'We're going to do all sorts' - Chamberlin and ITV keen to grasp big opportunity

ITV Racing returns for the first time in nearly three months on Friday with lead presenter Ed Chamberlin energised by the resumption of top-class action on the channel and determined to make the most of "this unbelievable and unique opportunity to promote this great sport".

With attendance to the racecourse strictly limited, Chamberlin and the ITV team are keen to make the coverage as interactive and accessible as possible, with many people predicted to watch racing for the first time with other professional sports not yet restarted.

Chamberlin said: “We’re going to do all sorts. Since the start we’ve always wanted to draw people in and make them feel like they were there with us at the races as part of the coverage.

“We’re going to use Zoom, so if owners would like to do it we’d love to show shots of them watching and their reaction and then I’ll interview them afterwards. But we’re reliant on people getting involved.

“We’ll have our Social Stable open for business. You always get accused of dumbing things down but we’re dumbing nothing down. We’re going to take this unbelievable and unique opportunity to promote this great sport.

“We’re well aware there are going to be sports fans from across the spectrum watching so we’re going to explain, and it’s important to explain how and why racing is happening, be sensitive to what has been happening, but also take this opportunity to immerse people in this sport and sell the thrill of racing.

“If you can’t sell the Coronation Cup and Lingfield Classic Trials, then 2,000 Guineas day, then 1,000 Guineas day over the next few days, then you never will.”

Pinatubo: bids for Classic success on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Chamberlin and the ITV team will be covering racing from home over the next three days, a scenario that presents certain challenges with timing delays, outside cameras and failsafes in case of a loss of internet.

Chamberlin praised the work of the BHA in getting racing back up and running on June 1 and the efforts of the ITV team to show the sport, as well as describing the prospect of fronting coverage amid the coronavirus pandemic as “the biggest responsibility I’ve had in 21 years of television”.

However, the prospect of hot favourites Pinatubo and Quadrilateral landing the Qipco 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas is something the presenter is relishing on this first weekend back.

He said: “I’m hoping Pinatubo wins by eight lengths because the majority of people watching ITV on Saturday, and we’ve got to face it, will never have heard of him. If he could do something with a bit of a ‘wow’ factor in the 2,000 Guineas it would be in all of our interests.

“I would love to see the Charlton family, led by Roger, back on the top table in the Classics. Roger is so good for the sport and speaks so much sense, so I’d like it to be Quadrilateral to win the 1,000 Guineas and then have Roger come and speak to us on Zoom!”

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ITV and Chamberlin ready for action with Saturday and Sunday broadcasts planned

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