ITV’s plan to give fans ‘best seat in the house’

ITV RACING have promised to give viewers the ‘best seat in the house’ when they take over terrestrial coverage on January 1. They have confirmed an end to the studio-style analysis favoured by current rights holders Channel 4. Ed Chamberlin, based in the paddock, will be a host ‘in the style of Des Lynam and David Coleman’, according to senior director Paul McNamara. Their brief is to widen the sport’s viewing base, and ITV will promote big races on other programmes like Loose

Women and This Morning. News that Sir AP McCoy (right) would be joining as a pundit was broadcast during halftime of the England versus Scotland game on Friday night, watched by nine million people. Mark Demuth, controller of sport, said: ‘We will try to engage other shows. We do not want racing isolated in that four-hour show on a Saturday afternoon. ‘We are not kidding ourselves that we are going to have slots on This Morning every day but around the big events we want ITV to join up all the racing.’ Despite the professionalism of C4 Racing coverage, concern has risen over low viewing figures for some of the showpiece events, particularly the Derby. ITV’s greater reach — 90 per cent of the UK audience tune in during any one week — offers scope to rebuild the viewing public. Demuth added: ‘If we can boost the profile of the sport, you would hope audiences would be good.’ Meanwhile, champion jockey Richard Johnson’s place on Coneygree in tomorrow’s Betfair Chase at Haydock depends on enough rain falling to force the withdrawal of Menorah, trained by his boss Philip Hobbs. The two horses were among the seven declarations for the £200,000 Chase yesterday. As it stands, Aidan Coleman will ride 2015 Gold Cup winner Coneygree, whose opponents include Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti. Sam Twiston-Davies, sidelined by kidney and spleen injuries, has been told he can return on November 30.