ITV win horse racing rights from 2017

No major shocks on that list. It's pretty much the list I jotted down when they said ITV (main) would show 40 days racing.
The only two 'eyebrow' raisers is that all 4 days of Glorious Goodwood will be on the main channel. Was expecting the weekday cards to be shunted to ITV4 and the last day (Saturday) on ITV. Got that wrong, with 3 extra Saturdays of flat taking up the slack.

And the Midlands Grand National meet at Uttoxeter on March 18 isn't on ITV. Would have thought that would have been on ITV, with the gaps of the racing being filled with highlights of the previous four days in front of Prestbury Hill.

I'm not big on horse racing, but certainly some of the more high profile events such as the Aintree/Grand National meet tend to have early starts on Channel 4, such as 1.30pm, I wonder whether ITV will shift the News, start the racing at 2pm, or do what they did in the Euros and not bother with the lunchtime news altogether?

Doesn't look like (currently) it'll clash with the Six Nations.

Racing can always be moved to suit the schedules - there are usually one or two races both sides of the broadcast window which aren't televised so it's just a case of shuffling the line up. C4 Racing moved earlier than it used to air over the last decade or so so I suspect ITV's coverage will air from 2pm-4pm for most meets, and 2-5pm for the more flagship events.

As for the schedule - no surprises I agree but I don't think it's wise to have absolutely nothing on the main channel from New Years Day until the Cheltenham festival - it isn't like their Saturdays will be jam packed and I just think it's a poor decision to have absolutely nothing when they're trying to establish ITV as the home of the sport. Promoting 2-3 fixtures would help bridge that gap.

In other news ITV have signed up At the Races Matt Chapman as their betting reporter and presenter.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/16/matt-chapman-itv-racing-betting-ring-roving-interviewer-role

Also the ITV4 equivalent of The Morning Line will air at 10am, whilst this year the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has been dropped by C4 but will air on Sky Sports, At the Races and Racing UK. Guess they sell the rights to anyone who'll have them.

Are there no major race meetings in February?

Seems to me to be a C4 snub after losing the rights to me. The Pdl'AdT( ) has always warranted terrestrial coverage in the past, even being the exception to no sport on TV on Sundays 'rule' in Prehistoric broadcasting days,

Racing Post today reporting that Richard Hollies (technically Channel 4's second fiddle commentator) is to be offered the race commentator role.

Simon Holt (currently man with mic) has apparently said he's been told by Niall Sloane that there is no role for him in the coverage, likewise Nick Luck, because 'they are too closely associated with Channel 4 coverage'

Which is a curious statement to make by Sloane, when you look at some of the names moving across from C4 Racing.

Nick Luck I can understand but commentators usually survive such things. Glad though ITV are learning from C4's mistakes - really do think had Highflyer remained in charge of production this thread wouldn't exist.

ITV have now announced their full line up, including Lucy Verasamy with the weather.

http://www.itv.com/news/2016-10-16/itv-announce-full-racing-line-up-ahead-of-2017-coverage/

'Mark Johnson will join Richard Hollies in the commentary box'

Good luck with Mark getting any time to add anything of value during a 6f thrash during the flat season!

I guess what ITV press office are trying to say is that Mark will be the 2nd main commentator to Richard.
Having a 'colour' commentator adding thoughts during a race, would be a interesting, but odd decision.

Some info about The Opening Show, the replacement for The Morning Line.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/article/465/10711863/mark-popham-talks-to-itv-racings-paul-cooper-about-the-opening-show

As what I know about horse racing and its terminology would barely fill the back of a postage stamp, I have never known how the title "The Morning Line" was arrived at or would mean in relation to the sport.

Can anyone enlighten me please?

Yes, a quick Google search results in this:
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/morning-line