Nick Luck Daily Podcast

Nick is joined by Lydia Hislop on Day One of Newmarket's traditional and prestigious Craven meeting. Ahead of tomorrow's eponymous feature, they talk to Wimbledon Hawkeye's trainer James Owen, and discuss the trainer's jockey arrangements on his star horses this season. Also on the show today, we hear from Aidan O'Brien on his early Classic contenders in the company of Charlotte Greenway and Jane Mangan, while Newmarket trainer Tom Clover shares his dismay at the poor prize money on offer on Easter Sunday and spins through this week's runners. Nick and Lydia run with the Easter prize money theme and also discuss ARC's Amphitheatre Racing, whose motives have caused a degree of consternation amongst punters and professionals this week. Plus, Dan Barber talks Scottish National, Craven Ratings and a two year old to watch from the Timeform perspective.

Ahead of the first British Classics of the flat season, Charlotte Greenway & Jane Mangan are at Ballydoyle and joined by Aidan O'Brien after second lot as they look ahead to his likely runners in the Betfred 1000 & 2000 Guineas, with a positive update on both his leading fancies. Then they look ahead to those with Epsom on their agenda before discussing plans for some of the stable stars including Kyprios, Los Angeles & Storm Boy. Finally, Aidan gives us a two year old for Royal Ascot, who's name could be changed this week to reflect his ability!

Nick is joined by Mirror Newsboy David Yates to discuss the latest from around the racing world. After unpacking the Scottish National/Trainers' Championship, they launch into the Flat, with trainer Francis Graffard joining the show to discuss star filly Zarigana's comeback win, plus news on Calandagan, Goliath, Map of Stars and more. Also today, Brian Meehan plots his next steps with Greenham runner-up Rashabar, while Ed Crisford looks ahead to the Nell Gwyn Stakes with Arabian Dusk and delights in the Grade 1 victory of Choisya at Keeneland. Newbury CEO Shaun Hinds explains how the Berkshire racecourse has performed a stunning turnaround in attendance figures, plus - in Australia - Bjorn Baker reflects on the biggest week of his career, which culminated in the Sydney Cup victory of Arapaho. With the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up sales this week, the doyen of the 2yo sales Con Marnane joins the show.

The Saturday Edition - Ep. 159 by Nick Luck

Tom in for Nick and joined by Jane Mangan who argues the UK Trainers' Championship is no forgone conclusion! The voice of Scottish racing Gordon Brown tells us why the Coral Scottish National meeting is so special. Macdermott is back in the race to defend his crown this year and we hear from his owner Pat Gallagher about his chances this year. Sadly no Apple Away in the race but the man who bought her (and Whistle Stop Tour who lines up on the card), Paul McIvor, tells us what he'll be looking for at next week's Tattersalls Cheltenham sale. With news that Inothewayurthinkin will not run again this season we hear from trainer Gavin Cromwell who also takes us through his Irish National hopefuls. William Haggas is along to talk Dubai Honour ahead of a bid for more Australian silverware in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday and Christophe Lemaire also joins ahead of his first ever ride in Sydney. And Sporting Life's Dave Ord is with us providing something for the weekend.

Joshua Stacey in for Nick and is joined by broadcaster and journalist Lydia Hislop. In today's episode, Caroline Davies from the Racecourse Association reflects on a damning report from Lee Mottershead in the Racing Post about the current state of weighing rooms at British racecourses. Harry Charlton looks ahead to Newmarket after Cosmic Year's impressive return to action at Kempton Park last night, Brian Meehan and Ollie Sangster also provide a word on their Guineas hopefuls, Ben Aktins brings us our usual Thursday update from the Point-to-Point world and Clive Hadingham shares his thoughts on Surrey Quest's bid to go one better in the Coral Scottish Grand National this Saturday.

Tom in for Nick and joined by broadcaster and journalist Rishi Persad and we start with the news that the Coral-Eclipse, staged every year at Sandown Park, will be worth £1m this year making it the most valuable race ever staged at the track. Head of racing at Sandown Andrew Cooper and Coral's PR Director Simon Clare join to tell us how this has come about. Simon also comments on the Coral Scottish Grand National this weekend and on how many runners Willie Mullins is likely to have at the meeting. Rishi and Tom discuss this further and ask what racegoers are likely to make of the potential Mullins domination at Ayr and in the UK over the coming weeks as he bids for a second consecutive UK trainers' championship. We hear from Alan King who sends Masaccio to Ayr this weekend over 3 miles plus Tattersalls Marketing Manager Jason Singh looks ahead to next week's Craven Breeze Up Sale. Jim McGrath has the latest from Hong Kong and we are joined by Calandagan's trainer Francis-Henri Graffard who reflects on the horse's run in Dubai and tells us where some of his stable stars will start off the season.

Josh Stacey in for Nick today and begins by reflecting on the sad news that came through this morning regarding Grand National runner Celebre D'Allen who sadly passed away last night after taking a sudden downturn. James Given, BHA's Director of Equine Health and Welfare joins the show to reflect on events that took place with this horse from the moment he collapsed while James also explains the stringent measures that the BHA have in place before a horse can even line up. Timeform's Dan Barber looks at the figures of the race and assesses how it stacks up against previous renewals. David Power Jockey's Cup winner Harry Skelton pops in to discuss that 500k prize as well as the final couple of weeks of the trainers' title and what Dan has up his sleeve to curtail Willie Mullins's late bid. Christian Williams looks back on his winner on Saturday in Liverpool before this week's Weatherbys Bloodstock segment takes us to South Africa as we hear from Eugene Freeman of Boland Stud.

Charlotte Greenway in for Nick and joined by the Mirror's David Yates as they reflect on a fantastic Aintree Grand National Festival and the big race itself on which we hear from winning rider Patrick Mullins along with the owner Nick Rockett, Stewart Andrew. Both discuss the emotions of the day and the continuing celebrations whilst Jamie Osbourne is along to look back on the agonising defeat suffered by Heart of Honour in the UAE Derby before we cover the retirement announcements from the weekend with Hayley Turner's long time agent Guy Jewell and jockey Alan Johns who went out with a winner yesterday at Ffos Las.

It’s Grand National day and Nick’s out on track having a look at some of today’s runners and again Shark Hanlon joins the show, this time taking over with the interviewing duties as he introduces us to some of the team over to support Hewick in this afternoon’s big race. Anthony Honeball is out picking grass with Brookie and hopes he can run a big race in this afternoon’s Maghull Novices’ Chase while Dan Barber looks at the big one from his own perspective as well as sharing what Timeform make of the race.