ITV name Francesca Cumani as racing co-host

Francesca Cumani will co-host ITV’s coverage of racing’s flat season with main presenter Ed Chamberlin, the channel has announced.

Francesca will appear during the Summer Flat Season covering up to 50 days of ITV’s exclusive live free to air broadcasts of race meetings across both ITV and ITV4, including some of the most prestigious dates in the sports calendar, such as Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.

Francesa brings with her a wealth of expertise and experience from a life and career spent at the heart of the sport.

Francesca comes from a distinguished racing family, rode as an amateur jockey, hosted the Winning Post program on CNN, is the lead analyst on the SEVEN Network’s award winning broadcast coverage of the Melbourne Cup carnival in Australia and is involved in many aspects of the industry all around the world.

Francesca said: "I'm hugely excited to be part of ITV's new racing team and looking forward to working with Ed Chamberlin covering the flat season from next year. To be involved in bringing viewers coverage of some of the best and most prestigious events in the sport's calendar is a privilege and I can't wait to get started."

Francesca’s appointment follows the announcement at the start of this year of ITV’s exclusive new four year deal to show UK horse racing on terrestrial television which takes effect from the start of 2017, when its free to air coverage will begin.

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: “Francesca has a superb pedigree as a racing presenter with a genuine love of the sport. Alongside Ed Chamberlin, we believe she will engage our audience in some wonderful events throughout the flat season and we look forward to working with her.”