Wow! Enjoyed that more than the article! Wasn’t championing Alastair Down’s character but he does write well (in my opinion) and is well respected for his thoughts. I remember when Mick Easterby called Alastair a cnut on live tv and he probably wasn’t too wide of the mark. Francome is a very decent man who does a huge amount for charity especially the injured jockey’s fund. How he “gets off” is really his business. Have always rated Alice Plunkett as a person and a journalist who seems to have hated him and loved him in equal measure. Complicated character who wasn’t really my cup of tea but he had his time and he was good for racing. Dettori is another personality who is good for racing but an arrogant arse in real life. The ITV bunch seem like less of an aloof bunch than the channel 4 stalwarts.

sorry to name drop again but she was really nice - and her late partner no doubt was the essence of loveliness when he wanted to be, but those dodgy views weren't just hot air they were genuinely his