McGrath joins At the Races team

BBC commentator and Daily Telegraph journalist Jim McGrath has been unveiled as a new face on satellite channel At The Races.

McGrath will continue his broadcasting work with BBC.

But he will now also host ATR studio broadcasts as well as Ireland, UK and international racecourse-based coverage.

The Australian has been the BBC’s senior commentator since 1997, when he succeeded Peter O’Sullevan, and has acted as a racecourse commentator in the UK, Ireland, France, Australia and Hong Kong.

“The in-depth coverage of racing is dependent more and more on satellite and cable TV these days and joining At The Races is a fantastic opportunity for me to become involved again on a regular day-to-day basis,” said McGrath.

“I am very excited about it and am looking forward to working with many familiar faces, both on-camera and behind the scenes.”

Matthew Imi, chief executive of At The Races, added: “We are absolutely delighted that Jim will be working with At The Races going forward.

“He is one of the industry’s leading broadcast figures and is held in tremendous regard not just in the UK and Ireland, but wherever in the world one finds top-class horseracing.”

McGrath’s additional role will not impact on his other duties and he will continue all his newspaper and BBC commitments.