh dear!

Tennis

I rather think that the Fed could still beat the Djoc and the Jock and the Rafa (currently limping).  Again and again I watch him losing points by impatience, by trying to finish the point too quickly. With his skill, the longer the point, the more torture he can dish out.

Strangely enough, I think Murray could also beat allcomers if he too would make just one change in his tactics. His ability to place the ball exactly where he wants  is exceptional, but when he is using this talent to move an opponent all over the court he seems to lose all confidence. Suddenly he gives every line he goes for a two-yard margin for error, which means that the opponent need not hurry to make his return, and is often so comfortable that  he can launch a winner when he should be out on his feet. Murray does not need a two-yard margin for error – simple as that.

If this pair of champions would just sit up and take notice,  the Top Three (possibly Four) would be obliged to raise the bar higher and higher, and the public would not be able to believe its eyes

BBC

Is it possible that the BBC is actually working for a foreign power? I doubt it, but there is something going on which seems like a determined effort to addle the brains of the British public.

A brief assessment of a week’s worth of programmes on BBC One  and Two revealed: 17 antiques programmes, 14 quizzes  and 30 (three-zero) lessons in cookery.

In addition there seems to be a subtle attempt to make the viewer seasick: a process of circular motions.  First we are asked to follow our small-screen icons as they walk round and round this green and pleasant land. No sooner has a walker disappeared than a motorised icon follows in his or her wake. Vrrroom-Vrrrooom! What next? Michael Portillo in a train. (NB Portillo is enchanting – I won’t hear a word against him. But the rest – and there are probably more trains on the production line – are nauseating. )

One would have thought that, if the Beeb is going to pander to Savile for thirty years, it might at least have bewildered its critics by creating a steady stream of high-class entertainment.

I suspect that the senior management  is beyond redemption, but it is quite interesting to note that, while about a dozen of the top brass were identified as being implicated in the Savile story, not one was sacked. Could it be that they really do think they are immune to retribution, and could it be that they are getting away with it?

Somewhere in the Bible is the suggestion that one should “be afraid, be horribly afraid.” Something like that. That’s the way I feel about the BBC. It clearly needs to be disinfected from head to toe, but  no-one seems very keen to take on Mission Impossible. Reasons to be cheerful – hard to find.

Anyone who reads a bit should have a look at  “BBC SAVAGES WODEHOUSE” under CULTURE.

Best wishes.

Andrew Simpson