Nick Luck Daily Podcast

Charlotte Greenway in for Nick and joined by RTE/Racing TV's Jane Mangan who looks ahead to the Grade 1 Lawlors of Naas Novices Hurdle tomorrow as well as looking at the declarations for Saturday's Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton. Iconic figure in Irish racing, Robert Hall,, who’s silks will be carried on the racecourse tomorrow for the first time in over 30 years joins the show to look forward to that and explain how he came about the horse. Then trainer, owner, breeder, Con O’Keefe looks ahead to his mare, Silent Approach taking on the boys in in the Grade 3 Novice Chase at Punchestown on Sunday as well as the importance of the Irish Stallion Trail, kicking off tomorrow. Finally, we hear how Andrea Atzeni’s getting on, halfway through his first season riding in Hong Kong, following the news that his license has been extended until the end of the season.

Nick is joined by Mirror writer David Yates to canter through today's racing headlines. They begin by talking to jockeys' championship leader Sean Bowen about his likely return to the fray, while they also report on Nico de Boinville's recovery. They discuss Nicky Henderson's comments in the Newbury Weekly yesterday about the appearance or non-appearance of Constitution Hill in this month's Unibet International at Cheltenham, while Henrietta Knight joins to discuss her return to the racecourse as a trainer at Wincanton on Friday. 80-year old Victor Thompson tells Nick about his remarkable recovery, riding out 5 lots at his Northumberland yard just weeks after suffering a compound fracture, while Nigel Twiston Davies and Carl Llewellyn share their thoughts on this weekend's strong team at Warwick, and JA McGrath brings us his bulletin from Hong Kong.

Nick is joined by The Sun Racing Correspondent Jack Keene to discuss the latest from around the racing world. They lead with the announcement that the Jockey Club is not only increasing prize money for 2024, but has also answered recent calls for openness as regards their media rights payments. Nick talks to CEO Nevin Truesdale and gets reaction from NTF CEO Paul Johnson. Also on today's show, Nick catches up with Mouse Morris, who gives an update on Racing Post Pricewise Gold Cup pick Gentlemansgame, and Philip Rothwell, in the form of his life and ready with one for the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton. Later in the episode, Nick talks to Channel 7 broadcaster Jason Richardson about the network's innovation at this weekend's Magic Millions card on the Gold Coast.

Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to take a look at today's headlines. Opening the show is young rider Joe Anderson, whose stunning recovery and victory at Plumpton yesterday propelled him beyond the racing pages. Also on today's show ITV and Sky Sports Racing's Matt Chapman talks about his experiences at Wolverhampton for the first Sunday night meeting, and also about the Sport4Causes charitable endeavour. Lydia Hislop reports from Naas, where their big fixture was called off after one race, while Ted Walsh tells us about what could be his first ever visit to Warwick on Saturday with Any Second Now, and Tracey Harding has details of a special £5 admission offer to the National Horseracing Museum.

DURING THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS, I’LL BE TALKING TO THIOSE WHO LEAD AND THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO LEAD, AS THE AMERICAN HORSERACING INDUSTRY ENGAGES IN THE MOST CRITICAL BATTLE OF IDEAS IN ITS HISTORY.

WHO IS BEST PLACED TO STEER THIS SHIP THROUGH THE CHOPPY WATERS? WHO HAS THE VISION, THE SKILL, THE INTEGRITY, THE WHEREWITHAL TO KEEP HORSE RACING RELEVANT AND TO MAKE US CARE?

MY FIRST GUEST IS, BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, A DISRUPTOR. A SELF-MADE BILLIONAIRE WHO GREW UP IN QUEEN’S, HE HAS BEEN A RACING FAN SINCE HIS TEENS. AS HIS BUSINESS CAREER DEVELOPED, SO DID HIS OWNERSHIP POTRFOLIO…

CHAMPION JUVENILE UNCLE MO WAS THE FIRST SUPERSTAR, INFAMOUSLY SCRATCHED FROM THE DERBY THE DAY BEFORE THE RACE, A FATE THAT WAS TO SPOOKILY BEFALL THE OWNER LAST YEAR, AS HOT FAVOURITE FORTE CONTROVERSIALLY FELL FOUL OF VETERINARY CHECKS AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

THERE HAVE, HOWEVER, BEEN MANY HIGHS, COURTESY OF BC CLASSIC WINNER VINO ROSSO, AND BELMONT 1-2 MO DONEGAL AND NEST IN HIS OWN BACK YARD. HE NOW HAS CHAMPION JUVENILE ELECT FIERCENESS AS HE BIDS TO LAY HIS DERBY GHOST.

BUT MIKE REPOLE ISN’T HAPPY WITH THE INDUSTRY - “THERE ISN’T ANYTHING IN THIS SPORT THAT IS GOOD AT THE MOMENT,” HE TOLD ME ON NBC LAST FALL “I BLAME MYSELF - IN ANY OTHER SPORT, THE OWNERS TAKE CONTROL - HERE WE LET THE RACETRACKS DO IT FOR US”

TO THAT END, HE’S BECOME THE SELF-APPOINTED CHAMPION OF THE HORSEMEN -CREATING THE NATIONAL THOROUGHBRED ALLIANCE, WITH HIM AS THE CHAIR AND RESPECTED INDUSTRY FIGURE AND PUNTER’S ADVOCATE PAT CUMMINGS AT HIS SIDE.

“HOW DO WE SAVE HORSE RACING,” SAYS REPOLE, “THIS IS IT…”

Nick is joined by broadcaster Rishi Persad to canter through today's global racing headlines. With torrential rain wreaking havoc across Britain, Nick opens the show by gauging the prospects of Wincanton flying the flag on Saturday while, down the road, Paul Nicholls details the evacuation of some of his horses in the small hours as his stables flooded. Later in the show, Jack Kennedy joins Nick while tacking up Firefox, his mount in the Grade One feature at Naas this weekend. Also today, NBC's Matt Bernier walks through the Eclipse Awards ballot and describes why he feels Cody's Wish should prevail in a contentious battle for horse of the year. Back home, Nick talks to Simon Besanson about an extraordinary charity endeavour with Thoroughbid in aid of Irish Cancer Charities, while Racing Together's Florence Cain tells us about the Industry Day on February 8th.

PLUS... Nick has news of a brand new show launching on the NLD Channel this weekend.

Nick is joined by RTE and Racing TV broadcaster Jane Mangan to cast an eye over the latest racing news from around the world. With significant successes over the Festive period, the string owned by JP McManus looks one of the most powerful ever, spread across a raft of top trainers in the UK and Ireland. In this episode, his racing manager Frank Berry gives Nick an exclusive lowdown on which horses are on target for imminent big races and which ones must wait for further down the line. Also in this edition, Nick talks to Scottish permit holder Willie Young jnr about his family's involvement in racing and the extraordinary Ardera Cross, while Bertrand Le Metayer gives us the latest plans for stayers' hurdle joint fav Theleme, Tony Lacy (VP Sales) previews the Keeneland January Sale, and JA McGrath has his first Hong Kong preview of 2024. Meanwhile, Jane highlights the importance of diversity in National Hunt breeding, using the results from the Christmas period as a guide.

Nick is joined by Mirror man David Yates to discuss the latest news from around the racing world today. Scanning the entries for the three principal chases at the Festival, Nick talks to Andy Edwards owner of L'Homme Presse, about the horse's impending comeback at Lingfield, to Paul Nicholls about the Gold Cup entry for Stay Away Fay, and to Laura Morgan, trainer of Ryanair hopeful Notlongtilmay, who is set to take on Edwardstone and Pic d'Orhy in the Silviniaco Conti at Kempton. Fakenham CEO David Hunter explains the events that led to the last minute abandonment of Tuesday's card, while Sandown supremo Andrew Cooper shares his thoughts on this Saturday's premier fixture.

Nick is joined by Lydia Hislop to discuss the latest news from around the racing world. With British Racing in a state of political tension, Nick and Lydia break the news that ex-BHB Chair Peter Savill - original architect of the premierisation plan - is back for more, this time with an incentive aimed at the sport's prize money shortfall and requiring the backing of trainers. Nick speaks to Stuart Williams, Emma Lavelle and Chair of the Thoroughbred Group Julian Richmond-Watson, who is dismissive of the plan. Lavelle also brings news of Paisley Park plus intended Sandown runner De Rasher Counter, while Williams has his say on the new Sunday night fixtures which begin this weekend. Trainer Nick Alexander outlines issues that he sees within the premier racing programme, whose first day's heroes from Cheltenham are also reviewed by Nick and Lydia. Cheveley Park's Richard Thompson brings us the latest on their jumping stars, which includes the news that A Plus Tard has very likely run his last race, while Alex Cairns from ITM is our Weatherbys Guest to discuss the Irish Stallion Trail.

Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer to take a look at today's racing news on the first day of 2024. Lee joins the show from Cheltenham, for the first of 170 premier racedays under the sport's new structure. Fakenham Chairman Sam Bullard is along to express his reservations about the new fixture list and the way it has impinged on the holiday opportunities for the east of England today. Also on today's show, top jumps trainer Nicky Henderson talks about his successes at Newbury on Saturday, and discusses Shishkin, Constitution Hill, James Bowen and much more besides. Kentucky Equine Research founder Joe Pagan and Saracen Thoroughbred Nutrition Director Polly Bonnor bring us their latest instalment, this time focusing on feeding broodmares in their final trimester. Happy New Year from all the team!