CHANNEL 4’s love fest with Ruby Walsh continued on Tuesday as coverage started with the Cheltenham Festival’s ‘winningmost’ jockey surveying the track from a helicopter before emerging through smoke ready for the fray. And was he? Youbetcha – once he had shrugged off his RUK jacket.

Not only did he ride those three brilliant winners during the afternoon but he featured in practically every lengthy commerical/preview break as well.

The ‘leading lady’ in the stunningly green Paddy Power advert is very taken by Ruby but doesn’t like sharing the bookmakers’ largesse with the great unwashed.

Would you mind telling me madam, with the programme starting at 12.35pm who the hell would have time to wash if you had to get a day’s work done before sitting down in front of the telly! It’s all right if you have nothing to do but go racing, eat cake, drink champagne and rub your finger up a model figure.

With former multiple champion Sir Anthony McCoy taking up so much of the programme time as well, Richard Johnson, the present leader in the title race must wonder what he has to do to get more television time. It’s easy mate, ride a few winners or go out and run the track or ride a second-placed horse like Barry Geraghty.

I like the format of the McCoy/Walsh double act, something similar in the outdoors to Statler and Waldorf, but couldn’t hear what they were saying all that well. My niece would say it’s an age thing.

In the studio, where the sound was a lot better, they rehashed what apparently was the main topic on The Morning Line (missed that) of Vautour being aimed at the Ryanair Chase instead of the Gold Cup.

Worthy of mention again of course but do we have to see those speaking? Why not have them talking while showing viewers all the participants in the ex-racehorse parade?

PLAYING TO THE CROWD

After the Closutton reverse in the first, it was good to see Nico de Boinville, who rode the Nicky Henderson-trained Altior, playing to the crowd on the long way back to the winner’s enclosure. However, imagine what Frankie Dettori would do with an opportunity like that in front of the paying public.

Jackie Mullins was much to the forefront on Tuesday while the husband of Douvan, Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag’s owner, Susannah Ricci, couldn’t be missed in his remarkable suit. He (“I’m a mess actually”), like Ruby, was overcome with emotion after Annie Power’s win in the Champion Hurdle, the term ‘ride it like you stole it’, set to be replaced by ‘ride it like it was Dawn Run’.

Three of the five winners during the programme were Irish-bred (the other two French) but Channel 4 doesn’t do breeding like RTÉ. Fair dues to betting pundit Brian Gleeson for mentioning those breeders with filly foals following the success of the Eamon Cleary-bred Annie Power.

It’s hard work coming up with features for programmes like this particularly when injuries can force a horse, or a jockey to the sidelines, but the piece on Nina Carberry and Ted Walsh was excellent. “She has the best smile,” said Ted of his wife, though then liking said smile to a Cheshire cat grin.

Regarding those lengthy breaks, and also bookies, what a pity Betfair didn’t go for two Switching Saddle projects when they were at it. Imagine, if you could catch him, having Guy Martin in the Foxhunters, Vroom Vroom Drag! Referring to the adverts, the racing at Galway seems to be down the list of priorities behind Ladies’ Day and Family Day. Not so good.