The Sport Thread

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/20868541

Did this excellent montage ever make it to air? I don't think it was this one that was shown at the end of the Ascot coverage back in October. Presumably this was intended for the end of the Chepstow broadcast.

Incidentally there's a chance that IMG's big New Year's Day launch on Channel 4 might end up the same way as the BBC's last broadcast - there's a second inspection at Cheltenham on Monday afternoon.

And so Cheltenham has now been called off. What will this mean for Balding's first programme?

In previous years, the backup plan for both the Boxing Day programme and New Years Day programmes is a review of the previous year's racing presented from the Morning Line location. If they go down the same route, it could be quite odd to do such a review with very few of the same presenters/commentators as were there on the day.

She might have to turn up on a Saturday. Also worth noting that Rishi Persaud is still doing the snooker for the BBC in a couple of weeks time according to Digiguide.


It is frustrating the BBC have hung on to the rights but aren't using them - and it would be the easiest way possible to fill BBC2 mornings for a couple of weeks in January.

sure to annoy some people by knocking various radio services off Freeview earlier in the day to make way for it!

Channel 4 are covering Musselburgh Races tomorrow, as that's got the go ahead. The plan was to show four races from Cheltenham and two from Musselbugh, but now they'll show four from the latter.

Clare Balding has tweeted that she will not be doing rugby league for the BBC due to their being too many clashes. Perhaps Channel 4, will pick up some of the premiership rugby union from BT, if they're still hopefull of sublicening it.

I didn't think she would be able to, so I suspect Mark Chapman will front the Challenge Cup having fronted the autumn internationals. Have the BBC any rights to the Rugby League World Cup?

Usually, but the rights for 2013 have yet to be confirmed.

Incidentally, Dame Balding has also tweeted this evening that, all being well, she'll still be covering the Olympic and Commonwealth Games for the BBC.

Happy New Year sports fans.

.... which now looks like following the racing onto the postponed/cancelled list - Inspection due later today.

Yes, I think that'll be about as much as she'll do and I suspect that's what her C4 contract allows her to do. The World Swimming Champs this year clash with Glorious Goodwood, so she won't be available for that.

It'll be interesting to see if she still does Wimbledon for 5 Live though.

Opening titles of C4Racing, different, very different. Really like them too.