Nick Luck Daily Podcast

Nick is in Riyadh with one day to go until the 2021 Saudi Cup, the world's richest horserace. In a frenetic episode, Nick first checks in at home with Jane Mangan's reflections on Davy Russell missing Cheltenham and the result of the Charles Byrnes case. He then talks to Daryl Jacob, who has picked up the spare ride on Master Tommytucker in the Ascot Chase this weekend. Trainer Charlie Fellowes joins the Saudi Cup party from Newmarket to discuss whether stable star can finally win the huge prize that has eluded him, while James Willoughby dissects the Cup itself and considers the Europeans to have a massive task on their hands. JA McGrath joins the conversation from Hong Kong, where Golden Sixty runs this weekend.

Nick is in Riyadh ahead of the second running of the Saudi Cup, the world's richest horserace. In the build up to the event, Nick is joined by Barry Irwin, President and Founder of Kentucky Derby-winning owners Team Valor, whose Spanish Mission is a leading contender for the key race on the Saudi Cup undercard, the $2.5m Red Sea Turf Handicap. Irwin reaffirms his commitment to withdrawing from US Racing to base the string almost exclusively in Europe. Irwin issues another stinging attack on the toothless authorities, stating that he is "fed up with competing against trainers using performance enhancing drugs." Also in this show, Frank Sale, MD of HBA, tells us about the global TV distribution of top races during the Covid-19 Pandemic, while regular contributor Cornelius Lysaght brings us up to speed with all the day's events in the UK.

Nick is joined by Lee Mottershead, senior writer on the Racing Post, to discuss the day's news and events from around the world of horseracing, overtaken overnight by claims made in a BBC Panorama documentary concerning the alleged disappearance of the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed, ruler of Dubai and the sport's most prominent and influential owner. In other news, Nick and Lee also discuss yesterday's Grand National weights launch as well as the weekend's racing. Amy Murphy, trainer of Denman Chase hopeful Kalashnikov, is among today's guests, as are Roger Teal and Thady Gosden, who join Nick in Riyadh ahead of the weekend's Saudi Cup, and JA McGrath with his weekly bulletin from Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Cheveley Park Stud MD Chris Richardson offers a touching appreciation of the stallion Pivotal, who retired from active duties yesterday at the age of 28.

Nick, from his hotel room in Riyadh ahead of the Saudi Cup, is joined by the Daily Mirror's David Yates to dissect the Grand National weights, published this morning. The handicapper responsible for allotting each horse its weight is the BHA's Martin Greenwood, who joins Nick to show his working for the mark of 166 (equivalent to a weight of 11st 9lbs) given to the dual National hero Tiger Roll, whose connections have issued concerns about a mark higher than 160. Later in this edition, Nick talks to Chester Racecourse CEO Richard Thomas about the plans for mass lateral flow testing to allow limited crowds to enjoy the Boodles May Festival this year, while Shadwell's Angus Gold is this week's guest as we head around the bloodstock world with Weatherbys.

Nick is joined by writer, broadcaster and Road to Cheltenham (TM) host Lydia Hislop to discuss the day's racing news, kicking off with the surprise switch of prep race for Champ, one of Britain's leading Gold Cup hopes, to the Game Spirit Chase over 2 miles. The horse's trainer, Nicky Henderson, joins the podcast to talk through his working and also explains that the decision not to run Altior in the same race was far from straightforward. Later in this edition, Nick and Lydia discuss the rescheduled racing at Warwick today, while Nick catches up with trainer Jamie Osborne, who saddles Mekong in Saudi Arabia this weekend, and Brendan Walsh, fresh from seeing Maxfield post a commanding performance in the Mineshaft Stakes at the Fair Grounds at the weekend.

Nick is joined by broadcaster Cornelius Lysaght to discuss all the day's events from around the racing world, including the news that the Cheltenham Gold Cup has lost its sponsor Magners, but is now partnering with charity WellChild, whose name will be carried on the Blue Riband race title and will be the official Festival partner. Nick and Cornelius also discuss the implications of the restaged races following this weekend's abandonments. Nick talks to Jason Kiely, representative of French trainer David Cottin, about Paul's Saga's bid to roll back the years at the Festival, while rookie trainer Ed Bethell celebrates his first winner, and Qatar Racing's David Redvers tells Nick how you can be involved in naming one of their blue blood two year olds and updates us on the progress of Kameko as he embarks on the new breeding season.

Nick is joined by Lee Mottershead, senior writer from the Racing Post, to discuss all the day's horseracing news. With the weather still playing havoc in the UK, Nick brings breaking news that the fixture at Newbury this Saturday will likely move in its entirety to Sunday February 21st and feature the Betfair Hurdle, the UK's second richest hurdle race this season. Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup, joins the conversation to discuss the ban on raceday Lasix for all BC Challenge Races, while sports psychologist Michael Caulfield talks about the added pressures on elite sport competitors during lockdown, and owner Brett Graham talks about his rollercoaster ride with Irish Gold Cup winner Kemboy.

Nick is joined by David Yates from the Daily Mirror to discuss today's racing news. With the UK in the grip of a freeze, and pessimism abounding over the chances of the all important Super Saturday fixtures at Newbury and Warwick, Nick and David discuss the landscape in the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival, how horses are being prepared, and the impact of the relentless rise of the super trainers is having on the sport. Nick talks at length to growing powerhouse trainer Dan Skelton about his own preparations and his thoughts on why the Willie Mullins hegemony is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. He also gives an upbeat bulletin on the chances of his Nube Negra proving a match for Mullins's Chacun Pour Soi. Later in this edition, Minty Farquhar from GBRI discusses the Great British Stallion Showcase, while JA McGrath brings his weekly update from Hong Kong.

Nick is joined by RTE and Racing TV broadcaster Jane Mangan to discuss the day's racing news. Continuing a reflection on the weekend's events, they discuss whether the Irish dominance of jump racing is likely to leave their British counterparts well behind at the Cheltenham Festival. Joe Tizzard drops in to give a positive bulletin on both Native River and Lostintranslation, professional gambler Neil Channing talks about your last chance to submit to the Gambling Commission on affordability as well as the failed coup at the weekend, while legendary owner breeder Kirsten Rausing talks at length about her career in bloodstock and her hopes for the season ahead in our Weatherbys bloodstock segment.

Nick is joined by journalist and broadcaster Lydia Hislop to discuss the day's racing news and to look back on two spellbinding days of entertainment at the Dublin Racing Festival. They ask which horse enhanced his or her reputation most significantly over the weekend, and ask whether the British trained horses can be expected to hold a candle to this apparently endless stream of Irish trained superstars and promising novices. They discuss Honeysuckle's route to the Champion Hurdle via the mares' programme, with a notable intervention from her racing manager Peter Molony, while breeder Cyril O'Hara enjoys the plaudits as the producer of the hugely exciting Monkfish.