Leonna Mayor earns the plaudits for ITV Racing’s Epsom Derby coverage but still pops back at some online trolls

LEONNA MAYOR earned plaudits for her coverage during the Epsom Derby on ITV this weekend.

Mayor was alongside Ed Chamberlin and the presenting team which also included former Love Island star Chris Hughes.

And she impressed with her insight and her tipping over the two days.

Mayor detailed how she battled with trolls on social media in an exclusive interview with SunSport last week.

And despite most of the reaction to this week being positive this weekend she still had to keep her guard up.

Responding to an ITV post one Twitter user wrote: “A voice that could peel paint.”

But she responded in good humour, saying: “Let me know if you need it for any of your walls at home then Andy ?! Happy to help.”

But she got plenty of praise as well, with one user writing: “You my girl are brilliant, you bring fun to itv Racing. Hope you finish of that dish. Backed both of your tips today the Donny one and the Derby one.”

And another wrote: “Thanks you all for the excellent coverage and insights.”

Betfair’s Tony Calvin was very impressed and wrote: “ITV Racing have got a star on their hands with @LeonnaMayor. Natural, knowledgeable broadcaster.”

On her broadcasting skills she admits she finds things difficult and gets riddled with nerves.

She said: “People say I’m natural now but I never used to be, I got so nervous. I thought I wasn’t set up for TV.

“I would ring up the producer a couple of days before saying I’m so nervous and I can’t do it.

“They kept pushing me and I got better and better but my nerves were horrendous.

“Three days before a shift and I’d feel sick.”

And she’s pleased with the work ITV are doing to take racing to a new generation and audience.

She added: “ITV are not making racing a bubble, we want everyone to come racing or enjoy the coverage at home, whether they want to back a horse or not.”

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