Tipstar 2022: Dan Overall wins Racing TV's broadcaster competition

Dan Overall has been crowned the winner of the 2022 Tipstar: Search for a Broadcaster competition!

The 25-year-old was revealed as the winner live on The Friday Club, but the Tipstar judging panel endured a difficult decision when choosing Dan as the winner due to the standard of the finalists who all impressed when previewing a race each live on the show the week before.

The format of the Tipstar competition changed this year, and over 170 aspiring broadcasters sent in videos for both challenges of the competition before six finalists were chosen.

Dan also reached the final in the 2020 Tipstar competition - when the focus was on finding a winner - but lost out to Ross Millar, and impressed the judges with his horse racing knowledge, and presentation skills, this year plus also proved popular in the voting poll.

“I’m absolutely delighted but, to be honest, above everything else, very surprised!” said Dan when reflecting on his victory with Racing TV’s Tom Bull on The Friday Club.

“The standard of entries this year was exemplary and, having got the commiseration message in 2020, I was fully expecting it again this year!”

Dan, who lives in London and works as an account manager, explained that his stepdad used to take him to Cheltenham regularly when he was younger plus his Grandad always loved to have a punt on a Saturday, and that is how his passion for the sport started before he began to take a more in-depth look at the formbook when attending University.

“When I went to University, I started doing more research and getting into everything a bit more. About three years ago, I started a Twitter account and used it as an outlet when I didn’t really have anything else. I never expected to be in a position like this or have so many opportunities that I’ve had in recent weeks!

“It has been an incredible journey and one I’m just riding the wave of.”

Dan also had the opportunity of being on the panel at a Cheltenham Festival preview night for the first time this week, and said he had no expectations of having an involvement in such opportunities in the racing media.

“I had the honour of being on a Cheltenham preview night for the first time over in Ireland the other day with Racing TV’s Donn McClean sat next to me, which was a surreal experience,” said Dan.

“Being in that pundit role and being able to talk about the racing, with people like Donn, is a dream for someone like me. I never thought that would be possible to sit alongside them and have an opinion on the same platform. It was absolutely incredible.”

In a competition where the opposition was fierce and of an exceptionally high standard, Dan edged out - in alphabetical order – Andrew Blair White, Grant Bradbury, Shamela Hanley, Ash Symonds and Michael Willoughby. His defeated rivals will all receive consolation prizes for their brilliant efforts.

Racing TV viewers can expect to see plenty more of Dan over the coming weeks as he has won a number of brilliant prizes, including a live shift on Racing TV, a guest appearance on The Friday Club and a six-week vlog on Racing TV’s social media pages.

Seb Vance, Racing TV's Director of Communications, said: “Congratulations to Dan who is a deserved winner of the Tipstar: Search for a Broadcaster competition. The calibre of the entries for this year’s competition was incredibly high and the Tipstar judging panel certainly faced a difficult decision.

“We look forward to seeing more of Dan on the channel and across our social media pages, and we’d like to thank everyone who entered and participated in the contest this year.”