Ep 1487 - Basking in the Glow
Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to discuss the latest from around the racing world. Nick and Lee begin with a look at Constitution Hill's race at Kempton on Wednesday and bring you further developments in the Alan Spence case, which looks set to go to appeal. Reflecting on the mighty Australian filly Autumn Glow's latest romp, they are joined by her owner John Messara, who underlines the impact on everyone at his Arrowfield Stud and gives us his own wishlist of future accomplishments, including Royal Ascot 2027. Also today, legendary trainer Henrietta Knight talks to Nick about the differences in this incarnation of her training career following her double at Kempton yesterday, while Ben Haslam talks of his joy at scooping the £100,000 All Weaher bonus with Yorkshire Glory, and Dan Barber covers three continents in this week's Timeform wrap-up.
Ep 1486 - Botte on the Landscape
Nick brings you this episode from Munich airport as he makes his way back from the BMW Hong Kong Derby. He is joined by David Yates to bring you all the headlines from around the racing world. They are joined first by trainer Harry Eustace, whose La Botte is a warm order to win the first major race of the UK turf season, the William Hill Lincoln. Also Doncaster bound is Kathy Turner, who tells Nick about her three-pronged bid for the Brocklesby, named for her late father Bill. Around the globe - and ahead of the intended Dubai World Cup card this Saturday- Francis Graffard shares his confidence behind world champion Calandagan, while Michael Kent jnr reflects on Golden Slipper success at Rosehill with the hugely talented Guest House, and Mark Newnham looks back on a debut BMW Derby win at Sha Tin with Invincible Ibis. Nick and Dave also cover the Alan Spence case, which concluded shortly before the weekend.
Ep 1485 - "Times have changed & we need to change with the times" - Elliott
Tom in for Nick and joined by the Racing Post’s Jonathan Harding. We speak initially to trainer Gordon Elliott who gives us the full debrief upon his Cheltenham Festival before looking ahead to Aintree and to his chances of being crowned Irish Champion trainer. Kieran Shoemark is along to look ahead to three rides at next week’s Dubai World Cup and to the new flat turf season in the UK. Nick has an update from the BHA’s CEO Brant Dunshea on a new cross-industry Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Ruth Jefferson looks ahead to a big weekend up north and we have Ben Atkins with us to talk all things pointing in association with the Tattersalls Cheltenham sale.
Ep 1484 - Check Mates?
Nick - in Hong Kong - is joined by Mirror man David Yates to canter through the day's global horse racing headlines. They lead with the news that The Sun newspaper is continuing its 'Save Our Bets' campaign, with cross-industry backing, to face down the threat of yet more restrictive affordability checks and the migration to the unregulated market. BHA boss Brant Dunshea joins the show to discuss. Also today, Nick and Dave reflect on the conclusion of the de Boinville/Queally case as well as the Welsh Greyhound Racing ban. In Hong Kong, Nick catches up with trainer Mark Newnham, with Invincible Ibis a big runner in Sunday's Derby and fresh from a 5-timer at Happy Valley. Meanwhile, Annabel Archibald drops in to tell us about the claims of Chayan, her likely favourite for Saturday's Golden Slipper, plus David Letts on the ROA/RSA's series of racecourse events to convert fans to ownership and Chester Racecourse's Patrick Chesters on the new partnership with NYRA.
Ep 1483 - Why really the French came out on top at Cheltenham
Charlotte Greenway in for Nick today and joined by RTE's Jane Mangan. They look back on Cheltenham and pick out some of the key moments whilst also hearing from successful trainers AJ O'Neill and Padraig Roche on where there Festival successors might head next. Jane give her view on Nick Rockett's prep run for the National and runs through the list of jockeys who are set to miss a number of days at Aintree through whip bans picked up at Cheltenham. Jane then recounts her trip to Ballydoyle and nominates the horse made the biggest impression before we have bad news from the greyhound world, along with a statement from GBGB's CEO Mark Bird. It's Wednesday so we wrap up by heading off to Hong Kong for an update from JA McGrath.