Nick Luck Daily Podcast

Nick is joined by Rishi Persad for a special edition of the podcast, focusing on the European challenge for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, for which pre-entries were announced last night. They are joined by guests Barry Mahon (Juddmonte), who explains why they are leaning towards the Filly and Mare Turf with Blue Bolt, Jess Slack (Jell), owner of South Africa-turned-US hopeful Gimmeanother, Wille McCreery (Jancis), Karl Burke (Miss Yechance), Ed Walker (why Ten Bob Tony is not running), Rebecca Menzies (dejected to be on the reserves list), and David Casey (Ethical Diamond).

Nick kicks off the show this Wednesday morning with Regulus Partners’ Dan Waugh, reacting to a report in The Times that Machine Gaming Duty is set to rise to 25 per cent in next week’s budget rather than the feared 40 per cent. Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead joins Nick to unpack the story and what it says about racing’s lobbying, plus Flutter’s job cuts and ex-Gosden stayer Point of Law’s Geelong Cup win. George Scott confirms Bay City Roller will join Ombudsman in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland, while Jayne McGivern explains why she has brought Hukum back from Japan to stand at Overbury alongside Golden Horn. In France, Nick Bell reveals why Haras de Meautry is standing a stallion for the first time in 20 years, and Timeform’s David Johnson looks back on Champions Day and where Ombudsman ranks among the Gosden greats.

In this special edition, Nick interviews the recently appointed Chair of the British Horseracing Authority, as he seeks to determine his vision and strategy for the sport. Mirror journalist David Yates provides commentary and analysis.

Nick kicks off the show this Monday morning by catching up with John Gosden who confirms that Ombudsman will head to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup following his fabulous victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Racing TV’s Lydia Hislop is alongside Nick for today’s show and they reflect further on Saturday’s racing whilst TPD’s Adam Mills tells us just how Ombudsman got the better of Calandagan this time around. Dave Ord is at Cheltenham as he catches up with Chief Executive Guy Lavender and clerk of the course Jon Pullin on the busy summer sorting out the drainage and also having the track ready for racing this weekend. Further afield we hear from Everest winning trainer Ciaron Maher after his filly Tempted downed Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising. Also from Australia ,Vicky Leonard joins us to discuss the impact of the incredibly unfortunate incident in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, which resulted in a fatality.

Charlotte Greenway brings you all the interviews from the podcast this week ahead of British Champions Day at Ascot. It’s an incredibly important day for Andrew Balding as he looks to land his first trainers title and discusses his team before Rob Hornby, Kieran Shoemark and Clifford Lee run through their rides in the Group 1s.

Nick is joined by Matt Chapman to look ahead to the 2026 edition of British Champions’ day, with guests Rob Hornby, Clifford Lee, and David Redvers. Plus we hear from Zac Purton ahead of Ka Ying Rising’s Everest run, while agent Archie St George looks forward to a potential windfall at the Breeders’ Cup Championship sale.

Nick is joined by Racing TV’s Lydia Hislop and they kick off with the only broadcast interview to date with Betfred’s Fred Done on impeding tax rises and what they will mean for his business, racing and the country, with a stark warning for the U government. Lydia shares her views on the matter and where we might be with getting the government to listen. Following on from the story at the beginning of the week about final demand being disqualified at Cheltenham, Lydia shares what she’s found when doing some digging of her own, regarding the missing CCTV. Following on from the end of Tattersalls Book 2, Charlotte catches up with Australian bloodstock agent John Foote and American owner Matt Dorman, who have both been busy over the last couple of weeks. With the Breeders’ Cup around the corner Nick, along with his NBC colleague Matt Bernier, brings your a preview of what might be on offer in Keeneland and in partnership with Weatherbys, Nick speaks to Jody Standing about her recently released 26/27 Point to Point recruits.

Nick is joined by ITV host Oli Bell to discuss the latest from around the racing world. They lead today with the relentless Dan Skelton, who set yet another record yesterday for the fastest ever century of winners in a jumps season. The trainer tells us about the targets he has in mind and shares thoughts about one or two more prominent prospects on the cusp of seasonal debuts. Also today, Neil Callan shares his pride in two of his sons being crowned champions this Saturday, while Ed Crisford looks forward to assembling a huge and powerful team in Dubai with the news that Oisin Murphy will be his retained rider in the Middle East this winter. Plus, Charlotte catches up with agent Hamish Macaulay after a successful day at Tattersalls Book 2, Justin Vermaak outlines the ambitions of Mike and Matthew de Kock as they, too, set their sight son Dubai this winter, and JA McGrath has all the news from Hong Kong.

Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to discuss the latest from around the racing world. They lead with two news stories that have dominated the agenda over the last 24 hours. First, the Final Demand medication DQ from Cheltenham, and the mystery surrounding the missing CCTV from the racecourse stables. Second, the appointment of Sir Philip Davies to the BHA board, with new Chair Simon Cox appearing to prefer his candidacy to the suggested racecourse-affiliated names of Martin Cruddace and Bridget Guerin. Also today, Kieran Shoemark looks forward to his two high profile rides on Champions’ Day, Almaqam and Ten Bob Tony, while Roger Varian shares his thoughts on Caulfield Cup aspirant Enfjaar as well as Autumn Stakes winner Rock Montreal. Plus, Sarah Guest on Racing Home and Women in Racing’s initiative to help the workforce through the challenges of menopause and midlife, and Xander Brett talks to Norwegian trainer Niels Pietersen about setting up a satellite base in Newmarket.

Nick is joined by David Yates from the Daily Mirror to discuss the latest from around the racing world. They look ahead to Champions’ Day, and analyse the changing complexion of the two biggest races, particularly in light of the news that Talk of New York is set to be supplemented for the QE2. They are joined by Andrew Balding, tantalisingly close to a first trainers’ championship, and whose Kalpana bids for an unprecedented BCD hat trick. He also has news of which Breeders’ Cup target is more likely for Blue Bolt. Also today, Richard Brown on the Wathnan Ascot team, plus Bjorn Baker on another Group One weekend in Australia and looking ahead to his pair of runners taking on Ka Ying Rising in the Everest. Dan Barber runs the Timeform rule over both the upcoming QE2 and also gives the lowdown on both the juvenile performances at the weekend and items to note from the jumps meeting at Chepstow.