Nick Luck Daily Podcast

In the latest episode of the Saturday Edition of the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, Charlotte Greenway recaps on the main news stories from the week with contributions from Racing TV's Jane Mangan and Director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, Pat Cummings.

Looking ahead to the action from Riyadh on Saturday, where we will see the 3rd running of the world's richest race, The Saudi Cup, we hear from Thady Gosden, trainer of last year's winner and favourite for the race this time around, Mishriff. Michelle Yu and Matt Bernier discuss the 4 American runners in the feature race, including the now Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun, while Naohiro Goda shares Japan's hopes for their two runners and shares his pick of the pair.

There's also a lot of international interest in the Neom Cup earlier on in the card where Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver will look to go one better than he did in the Hong Kong Cup and his jockey Martin Dwyer explains why he believes he's a better horse for that experience.

Nick is in Riyadh on the eve of the Saudi Cup, the world’s most valuable horserace, where he is joined by TDN European Edition Emma Berry to consider the latest news and events from around the globe. On the day after the release of the necropsy report into the death of Medina Spirit and in the week that he was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby, we bring you the key moments of his owner Amr Zedan’s press conference that took place this morning ahead of another horse of his with Bob Baffert, Country Grammer, running in the Saudi Cup. His staunch defence of Baffert and determination to fight on are put under the microscope. HBA Media MD Frank Sale joins the show to talk about the global TV reach of the event and the future of international horse racing from a broadcast standpoint, whilst James Willoughby gives his rankings rundown on the Cup and provides a clear value selection.

Nick is in Riyadh for the Saudi Cup, but calls home to catch up with Newmarket trainer Hugo Palmer, who this morning confirmed the story that he would be relocating to footballing legend Michael Owen's purpose built training base in Cheshire, from which he seeks to establish a Northwestern powerhouse of around 150 horses, including his 2000 Guineas fancy Dubawi Legend and Group One winner Ebro River. In Saudi Arabia, Nick catches up with key connections ahead of this weekend's festivities: Thady Gosden, co-trainer of defending champion Mishriff, Martin Dwyer, rider of Neom Cup fancy Pyledriver, Oliver Humphrey, part owner of Saudi Derby runner The Wizard of Eye, and Jess Pyfer, Eclipse award winning US apprentice. Jane Mangan, Tom Stanley and Michelle Yu tag along for the ride.

Nick, based in Riyadh this week for the Saudi Cup, is joined by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to discuss the latest news from around the racing world. They take a deep dive into the dominant story of British Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy, who has received a 14 month ban for a combination of Covid protocol breaches and alcohol related offences. They consider whether the ban was proportionate to the offences and what Murphy's immediate and long term future might look like. In Riyadh, Nick is joined by broadcast colleagues Matt Bernier and Michelle Yu to assess the four pronged US challenge for the world's richest horserace, while JA McGrath brings you his latest instalment from Hong Kong.

Nick is joined by Patrick Cummings, Director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, and David Yates, Newsboy from the Daily Mirror, to discuss the latest news and events from around the racing world. They lead with the latest chapter in the Medina Spirit/Bob Baffert story, which yesterday saw the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission disqualify Medina Spirit. On home soil, Nick and Dave consider the Oisin Murphy hearing, which begins today, run the rule over Nicky Henderson's Cheltenham big guns and debate Mark Holder's thoughts on handicap marks. Nick talks to trainer Archie Watson about his Qatar hero Outbox and Cheltenham Festival hopeful Stag Horn, while Cheltenham Betting Guide author Paul Ferguson is this week's Weatherbys guest.

Nick is joined by RTE broadcaster Jane Mangan to discuss the latest news and events from around the racing world. They begin with a look back at all the weekend action from UK and Ireland and ask whether Teahupoo is now a realistic contender for the Champion Hurdle. Around the globe, Nick talks to JA McGrath about another defeat for Golden Sixty in Hong Kong, to Coolmore's Tom Magnier about Royal Ascot plans for Lightning Stakes winner Home Affairs, and to Naohiro Goda about the Japanese challenge for the Saudi Cup. Nick and Jane spend a good chunk of this episode discussing the latest revelations from Irish journalist Paul Kimmage surrounding the alleged use of PEDs in Irish racing, while they consider Henrietta Knight's contention that Irish trainers are simply better than their British counterparts.

Nick is joined by broadcaster Rishi Persad to discuss the news and events from around the racing world today, leading with the treacherous weather conditions that are affecting Britain before going on to wonder, in light of her Racing Post interview, how British Horseracing Authority CEO Julie Harrington can be expected to govern effectively without a clear mandate from her stakeholders. Rishi and Nick also discuss two important pieces of news from the US: the rescinding of proposed caps on stallion books and a change to the interference rules in Oklahoma. James Willoughby is along for his Friday look at the TRC Global Rankings, while - in Bahrain - Nick catches up with Sheikh Salman, Executive Director REHC, as well as prominent owner and music industry figure Emma Banks.

Nick, in Bahrain for the final leg of the Turf Series, is joined by Daily Mirror journalist David Yates to reflect on racing news from around the globe. They lead with the interim suspension meted out to decorated equestrian Sir Mark Todd for his appearance in the viral TikTok that sparked social media outrage earlier in the week. They discuss way perspectives can shift over time and consider whether the British Horseracing Authority will be able to deal with this swiftly and efficiently. They also talk about the Oisin Murphy hearing, a date for which has been set next week, the continuing fallout from the Grand national weights and looks ahead to this weekend's racing, with a notable contribution from trainer Anthony Honeyball. JA McGrath joins from Australia to talk about the Lightning Stakes as well as the best of the Hong Kong action, while Marcus Bird updates us on the progress of the Godolphin Flying Start trainees.

Tom Stanley in for Nick and joined by senior writer at the Racing Post Lee Mottershead. We start with the news dominating racing that Tiger Roll will again not line up in this year’s Grand National after his owner deemed his allotted weight to be unfair and detrimental to the horse’s welfare. Lee gives his views on Michael O'Leary's comments and we also cast an eye over other notable and intended runners in the race. We hear from trainer Ted Walsh who will send out Any Second Now for a second tilt at the race having finished third last year. And Charlie Longsdon is along to talk about his mare Snow Leopardess who looks likely to now head straight to Aintree. We also touch on an alleged second offence from agent Gary Woods who has again been accused of defrauding syndicate members and have the latest from the ongoing gambling review. Plus it’s Wednesday so we have the latest from Hong Kong with Jim McGrath.

Nick is joined by RTE and Racing TV broadcaster Jane Mangan to discuss the news and events from around the racing world today. With the publication of the Grand National handicap weights due today at 3pm, Nick and Jane consider which horses might pose the official handicapper the most issues and suggest likely Aintree heroes for this year. Other topics covered include the KHRC hearing on the Kentucky Derby, which took place covertly on Monday, the announcement of an appeal date for Robbie Dunne, the retirement of Snow Lantern, and the continuing fallout from the Sir Mark Todd affair, from which David Redvers, this week's Weatherbys Bloodstock Guest, offers an alternative perspective. Later in this edition, Nick talks to trainer Hughie Morrison, who saddled his 1000th winner on Monday at Catterick.