Marc Blackford on adding Churchill Downs to Venatour Racing’s trip offerings, the eye-watering cost of The Kentucky Derby, why Blackford and co offer more than just a day at the races and plans to organise F1 tours. 

For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit and subscribe to the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk*************

Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

Legendary Gloucester-Hartpury and Ireland prop ‘Buggy’ on how hockey lead to playing rugby around the world, battling burnout, why the benefits of the game outweigh injury risks and being happily retired. 

After co-hosting a podcast this season with Buggy it was brilliant to get her full story. Again it was eye-opening to consider the challenges of trying to play elite sport while also working/studying full-time.

Please let me know if you enjoy this one.

For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit and subscribe to the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

For a lot of us, professional footballer is the dream career. Would you agree?
But say the contract is for £40K a year and a footballing career typically ends when you're in your 30s. You'll have to find another career sharpish.
The decision to go pro is perhaps more complicated when you're just going to get a 'decent' wage - and maybe high-level part-time football (often pretty good money) is the better option.
In that context, it was fascinating to speak to with Gloucester City midfielder Joe Hanks.
The pain is still there after the club's PO final loss. But optimism is growing.
I found Joe particularly interesting though on life as a policeman and part-time footballer and that tricky dance for some on the edge of pro football.

To go pro or not to go pro? That is one question.

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For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit and subscribe to the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk

*************

Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

Jon Palmer has followed Cheltenham Town Football Club since boyhood. He's reported on them professionally for more than two decades for The Gloucestershire Echo and Glos Live.

So if Palmer tells you the 25/26 season was special, you take notice.

In this conversation we reflect on the remarkable story of Steve Cotterill's comeback. The man who lead the Robins into the football league for the first time in 1999 returned to save them in 2026.

Jon underscores the value of a beat reporter - his knowledge and passion for local sport is unparalleled. Hope you enjoy this.

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For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit and subscribe to the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk

*************

Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

'Aaron Downes and Harry Pell on making their friendship a winning partnership with The Bulls, the challenge of managing semi-pro players, and the respect they hold for Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill. '

Aaron Downes met Harry Pell when they were players together at Cheltenham Town FC more than a decade ago. They became fast friends.

And so in the spring of 2026 when phoenix club Hereford FC offered Downes his first shot at football management, who else to be his assistant than his best mate?

It's a captivating story so far - let's hope it's just the start.

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Enjoyed this free-wheeling conversation with Ex Sun, current Mirror and Racing TV tipster Steve Jones.

Steve tells us why racing is getting safer and safer, why the Cheltenham Festival could do with being more competitive and how journalism has changed in the digital age. 

Intriguing to hear what goes into predicting a race and the rush of calling it correctly.

Also discuss his family's lineage and how his grandad starred as as a jockey at The Cheltenham Festival in the 1940s.

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For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk

*************

Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

Very open conversation with Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage about his life and his career in football and the media.

We discuss:

** Dealing with a public perception of him that is outdated.

** The challenges of being a manager.

** His friendship with FGR owner Dale Vince.

** How insight into the life of a manager has made him a more considered analyst in the media.

** Moving away from his family home in Manchester to Cheltenham in order to give FGR his best.

** How he expects expectations to rise next season.

For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit and subscribe to the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk

***********

Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

Uplifting conversation with the 2010 Downhill World

Champion and three-time Enduro Champion Tracey Moseley, from Malvern.

** Talk about e-mountain-biking as a competitive sport and how they could boost health and longevity in the population.

** The importance of getting kids off of screens and moving outdoors.

** Managing risk and selecting appropriate challenges for our ability.

** Tracey's new film 7 Stanes in 7 Days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p63u5h5iDsM

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Partner Information

Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

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Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

An open and thought-provoking conversation with Frances Trussell, who runs retreats enlightening people through mindfulness, non duality and zen training.

Before entering this area of work she was a broadcast journalist.

She has appeared on ITV’s Sugar Free Farm as a Mindfulness Coach, has worked as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and has worked with a diverse range of clients from Olympic athletes to homeless people. 

We explore:

** The concept of flow - and is this something we can achieved in everyday life.

** What is NonDuality

** The importance of knowing ourselves

** The value of a tech detox

To find out more about Frances:

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

Chat about school, rugby and more with Gloucester fly-half Charlie Atkinson.

I enjoyed this conversation which includes Charlie taking up football and rugby early in childhood and how football maybe lead to him zeroing in on the fly-half position.

Also discuss the sadness of Charlie's first club Wasps going to the wall and Charlie's teenage conflict over whether to become a pro player or continue his studies at university.

Charlie is a lovely guy and I'm glad that while it's been a difficult

season for Gloucester, it's been one where he's strengthened his claim on the 10 shirt.

We also discuss Charlie's debut for England in the USA.

To follow Charlie on Instagram: @charlieatkinson_

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected]