Maddy Meets | John Francome

[@dougiebarber8349]

Brilliant interview,brilliant jockey and a brilliant bloke,had the pleasure of meeting him once and what a genuine down to earth man he is.

[@ericbullock6553]

JF in my opinion is entitled to have any opinion he wants. Hes earned that right. Awesome jockey and man. The old Channel 4 team were the best!

[@malcolmnelmes9447]

Could listen to John Francome all day, he has always talked sense and was a brilliant jockey. Have read nearly all his books which are a really good read

[@tedmartin83]

We need more people like him in the sport.

[@edwardgreville7382]

What a man could listen to him all day great interview , one of the best jockeys ever.

[@sploosabino]

I was in racing during his time and I can honestly say I could pick him out from every other jockey when they were going around the far side because his balance was absolutely spot on perfect...his back was literally streamline with no 'bobbing' . A truly brilliant horseman, and what he says about the standards back then, the looking out for the horse underneath you even to avoid the stones...this was expected of you and you got eff'd and blinded at if you got it wrong. It's a shame to think standards have slipped. Massive respect for this man's ability. It was a great time to be in racing. Stay lucky!

[@jimfrater7395]

Just the greatest jockey and a damn fine fella. Once shared a row on a plane to Glasgow with him and was entertained for the hour. Proper superstar of our sport

[@WESSERPARAQUAT]

Big Mac called him THE GREATEST JOCKEY and that was/is 1000% accurate , John Francome is the greatest National hunt jockey of them all even ahead of McCoy , talking about balance and the way he presented a horse at a fence poetry in motion

[@blairarcher8952]

Listening to this man talk about horses makes you realise how much he cares for them .

[@stevelee4952]

One of the greatest jockeys and one of the great advocates of common sense.

[@suemaher5282]

John Francome the voice of reason talks sense. He is spot on with the whip issue miles ahead of everyone. Speaking from a place where the horse comes first. Totally right about the bullying issue are u listening PJA. Why is he not asked his opinions on racing baffles me. Even his views on size of stables is a view that is how it will be one day. Alistair Downe is top writer too. Write that book Alistair. Great interview even greater man. Top showjumper before being a jockey and now working to make life better for the horses who gave him a great life. More of this man please

[@thomasburgess1210]

Nice to see John being.john he has never changed and he never will class act

[@rockerrob61]

The one man I would love to meet in person, my hero. Bought his autobiography when it came out, saying about Miriam he would have 'eaten fish and chips out of her knickers' and swapping saddles as he weighed in and out. What a legend.

[@cjsrr3262]

What a great interview, he is the greatest horse racing jockey that ever lived!!!

[@roryswandel6399]

I could listen to John untill i passed away that was brilliant thanks so much👍

[@garyneville1141]

I always liked him before but now I think he is a great person with a brilliant temperament and good ideas.

[@mallydraycott1870]

The best most stylish jockey of his generation,I still maintain today that if John had ridden Spartan Missile in the National Spartan Missile could of bagged a couple of Nationals.

[@kevinmunday5782]

I Like Francs a lot, but one thing he admitted was that he wasnt the strongest in a finish, You can see this on Rough and Tumble in the 1979 Grand National. As the late John Thorne knew Spartan Missile best, having bred,owned, trained and ridden Him, I wouldnt say francs could have beaten Aldaniti, on spartan missile. Anyway Aldaniti and Bob Champion was a Fairy tale , written in the stars.

[@patrickmcloughlin2350]

The greatest jump jockey of them all

[@stephenholmes1036]

Fred Winter, Stan Mellor

[@johnbourke1743]

Love John francombe met him at a betting shop opening in Mile end always up for a giggle top man

[@tucobenedictopacificojuanm3224]

Francome , 1981 Champion Hurdle - Sea Pigeon - the best NH ride in the history of Cheltenham. Deserves a knighthood. Arise Sir John Francome .

[@suemaher5282]

Well said Max

[@stephenholmes1036]

Great but watch film of his boss Fred Winter and Stan Mellor.

[@anotherblonde]

Rock on Francome. Loved you on Channel 4 Racing

[@suemaher5282]

Totally agree Tina

[@frconvey]

That channel 4 team was fantastic and so good to listen too.. Alistair down is could sell you a big race like no one else ... I can't tolerate that itv shit

[@terrywood5137]

What a down to earth gentleman John is, best jockey ever Terry

[@stephenholmes1036]

He was brilliant but Fred Winter his boss was the best and Stan Mellor was great

[@keithhargreaves632]

Always a really interesting and intelligent bloke well done John

[@brunol9876]

Enjoyed that love John real horse man thank u

[@aleclampshire4768]

Really enjoyed this he is great isn't he Really missed on TV Johnny francome

[@DUCSDREAM]

What a dude!!

[@johnwilson6779]

Real hero ,the greatest.

[@chrishodgson6302]

Good interview. Always liked John Francome and his candid approach.

[@stuarthuntingford7329]

Hoorah someone who talks common sense and says what we're all thinking. Top jock top man

[@stefanlittle4990]

I love John so much he just tells the truth and he has told me off loads of times

[@TheGloriousUncertainty]

Why is it that every time I see John Francome I instantly hear Big Mac saying ‘Greatest Jockey’ 😂 Brilliant relaxed interview perfect for a Saturday Morning 👍

[@jerrysartain2539]

Still the best,always will be the master in my opinion

[@sportstrader2175]

Comes across very well, good interview well done Maddy too.

[@michaeljdorgan]

Excellent interview

[@BR-br3pv]

Looks good for his age, never changed in years

[@crazyhorse562]

Great to hear JF again sadly missed, straight talking commonsense. Loved this interview, he wouldn't go on bookie sponsored podcasts and the woke Itv racing circus and people are wondering why racing is going downhill. Imagine JF and Ted Walsh had a show together, it would be riveting viewing.

[@pkyid]

Why is he not on the TV any more? Always spoke sense

[@mrforevernever517]

J Francome F Winter Wonderful memories.

[@martinmiller6984]

Top bloke how I miss channel 4 racing with knowledgeable presenters like jf i also watch the racing with the sound off the itv presenters have very little knowledge of horses and racing ! Listening to Jim mcgrath and john on a Saturday was so enjoyable and informative with plenty of good priced winners! Now we have chamberlin harvey and nichols daughter MUTED

[@MrSmid888]

Looking fresh and well. Miss John as a pundit

[@peterbullock2660]

He was the greatest ever jump jockey, a marvellous horseman. What he said about the Bryony frost ,Robbie dunne incident confirmed my belief that those senior jockeys who isolated Bryony should be ashamed of themselves.

[@leehancock8208]

It drives me bonkers when the NH horses don't get away first time and JF once said draw a line so many metres from the tape and when the horses reach it - release the tape (so simple its brilliant)

[@paddysmith2610]

A great listen 👍

[@keithknight1686]

If only Francome was in charge of the sport for 12-months, all conflicts would get resolved, all problems would find a solution. If John bothers with looking at the comments to this video, I suggest he pays a visit to Henry De Bromhead's stables. De Bromhead has stables that have backyards to them so that horses, day and night, can wander in and out.

[@suemaher5282]

Henry is a forward thinking trainer thanks for telling us this Keith. Been a fan of his since Sizing Europe and loved Special Tiara.

[@WESSERPARAQUAT]

John's first winner as a trainer in a very brief career was a horse called THAT'S YOUR LOT , at Sandown ridden by the Ek Steve Smith Eccles at 25/1!!! why do i remember that? because i backed it!! :))))))) i think Brunico was also in that race it was a 3yo novice hurdle i'm sure not many remember that but i certainly have never forgotten it

[@garryirvin1013]

When I was working in racing one of the lasses was banging S S-E. There was a whole crowd of great guys around at the time but S S-E and JF were peerless, absolute stars and a great laugh

[@WESSERPARAQUAT]

@@garryirvin1013 yes indeed both of them were a great double act :) a fantastic era in Jump Jockeys AND stable lasses!!

[@WESSERPARAQUAT]

@@garryirvin1013 the Ek and John boning a couple of Stable lasses say no more :P

[@markreynolds224]

Brilliant interview with JF. I started watching JF and backing his rides back in the early 80's as he rode one of my all time favourite horses in Brown Chamberlain. Shame he isnt working for ITV racing as he would improve their broadcast 100%. His opinions would be welcomed as ITV racing has become a copy of sky sports presentation of patting themselves on the back, look at us. If racing was a premier sport on ITV why is it shunted onto ITV 3 and 4. Bring John in during the jump season to analyse races and jockey as those ex jockeys currently working for ITV still have too many friends in the weighing room and wont critisise them.

[@oldmanarockin]

100% agree with everything this Genius has just said. i've been in this industry for more than 50 and i've not heard as much common cense come from one my. Get him on the BHA board immediately.

[@markstoneman1585]

Greatest Jockey 🐎

[@michaelchannon7538]

Excellent. All of it.

[@carlobalzer3238]

Legend

[@becausewemust]

The BHA should get John in as a consultant.

[@timcomley3241]

Cracking video 👍

[@renorippa]

GOAT!

[@WonderfulWorkingSpringer]

FINALLY! Francome confirms what everyone old enough to remember the jump jockeys of the 80s, 90s and 00s is thinking, the current UK crop are moderate at best. Think Dunwoody, Williamson, Maguire and the like through to AP, Walsh and ending with Fehily & Johnson. Even the 2nd string were better. The current crop might be fitter on a fitness test, but most wouldn’t judge pace with a speedometer, see a stride with poles or win a race WITHOUT a whip if their lives depended on it. ITV get their knickers in a twist about one heavy fall, what about the entire field finishing strung out and punch-drunk, where’s the real welfare issue? There’s a higher standard of horsemanship in UK point-to-points.

[@Steinbecker]

All great jockeys u mentioned there. I think Sean Bowen a good jockey currently.

[@suemaher5282]

Great comment Red Setter

[@keithvon1]

Raced a lot when John was riding a supreme Horseman!! I wonder now when he talks about indifferent jockeyship., that this could be the reason/ cause so many falls and fatalities occur especially with tired horses? that we see on racetracks...

[@barringtonbowie4087]

@ Keith Langley. The amount of falls and fatalities were much worse in Francome’s day. We just have wall to wall racing on tv now, so it looks much worse. Back in the day, NH jockeys were horsemen who could ride. Nowadays, it’s more stylish jockeys whose horsemanship is arguably not at the standard of Francome’s day. In any case, today’s trainers would not put up these jockeys if they were as poor as Francome indicates. He sounds like a bitter curmudgeon..

[@BR-br3pv]

Took my late mother to Beverley races, she went missing fo ages, found her around the ring chatting up JF

[@suemaher5282]

Your Mum sounds like she was a diamond. Loved this

[@MultiArkle]

Pretty much agree with everything he was saying except for bigger boxes for horses. As long as they can lay down and put their heads over the door and watch the day go by I think they are very happy. The preblem with bigger boxes is cost..more bigger properties more expensive to build light and rwice as much for bedding......Most trainers couldn't afford it IMO

[@jonwilliamsnaith9352]

John !! You will not remember me but you are so on it!! Jon snaith x jockey love

[@db0800]

Franks holds the GBR for the most 1/2 zip jumpers. Class though our Jonny real character and what a pilot he was/is.

[@csb7376]

Instead of ITV wheeling out Brough all the time, why not invite John on now and again. Too many potential truth bombs for the fence sitters at ITV to handle.

[@stephenholmes1036]

He won't do it

[@johnbryan9357]

Francome.greatest.jockey big Mac.was.right

[@frconvey]

Huge fan of francome.. really miss the channel 4 days .. itv is absolute trash

[@andreaneilcmc]

Mr Francome mentions Bryony Frost's ability to present a horse to a fence. If you look at her record, she is very rarely is on a faller.

[@anthonycrozier7319]

Whish you were back on channel 4 happy new year Tony

[@bobnewiss1055]

When is John Francome standing for Prime Minister - You've got my vote! X

[@alexmccrorie4195]

The problem there is ,John Francome would b to honest , but what Jockey .

[@davidwhitwam4857]

Great NH jockey ,but does no one know that John unbelievably won the Leading young Showjumper of the Year title in 1971 at the Horse of the Year Show on a horse called Red Paul. He was pretty inexperienced but came out and won it.

[@paulbaker9308]

We'll said John, I saw you at Salisbury a while back and later found out the horse you ride out sometimes was running there that day, I did wonder why you were there, of course it won under Adam kirby and I didn't back it 🥴

[@wolfcamera1]

The Jump Jockeys in Britain are dreadful... Francome was different class and his views on Frost and Blackmore is 100%. Best jockeys out there.

[@WESSERPARAQUAT]

list of great National hunt Jockeys John at the top , A.P not far behind different style , Dunwoody has to be on there too somewhere, the Ek , Mark Dwyer Davy Russell , of course Rachael Blackmore , was going to add Ruby but.......in the end i think he lost his nerve and was the cause of a number of horses falling , and there was a jockey we should all remember called Paul Croucher who rode for Nicky Henderson and was someone with great talent all of them are brave even the bad ones a jumps Jockeys life is not for the faint of heart

[@suemaher5282]

For pure riding horsemen u missed Paul Carberry Timmy Murphy and Noel Fehilly. They should be way up on that list. As for Ruby losing his nerve cant have that.Ruby went out of racing as gd as ever. Read a race better than any jockey as Rachel Blackmore does.Have a great Xmas and enjoy the racing

[@barringtonbowie4087]

@ WESSERPARAQUAT Great as John Francome was, he couldn’t ride a finish. It’s all a game of opinions, but I’d take Paul Townend over Rachael Blackmore any day.

[@WESSERPARAQUAT]

@@barringtonbowie4087 yes indeed Barrington everything is open to interpretation and subjectivism and i would place Rachael AHEAD of Townend , she is strong and very tactically aware seldom gets it wrong on that score or indeed deliberately steering a horse around a last jump.....with the race in the bag , Watch John in the 1984 King George on Borough Hill Lad he could certainly ride a finish and nobody could present a horse at a fence in better or smoother style than him

[@steconway9199]

The Brian Clough of racing, talks sense all day long, the top brass should sit up and take note, JF needs to be the face of racing...

[@andreaneilcmc]

Gentleman.

[@hughjohn7778]

Hey Maddy u got any idea who took that picture of Gordon Elliot sitting on that dead horse

[@bensouthwell1339]

Hardly changed from when I used to back him and as then always a good listen. Still think he was the most stylish of a great bunch in his day and one of the few sportsmen and women that I would sit down and have a pint with, are up their own arses not this Hero.

[@johncarr3855]

You are right too many poor jockeys not horsemen.

[@delecio]

Great content, but the editing and production?!? Feels like it’s been thrown together. Come on RP these guys deserve better

[@johnenglish929]

I thought that just added to its charm - a bit like the old Channel 4 days !

[@davidsheridan5286]

I thought JF was Clive’s landlord 🤷🏻

[@andymcgill354]

He is

[@salsabil44]

Love John Francome but: "You´ve never been afraid to have any opinions"???? And: " Where do you think your opinions come from"?? FFS! Is that really the best you can do as an RP journo? And, on the subject of Dunne and Frost, the senior jockeys in the weighing room should perhaps note the words of the late Desmond Tutu: "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."

[@jonwilliamsnaith9352]

Jon snaith N

[@radleysmith7528]

Sea Pigeon

[@tucobenedictopacificojuanm3224]

Francome , come our of retirement and lets make some money for the punters

[@WESSERPARAQUAT]

Worst NH Jockey of all time?? Luke Harvey

[@stephenholmes1036]

Barney Curley had him

[@denismurphy7047]

I wish he was on itv racing graham cunningham,alister down,know what there talking about,unlike the clowns that are there now.

[@alanpage3973]

With out a doubt the goat