Nick Luck Daily Podcast

Today, Charlotte Greenway is in for Nick and begins by paying tribute to the remarkable Maureen Mullins in the company of Ted Walsh and Jane Mangan, who has more than left her mark in the sport of horse racing from so many perspectives.

Anthony Honeyball joins the show to discuss his three runners on Saturday, all of whom are in with a shout including the top rated in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novice Chase. Then Simon Sweeting, chairman of EBF, explains why they'll be supporting the high value developmental races on the flat this year and finally Laura King brings us the latest news from Dubai and looks at why Meydan has become a training hub for horses heading to the big meetings in Qatar and Saudi.

Tom in for Nick and initially joined by Arc and Classic winning trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias who has announced he’ll be retiring at the end of the season. Carlos reflects on his decision as well as giving an update on some of his stable stars for the year ahead. Tom is joined by broadcaster Rishi Persad and Rishi, who sits on the Flat Pattern Committee, talks of disappointment at both the City of York Stakes and the Long Distance Cup being refused Group 1 status. Daragh Ó Conchúir is along to spaeak about his RTE article highlighting that a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions after the 2021 doping raid in Kildare. Rishi and Tom then turn attentions to the weekend and are joined by L’Homme Presse owner Andy Edwards and Sounds Russian trainer Ruth Jefferson. Plus we have our regular pointing segment in association with ThoroughBid as Ben Atkins gives us the latest.

NIck is joined by Mirror man David Yates to canter through the racing headlines today. They lead with the story of Curtis Wilson-Ruddock, apprentice jockey diagnosed with ADHD, whose treatment for failing to provide a sample has incurred the wrath of PJA boss Paul Struthers, who joins the show. Also on today's show, the best of yesterday's media days with Willie Mullins and Share Hanlon, while Nick catches up with Shishkin's breeder Clive Bennett and his assistant Lucy Smith, plus the Timeform perspective from Dan Barber. Haras de Cercy's Andree Cypres is this week's Weatherbys Bloodstock Guest.

Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to discuss the latest goings on in the world of horseracing. They reflect on the weekend action in the company of rider Tom Cannon, whose victory on Edwardstone was one of the highlights of the big Saturday fixture at Newbury. Also on the show, trainer Amy Murphy talks about her impressive Exeter winner Carole's Place, while bemoaning the BHA's inability to get races published sufficiently in advance for race planning. Richard Hobson outlines plans for Fugitif and Lord du Mesnil, while HK jockey Vincent Ho updates us on his own and Golden Sixty's rehab as both look to return from injury. Plus, America's Best Racing's Isabella Leslie tells of her adventure to ride in the C1 Championship camel race in Dubai, and there's a taster from our latest USA Feature interviews with Jockey Club Chair Stuart Janney.

In the second episode of this absorbing series with those who lead or seek to lead US horseracing during its most critical battle of ideas, Nick talks to the US Jockey Club Chairman Stuart Janney III. A scion of one of racing's most important dynasties, Janney has divided opinion sharply through his stewardship of its most august institution, particularly through his trenchant views on doping in the sport and his recent appearance on 60 minutes. Here, he gives Nick the unvarnished story of how he set about rooting out the most notorious dopers in US racing history with the help of private investigators. This, and much more:

02:30 The response to Mike Repole

07:47 Family background and entry into racing politics

12:00 Doping and the Servis/Navarro story

33:50 Baffert vs Churchill Downs

39:10 THAT 60 minutes Documentary

46:23 Breakdowns and future of Dirt vs Synthetic

50:46 The Triple Crown

53:21 Governance and Disunity

Luckily Newbury doesn't look like it's going to succumb to the miserable weather of late and Betfair Hurdle Day looks set to go ahead so that's the card Charlotte Greenway focuses on in this week's Saturday Edition. In the lead up to the feature race, Shishkin looks to get his career back on track in the Denman chase and we hear from his trainer Nicky Henderson as well as Dan Skelton who trains his chief market rival Protektorat, who's sure to love the ground. Nicky and Dan also discuss their Betfair Hurdle runners, and have seven between them while Anthony Bromley explains how favourite Ocastle Des Mottes is rated 6lbs lower in the UK than in Ireland for Willie Mullins. Finally, Fergal O'Brien shares his concerns over the ground for Kamsinas.

Nick is joined by broadcaster and journalist Lydia Hislop to discuss the latest goings on in the world of racing. They begin with the revelation that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has held an audience with a group of high level racing officials and members of the Lords in an eleventh hour bid to check the progress of affordability checks, and has asked questions accordingly. Also on today's show, Nicky Henderson on Shishkin and more, while Sporting Life's Dave Ord gives us some background on the Timeform squiggle and whether Shishkin might get it removed this season. Victor Dartnall and Alan Johns join the show to talk about Aurigny Mill's Betfair Hurdle chances, while Swanbridge Bloodstock's Liz Lucas tells us about buying further into the 'Vega' family at Goffs. Nick and Lydia also discuss the Milton Harris appeal and the Newcastle scheduling farce.

Nick is joined by RTE and Racing TV broadcaster Jane Mangan to discuss the latest news from around the racing world today. They begin this episode by focusing on the big race this weekend, and the apparently lenient handicap mark afforded to favourite Ocastle Des Mottes. Anthony Bromley, manager to owners Munir/Souede, joins the show to explain, and also gives the latest on Impaire et Passe while suggesting it's possible Caldwell Potter won't run at all this season for Paul Nicholls. Also on today's show, Dan Skelton spins through this weekend's entries, tells us why Protektorat is running more often, and gives us the running plans for his National contenders. Ollie Greenall has the latest positive bulletin on Cheltenham hope Iroko, while Laura King has all the news from Dubai.

Nick is joined by broadcaster Rishi Persad to discuss the latest developments in the world of horseracing. Nick opens up this episode with an interview with Constitution Hill's owner Michael Buckley, who confirms the horse's wellbeing and answers questions on his campaigning. Also on today's show, Hughie Morrison explains why he's having a fifth crack at the Champion Hurdle with veteran Not So Sleepy, and has plenty more to say besides, while Fergal O'Brien looks ahead to the Betfair Hurdle with Kamsinas, plus brings news of Dysart Enos and Crambo. Our new Point to Point weekly update begins in association with Thoroughbid and the Pointing Pointers website, while JA McGrath has the latest from Hong Kong.

Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to look at the latest news from around the racing world today. With the Grand National entries released, Nick talks to Gordon Elliott, who has no fewer than 26 of the long range engagements. Elliott advocates for multiple entries, talks about the Mullins dominance of the DRF, and reflects on yesterday's dispersal sale. Also on today's show, agent Tessa Greatrex also looks back on goings on at Fairyhouse yesterday as she stepped in for some high profile purchases, while trainer Ben Pauling and Newbury Clerk George Hill look ahead to this weekend, and Timeform's Dan Barber offers perspective on the performances of Ballyburn and others at the DRF. Frank Dorff from Gestut Röttgen is the Weatherbys Bloodstock Guest.