Nick Luck Daily Podcast

Tom is joined by RTE and RTV broadcaster Jane Mangan to look at the lack of crowds permitted onto Irish Racecourses in comparison to other countries and other sports. Jane also looks ahead to the return of Snowfall in tomorrow’s Irish Oaks. Trainer Charlie Appleby joins us to talk all things Hurricane Lane and Adayar after the former’s Longchamp romp. Eddy Greatrex is along to discuss yesterday’s announcement he’ll be retiring from race riding at the age of 23. And TRC’s James Willoughby reflects on last week and gives the top 10 trainers in the world right now.

Tom is joined by broadcaster Cornelius Lysaght to reflect on a stunning performance from Hurricane Lane in the Grand Prix de Paris yesterday evening, which prompts the question, “who is the best three year old colt in Europe?” We also reflect on the overnight news that Bob Baffert has been granted the request that his suspension by NYRA be lifted meaning he can run horses there with immediate effect. We are joined by jockey Callum Shepherd whose twin brother has teed off today at The Open from Royal St George’s. We hear from Racing Welfare’s Lauren Braithwaite who is taking on the Great Racing Welfare Cycle next month and there’s still time for others to take part. We also chat with amateur rider Rosie Margarson who is back on board her cherished and very popular horse, Bean, after she recovered from a broken ankle.

Tom is joined by senior writer at the Racing Post, Lee Mottershead, reacting to comments from industry personnel of late on the prospect of more racing on a Sunday, specifically the forthcoming Sunday Series. James Savage, assistant trainer to Sir Michael Stoute, is along to give his views on the matter. Today is the launch of National Racehorse Week and ITV Racing’s Chris Hughes talks to us from Simon Dow’s yard in Epsom. Today is also the finish to the Hong Kong racing season at Happy Valley and the excellent JA McGrath gives us his final bulletin, rounding up the season’s winners and providing a final few betting opportunities. Our thanks to Jim for all his contributions throughout the Hong Kong season.

Tom Stanley in for Nick today and for the rest of the week. Newsboy of the Daily Mirror, Dave Yates, is along to discuss yesterday’s government announcement on the easing of Coronavirus restrictions and what that means for racecourses. With that in mind, Ascot’s Director of Racing, Nick Smith, joins us to look ahead to big crowds at the King George meeting on Saturday week. Jockey Daryl Jacob reflects on the career of gorgeous grey, The Listener, who sadly passed away over the weekend at the age of 22. Richard Hannon discusses options at the Qatar Goodwood Festival (or elsewhere) for his star filly, Snow Lantern. Plus we have our usual Tuesday bloodstock segment where Nick is joined by Antonio Bullrich to talk about the current bloodstock scene in Argentina.

Nick is joined by journalist and broadcaster Lydia Hislop to discuss the day's national and international racing news. Today, they lead with the BBC's Current Affairs programme, Panorama, advertising a forthcoming documentary entitled "The Dark Side of Horse Racing" and ask what it might entail and what it could therefore mean for the sport. Nick and Lydia also pay full tribute to the brilliant Galileo, with contributions from TDN European Editor Emma Berry and his rider Mick Kinane, while they reflect on all the action over the last few days from Newmarket to Belmont Park. Jason Richardson of Channel 7 joins the show to show his appreciation for the exploits of record breaking Australian rider Jamie Kah.

Nick is joined by writer and broadcaster, and host of Racing TV's new series THE KNOWLEDGE, Lydia Hislop to discuss the day's racing news. Once again, this edition comes from Newmarket at the mid-point of the Moet and Chandon July Festival, where Nick and Lydia not only look forward to the Darley July Cup and Falmouth Stakes, but also reflect on the action from the first day. Among Nick's guests in this edition is Dr Jim Walker, owner of star stayer Subjectivist, whose racing career may be over according to yesterday's reports, and Jamie Beers, principal of Halcyon Thoroughbreds, owners of Bunbury Cup favourite. In association with Maze Outdoor Living, we bring you the final part of our series going behind the scenes in Newmarket, while James Willoughby is along with his weekly TRC rankings wrap.

Nick is joined by broadcaster and journalist Cornelius Lysaght to discuss the day's national and international horseracing news. Today's episode comes from Newmarket, where Nick is covering the Newmarket July Festival. Joining the conversation today is trainer Clive Cox, winner of two July Cups and with high hoped of adding a third courtesy of Supremacy. In our special week-long stories of features behind the scenes here in Newmarket, we catch up with Juddmonte Stud Director Simon Mockridge, who gives a thoughtful and in-depth appraisal of the impact that Frankel is now making at stud, while Sheikh Salman bin Rashid al Khlaifa drops in to talk about the new Bahrain Turf Series.

Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer and media commentator Lee Mottershead to discuss Newbury Racecourse's decision to leave Racing TV, of which it was a founding partner, to join Sky and ARC joint venture Sky Sports Racing. They consider the future for direct to home racing in the UK and what this means for both channels. With the July Festival beginning tomorrow, Nick talks to Archie Watson about the chances of both Ascot-disqualified Dragon Symbol and Glen Shiel in the Darley July Cup. In today's Maze Outdoor Living look at life behind the scenes in Newmarket, Nick is joined by Newmarket Academy Yr 10 students Violet Milnes and Kate Nicholls, while JA McGrath brings his latest bulletin from Hong Kong.

Nick is joined by RTE and Racing TV broadcaster Jane Mangan to discuss the day's racing news, beginning with the surprise reappearance of the infamous Viking Hoard at Roscommon today, asking whether the racing public will find this acceptable given that he remains in training with members of Charles Byrnes's immediate family. They also discuss the appointment of Suzanne Eade at CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, and the latest anti-doping developments. Also in this edition, Nick talks to Goodwood MD Adam Waterworth about the lifting of government Covid restrictions, while Nick and Jane look ahead to the July Festival in the company of Cieren Fallon, rider of Oxted, Tattersalls Marketing Director Jimmy George, and Tim Lane, National Stud CEO who guests in our Weatherbys Bloodstock slot.

Nick is joined by David Yates from the Daily Mirror to discuss all the day's racing news. They discuss the recent additions to the doping stories brought forward by Irish Independent writer Paul Kimmage over the weekend, and analyse whether and how the story is moving forward. They look back on the Coral Eclipse, with fascinating comparison of St Mark's basilica and Mishriff from Ioritx Mendizabal, who has ridden both horses, and wonder about the controversial dead heat in the first race at Sandown on Saturday. Nick also talks to Ed Sackville about Snow Lantern's upcoming run in the Falmouth Stakes, while - in association with Maze Living - Nick takes you behind the scenes in Newmarket for July week with Lady Bowthorpe's groom Clare Harkness.