The planned abolition of greyhound racing in Wales is among the topics discussed in the latest edition of The Front Page. Lee Mottershead, Jonathan Harding and Matthew Rennie debate the Welsh government’s announcement and ask whether British horse racing should be offering more vocal support to the increasingly endangered greyhound racing industry. This week’s edition also looks back on a weekend of major races in Britain, Ireland and Saudi Arabia before the team debates more of last week’s big ...
Feb 24, 2025•41 min•Ep. 243
Host James Stevens is joined by Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway, handicapper Jonny Pearson and Unibet ambassador Ed Nicholson as they go through the main races from Kempton, Newcastle and Southwell, as well as the major events across the world including the Saudi Cup. Kempton kicks off proceedings. Will it provide some late clues for next month's Cheltenham Festival? We head to Newcastle for the Eider Chase, which for many is one of the great staying chases in the calendar. But who do our pane...
Feb 20, 2025•44 min•Ep. 242
This week the Front Page team are talking about revolutionising betting, training turnarounds and changing habits among Cheltenham racegoers. The show opens with a tribute to Michael O'Sullivan, the 24-year-old jockey who tragically died following a fall at Thurles earlier in the month. Join Racing Post editor Tom Kerr, Peter Scargill and Jon Harding for all that and more.
Feb 17, 2025•37 min•Ep. 241
Get set for the weekend's racing with host James Stevens joined by RP tipsters Robbie Wilders and Keith Melrose as well as Unibet ambassador Ed Nicholson. The panel share thoughts on the ITV Racing races at Ascot, including the clash of L'Homme Presse, Pic D'Orhy and Corbetts Cross in the Ascot Chase. Attention turns to Wincanton's Kingwell Hurdle and three races at Haydock including the Grand National Trial. We also get the weekend's NAPs from the team.
Feb 13, 2025•56 min•Ep. 240
We are now just four weeks away from the start of the Cheltenham Festival - and this week's edition of The Front Page is a must for festival fans. Lee Mottershead, Jonathan Harding and Liam Headd kick things off by reviewing Super Saturday at Newbury, where the William Hill Hurdle was dominated by Joyeuese. A change to the rules looks set to keep her away from Cheltenham. Does that rule need changing? Willie Mullins is set for another fantastic festival, as was obvious when he paraded some of hi...
Feb 10, 2025•29 min•Ep. 238
Host James Stevens is joined by RP tipster Robbie Wilders, Lambourn correspondent Liam Headd and Unibet ambassador Ed Nicholson to assess the weekend’s big races. Newbury’s William Hill Hurdle is the focus of four races there and the panel dissect the chances of Sir Gino in the Game Spirit. Attention turns to Warwick for the Unibet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase where L’Eau Du Sud is the star attraction. The team finish off by providing their weekend NAPs.
Feb 06, 2025•50 min•Ep. 237
Join Maddy Playle, Chris Cook and Jonathan Harding to discuss a game-changing week in the racing world. The panel discuss an array of electric performances at the Dublin Racing Festival and their likely impact on the Cheltenham Festival. Jonathan covers the excellent chasing performances of Galopin Des Champs, Majborough, Ballyburn and Solness, while Maddy picks the bones out of State Man's win and red-hot novice efforts from Final Demand and Kopek Des Bordes. Chris calls for your input on the B...
Feb 03, 2025•47 min•Ep. 236
Host James Stevens is joined by RP tipster Graeme Rodway, handicapper Jonny Pearson and Unibet ambassador Ed Nicholson as they go through the big races from Leopardstown, Sandown and Musselburgh, as well sharing some of their views for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival. The Dublin Racing Festival takes centre stage, will Willie Mullins repeat his success of 2024 by winning all eight Grade 1 races once again? Sandown hosts the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase where Jango Baie is a warm favourit...
Jan 30, 2025•59 min•Ep. 235
On this week's show: what did we learn from Constitution Hill's Cheltenham return? Are trainers right to threaten a boycott of TV interviews? And is British racing unfairly maligned? Join Racing Post editor Tom Kerr, Lambourn correspondent Liam Headd and reporter Matt Rennie for this week's big stories and lots more.
Jan 27, 2025•33 min•Ep. 234
Host James Stevens is joined by Tom Park, Robbie Wilders and Brett Williams to go through the big races this week at Jump racing HQ, Cheltenham for Trials Day and some very competitive Grade 2 action from Doncaster. In the main part of the show, the panel discuss all things Trials Day which see the Unibet Hurdle take centre stage, with heavy favourite Constitution Hill set to take to the Cheltenham Hill once again. Surely the superstar hurdler gets his head in front? There’s also a terrific runn...
Jan 23, 2025•55 min•Ep. 233
This week's edition of The Front Page kicks off with debate about Jonbon following his latest dominant victory at Ascot. Britain's highest-rated chaser is unbeaten away from Cheltenham, where all three of his defeats have occurred. Should that worry punters thinking about backing him at short odds for the Queen Mother Champion Chase? Lee Mottershead, Maddy Playle and Jonathan Harding consider that big festival question before discussing yet more examples of punters encountering crazy interferenc...
Jan 20, 2025•39 min•Ep. 232
Host James Stevens is joined by Tom Park, Graeme Rodway and Brett Williams to go through the big races this week at Windsor and Market Rasen on Friday, as well as top-class cards at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday. In the main part of the show, the panel discuss the Clarence House Chase battle between chasing titans Jonbon and Energumene. Who of the duo will our panel side with, or will one of the outsiders spring a shock? There’s also a terrific running of the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock, headli...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 231
The Front Page this week tackles some of the most fundamental issues facing the sport - including one that has impacted the man at the head of British racing's governing body. BHA chair Joe Saumarez Smith spoke to the Racing Post about his personal experience of being caught up in betting checks and account restrictions, issues that bedevil so many other punters. Lee Mottershead, Chris Cook and Scott Burton reflect on Saumarez Smith's comments and his hope that they might make the government and...
Jan 13, 2025•45 min•Ep. 231
Host David Jennings is joined by Keith Melrose, Jonny Pearson and Brett Williams to go through the biggest races at Kempton, Ffos Las & Newcastle this weekend. They look ahead to a busy card at Kempton Park where the feature race is the Lanzarote Hurdle. The team then look ahead to some action from Newcastle on the All Weather following Warwick's abandonment earlier in the week. The panel finish off by providing their weekend NAPs.
Jan 09, 2025•41 min•Ep. 230
The best chasers, the best hurdlers and some of the worst weather are the discussion points in the new year’s opening edition of The Front Page. Lee Mottershead, David Jennings and James Stevens spend the bulk of the programme reviewing some fantastic festive racing. Is Galopin Des Champs now a good thing for a Gold Cup? Does Constitution Hill deserve to be odds-on for the Champion Hurdle? And which race will Brighterdaysahead run in at the festival? All those topics and many more are tackled as...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 229
Host James Stevens is joined by Robbie Wilders, Jonny Pearson and Ed Nicholson to go through the biggest races at Sandown & Wincanton this weekend. They also look back on some of the highlights of the Christmas and New Year period, which included magnificent performances from the likes of Galopin Des Champs and Sir Gino. Nicky Henderson also gives his thoughts on the performances of his horses during this period and what might be next for them. The panel finish off by providing their weekend...
Jan 02, 2025•49 min•Ep. 228
Host James Stevens is joined by Tom Park, Jonny Pearson and Ed Nicholson to go through the big races at Kempton, Aintree, Wetherby and Chepstow this week. In the main part of the show, the panel discuss the King George as 11 stars head to post in a hugely competitive running of Kempton’s Christmas highlight. Also at Kempton on Thursday is the eagerly anticipated clash between Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth and our panel share their views on what could be the race of the season. There’s Grade ...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 227
Host James Stevens is joined by Robbie Wilders, Jonny Pearson and Ed Nicholson to go through the big races at Ascot and Haydock this weekend. In the main part of the show, the panel discuss the Long Walk Hurdle, the Grade 1 showpiece on Ascot's card and in which Crambo bids for back-to-back victories. At Haydock, the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase is the day's big betting race, but who do our experts fancy to come out on top? The panel finish off by providing their weekend NAPs....
Dec 19, 2024•39 min•Ep. 226
This week's edition of The Front Page asks if the raceday experience needs to be improved - and also looks ahead to some of the year's very best racedays. Lee Mottershead, Chris Cook and Maddy Playle discuss David Jennings' latest Racing Post column, which argued a day at the races is nowhere near as interesting as it should be. The panel debates what racecourses can do to keep customers entertained. There will be no shortage of thrilling racing entertainment over Christmas, when the sport's fan...
Dec 16, 2024•44 min•Ep. 225
Host James Stevens is joined by Jonny Pearson, Graeme Rodway and Ed Nicholson to go through the big races at Cheltenham and Doncaster this weekend. In the main part of the show, the panel discuss the December Gold Cup, Cheltenham's Christmas highlight and a race in which Fugitif bids for back-to-back wins. At Doncaster, a valuable 3m handicap chase and a Listed mares' hurdle also come under scrutiny, but who do our team fancy to win in front of the ITV cameras on Town Moor? The panel finish off ...
Dec 12, 2024•47 min•Ep. 224
On today's show, our expert panel of Tom Kerr, Peter Scargill and Jon Harding discusses racing's £3bn betting black hole that emerged last week, what caused it, what it means for the sport and what can be done about it. Also on the agenda is Jonbon v Energumene, Hong Kong International Races, the BHA's new acting CEO and a row over female facilities in weighing rooms.
Dec 09, 2024•41 min•Ep. 223
Host James Stevens is joined by David Jennings, Robbie Wilders and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the big-race action at Sandown and Aintree this weekend. In the main part of the show, the panel preview the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase from Sandown . Last year's winner Jonbon is back to defend his crown. The team also look at 3 races from Aintree including the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences. The panel finish off by providing their weekend NAPs.
Dec 05, 2024•42 min•Ep. 222
Host James Stevens is joined by Graeme Rodway, Jonny Pearson and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the big-race action at Newbury and Newcastle this weekend. In the main part of the show, the panel preview the Coral Gold Cup, Newbury's flagship race over jumps in which a field of 14 is set to go to post. The Fighting Fifth Hurdle also comes under scrutiny, but who do our team fancy to win the Grade 1 showdown at Newcastle? The panel finish off by providing their weekend NAPs....
Nov 28, 2024•43 min•Ep. 221
Did the John Durkan mark a changing of the guard in the staying chase division? Has Britain still got a realistic Gold Cup hope? And can Constitution Hill ever recapture his former brilliance after another setback? To discuss all these big stories and lots more join Racing Post editor Tom Kerr and Richard Forristal, Lewis Porteous and Liam Headd.
Nov 25, 2024•38 min•Ep. 220
Host James Stevens is joined by David Jennings, Robbie Wilders and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the big-race action at Ascot and Haydock this weekend. In the main part of the show, the panel discuss the Betfair Chase, in which nine go to post including favourite Grey Dawning. Saturday's other ITV races from Ascot and Haydock also come under the microscope - but who do our team fancy to win the Grade 1 showdown at Haydock plus exciting Graded events and competitive handicaps? The panel wrap u...
Nov 21, 2024•59 min•Ep. 219
Lee Mottershead, Chris Cook and James Stevens examine the potential significance of the new David Power Jockeys' Cup, which kicked off at a Cheltenham November meeting that delivered a famous win for Paul Nicholls but ended in desperately sad fashion. The panel reflects on all that happened over the three days. Alphonse Le Grande is once again the Cesarewitch winner after being reinstated following an appeals panel review of the whip disqualification that led to Manxman being awarded first place...
Nov 18, 2024•40 min•Ep. 218
Host James Stevens is joined by Keith Melrose, Tom Park and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the action at Cheltenham this weekend. In the main part of the show, the panel discuss Friday's Shloer Chase, for which Jonbon is hot favourite, plus Sunday's Greatwood Hurdle. Saturday's ITV races at Cheltenham and Newcastle also come under scrutiny - but who do our team fancy to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the other televised events? As is customary, the panel wrap up by providing their weekend NA...
Nov 14, 2024•59 min•Ep. 217
Dave Lowe hosts the Front Page this week where he is joined by France correspondent Scott Burton and deputy industry editor Peter Scargill to discuss the big topics of the week. The panel start by reflecting on the weekend’s racing and the surprise plan to target the Stayers’ Hurdle with Vauban, Scott provides an eye-witness account of the march by France’s racing industry through the streets of Paris to protest a rise in betting tax, and they finish with what lessons British racing must learn f...
Nov 11, 2024•41 min•Ep. 216
James Stevens is joined by Keith Melrose, Robbie Wilders and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the action at Wincanton, Aintree and Doncaster this weekend. In the first part of the show, the panel analyse Wincanton, where the Badger Beers Chase is one of the early jumps season highlights. The team then assesses the action at Aintree and Doncaster, where there are some competitive handicaps, including the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the National fences.
Nov 07, 2024•56 min•Ep. 215
Join Maddy Playle, James Stevens and Richard Forristal to discuss an important week in the racing world. The panel pay tribute to legendary writer and broadcaster Alastair Down, who passed away a week after the Cheltenham press room was named after him. Richard unpacks a disaster at Del Mar for City Of Troy, whose Breeders' Cup Classic bid almost instantaneously went up in smoke. James spells out what Labour's budget means for the sport and explains why smaller trainers, owners and breeders are ...
Nov 04, 2024•38 min•Ep. 214
