Qatar Goodwood Festival Live on Channel 4

28 July 2015

Today sees the start of the Qatar Goodwood Festival with the entire five glorious days broadcast live on Channel 4.

Presented from the beautiful West Sussex track, Nick Luck will lead Channel 4’s racing team alongside Emma Spencer.  Rishi Persad and Gina Bryce will be on hand to help bring viewers closer to the action with exclusive access from the Goodwood estate.  Mick Fitzgerald will deliver his regular jockey’s changing room inserts and punditry skills alongside Jim McGrath and Graham Cunningham.  Tanya Stevenson will relay the betting markets and Simon Holt as commentator. 

Vogue Williams joins the team (on Thursday and Friday) to ensure that style and fashion is at the forefront of Channel 4’s Glorious Goodwood coverage.  

With a daily two and a half hour afternoon slot, Channel 4 will broadcast four races every day from the Qatar Goodwood Festival with Saturday’s show taking in two additional contests from Newmarket, plus The Morning Line at 8am with Richard Hughes making a special appearance on his final day as a jockey. 

Features to complement the five-day festival include an exclusive interview by Clare Balding with reign champion jockey Richard Hughes discussing his 20-year career in the saddle, and his hopes and expectations of life as a trainer.  While Jim McGrath and Nick Lightfoot embark on a road trip of trainers in the West Sussex region.

EXCLUSIVE FRANKIE DETTORI INTERVIEW AHEAD OF QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL (July 28th – August 1st) freely available in part or full

You’ve had a remarkable season so far. Did you ever dream it would go this well?

I was hopeful that when John Gosden and I reached  a loose leafed agreement last November that we might hit some high spots.  John has been training here (in Newmarket) for 20 years and prior to that was one of the top trainers in America, let alone his apprenticeships with Noel Murless, Vincent O’Brien and Charlie Whittingham in California.  He helped in my early career to such a huge extent it made this dream so believable. 

You’ve said that your Derby winner this year was the best moment of your career. What made it better than your 2007 Derby win, or the seventh winner at Ascot?

With the ups and downs that I have had in 20 years in the saddle there is no way you could explain how much this win meant. I have been lucky enough to ride multiple Group One winners and I don’t want to make comparisons apart from to say that so far 2015 is incredibly special!

Do you think your approach and attitude to racing changes as you get older?

My feet are on the ground.

You’ve stated you want to keep riding as long as you can. What is it that keeps you motivated to keep working so hard?

Success and having the greatest job in the world for Al Shaqab - so I realise how lucky I am.

What is the best thing about what you do? Riding winners!

What is the worst? Riding losers!

We have Glorious Goodwood coming up. What is it that makes it such a special event?

The track is unique and amongst the most beautiful in the world. The challenge is unique.

Richard Hughes will be retiring after Glorious Goodwood. What’s he been like to race against over the years?

Richard is the consummate professional in the saddle with real flair and natural talent. He’s a top man, professional and friend. He is from a racing family and will make a great trainer for sure. Richard will be sorely missed in the weighing room and it will only be when he is gone that people will realise what a legend he has been throughout his career.

Goodwood is a place that’s been good to both of you. It’s a fitting place for a last battle between you, isn’t it?

No it belongs to Hughesie….I’ve had some great wins there with Ouija Board and others but he is a try master of this technically difficult track.

Your first ever British winner was at Goodwood. Do you remember that day well?

Of course but I’m looking forward to many more!

 

Press contact: Hannah Walker, Channel 4 Press Office

 

ENDS