Racing Post | Listen to Podcasts On Demand Free | TuneIn (2024)

This week's edition of The Front Page is a Grand National special as Lee Mottershead, Peter Scargill and Maddy Playle combine for a comprehensive debrief of the sport's greatest race.As well as analysing I Am Maximus's runaway success, the team debates the strengths and weaknesses of this year's contest and assesses the Grand National's future in light of a renewal in which 21 horses finished and, thankfully, none fell.The programme also looks back at the rest of the Aintree festival and looks forward to the final two weeks of a gripping trainers' championship battle. On top of all that, there are even horses to follow for the new Flat season.

Duration:00:49:55

Sam Hart is joined by Graeme Rodway, Jonny Pearson and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the action on Grand National day at Aintree.In the first part of the show the panel focus on the big one, the Grand National. The team analyse the chance of the current favourite Corach Rambler, as well as some of the others towards the top of the market. They also provide their 1-2-3s for the National and mention a few outsiders in the field.The second part of the show looks at the rest of the excellent Aintree card. The panel have a couple of strong 8-1 fancies for the card.To finish, the team give the rest of their tips for this weekend's racing, before giving their NAPs.

Duration:00:58:07

We lead with some breaking news on a packed show this week in which Racing Post editor Tom Kerr is joined by West Country correspondent James Stevens and deputy Ireland editor David Jennings.Kicking us off is a breaking story about Jockey Club prize-money cuts following a fall in Cheltenham Festival attendance that compounded the impact of affordability checks on betting turnover. We look at what it means for racing and where the sport goes from here.The panel then turns to Aintree and Saturday's Grand National, with all the big talking points assessed including the paucity of the home challenge, impact of likely heavy ground, an enthralling trainers' title race and the panel's tips for the National.Finally, we look at a couple of sad stories reminding us of the dangers jockeys face every day. Stefano Cherchi, just 23, tragically died following a fall in Canberra, while Aidan Coleman announced his retirement aged 35 following serious knee injuries.Stefano Cherchi fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stenafo-cherchiThe Graham Lee Racing Club: https://thegoodracing.co/product/graham-lee-racing-club/

Duration:00:45:30

Sam Hart is joined by Robbie Wilders, Matt Gardner and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the action at Kelso and Kempton this weekend.In the first part of the show the panel analyses Kelso's ITV card which will hopefully get the go ahead with inspections sceduled for the Scottish track. Ed Nicholson is very keen on the chances of a 14-1 shot on the card.The second part of the show switches attention to the Polytrack at Kempton, where there are three competitive contests to get stuck into, including the Queen's Prize Handicap for the stayers.To finish, the team provide their other weekend racing tips, look ahead to next weeks Grand National, before giving their weekend NAPs.

Duration:00:45:08

Get the latest golf betting tips for the upcoming Valero Texas Open & LIV Golf Miami, as James Mason and Steve Palmer take a look at this week’s tournaments.The team also take a look back at the Houston Open and Indian Open from last week, analysing who stood out, as well as who underperformed. Steve gives us his best predictions for this week's tournaments, including other selections who could be worth backing in the markets.

Duration:00:38:11

Reflections on a huge day of top international competition, analysis of grim financial figures for British racing and discussions on three important regulatory decisions are on the table in this week's edition of The Front Page.Scott Burton is back home after working at Meydan, where there were some stunning winning performances on World Cup night but also another case of Auguste Rodin completely failing to fire. The panel looks at what that means for his reputation and what lessons can be learned from the Dubai action.The Flat season might be kicking into gear but the jumps campaign is anything but over, with thoughts now turning to the Randox Grand National. Defending champion and ante-post favourite Corach Rambler is set to be ridden as usual by Derek Fox after Lucinda Russell's jockey survived a meeting of the BHA's Whip Review Committee. We look at Fox's case and those relating to Tony Martin and Gary Sanderson.The programme ends with Bill Barber's revelation that online betting turnover on racing fell by the equivalent of £1.75 billion in the last financial year, wiping tens of millions from the sport's media rights deals. The team argues that the scary figures hammer home why the government has to think again about affordability checks.

Duration:00:45:29

Join Jack Reeve and Mark Langdon as they return for the latest episode of Bets Club, giving you the best bets and predictions for this week's Premier League fixtures and more.The international break is behind us & the run in starts now as the team kick off by previewing the big match, Manchester City vs Arsenal. Can Arsenal finally turn the tide at the Etihad?Mark then gives his best bets in all of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, including Aston Villa hosting local rivals Wolves..Dan Childs returns with his best bets in the EFL, giving us lots of analysis on this week’s team in focus, Colchester United.Follow Mark as he takes a look at the best multiple offers this game week too, as the team create a bet builder, a treble and give their other best bets.

Duration:00:44:35

Sam Hart is joined by David Jennings, Graeme Rodway and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the action at Musselburgh and Haydock this weekend.In the first part of the show the panel analyses Musselburgh's opening flat meeting of the season. The competitive Queen's Cup is the feature, and David Jennings is strong on the chances of one of the runners.The second part of the show switches attention back to the jumps at Haydock, where there are three competitive contests to get stuck into, including the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase Finale.To finish, the team provide their other weekend racing tips before giving their weekend NAPs.

Duration:00:51:42

Further reflections on the sport's top jumps meeting, first thoughts on the new Flat season and a footballer no longer wanted on Britain's racecourses are the stories up for discussion in this week's edition of The Front Page.Jonathan Harding looks at Chris Cook's special report on a Cheltenham Festival that delivered plenty of excellent racing but also considerable criticism and shrunken attendances. The panel discusses what went wrong and where improvements could be made.Lee Mottershead examines last week's news that Championship footballer Ashley Barnes has been indefinitely disqualified by the BHA as part of investigations into the controversial Hillsin affair.Maddy Playle wraps up the programme by examining the opening week's action in the British and Irish turf Flat campaigns and reflects on impressive starts for Silvestre de Sousa and David Egan.

Duration:00:38:49

Sam Hart is joined by Keith Melrose, Jonny Pearson and Unibet's Brett Williams to preview the action at Doncaster and Newbury this weekend.In the first part of the show the panel assesses the first British Flat turf meeting of 2024 at Doncaster. The Lincoln is the feature and a strong field, including the winners of the last two runnings, has been assembled.The second part of the show switches attention back to the jumps action at Newbury, with three competitive races to get stuck into.To finish, the team provide their other weekend racing tips before giving their weekend NAPs.

Duration:00:49:14

The Cheltenham Festival takes the spotlight on this week's show with James Stevens, Paul Kealy and David Jennings reviewing all the big events of the week.The panel analyse the big performances of the week from Galopin Des Champs, Ballyburn and Lossiemouth and assess their futures.Cheltenham's crowd dropped during the week and David and Paul share their suggestions on how to improve the meeting.The dominance of Willie Mullins was a big talking point and David charts his rise to the pinnacle of jump racing - and what it means for the wider sport.David, Paul and James also give their best ante-post bet for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Duration:00:53:51

Sam Hart is joined by Graeme Rodway, Robbie Wilders and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to provide their best bets for the 2024 Cheltenham FestivalLet us know in the comments who your best bet is for the Cheltenham Festival 2024.

Duration:00:23:14

Sam Hart is joined by Keith Melrose, Tom Park and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the action at Sandown and Wolverhampton this weekend.In the first part of the show, the team preview the action at Sandown. The highlight on the card at the Esher track is the Imperial Cup. Will Bad finally get his head in front in one of these big handicap hurdles?The second part of the show analyses the card at Wolverhampton. The Flat season is just around the corner, and the Lincoln Trial Handicap could give us a few big-field handicap clues for the 2024 season.To finish, the team talk all things Cheltenham Festival before giving their weekend NAPs.

Duration:00:48:15

Join the Front Page panel for a gallop through all the big talking points ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, including the breaking news that Constitution Hill will miss the Champion Hudle.Tom Kerr, Maddy Playle and Peter Scargill also discuss the fallout from last week's key parliamentary debate on affordability checks, and the news of redundancies at Saeed Bin Suroor's Newmarket stables.-------🚨 FREE ACCESS EVENT 🚨 Log in to your Racing Post account to access free premium tips, news and race replays for a limited time only (no payment details required).

Duration:00:44:11

Sam Hart is joined by David Jennings, Maddy Playle and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the action at Newbury, Doncaster & Kelso this weekend.In the first part of the show, the team preview the action at Newbury and Doncaster. Newbury hosts the Greatwood Gold Cup, while up at Doncaster there is a competitive mares' Novice hurdle to dissect.The second part of the show analyses the card at Kelso. The Morebattle Hurdle is one of the highlights on the card up in Scotland where Nicky Henderson has the current favourite in Under Control. The panel discuss the current stable form as well as an update on Henderson's star Constitution Hill.To finish, the team provide their other weekend racing tips before giving their weekend NAPs.

Duration:00:39:49

In this special edition of The Front Page we reveal how we exposed an illegal bookmaker operating in British racing that claims over 1,000 customers and is getting set for a "ridiculously busy" Cheltenham Festival.Lee Mottershead tells Tom Kerr how he spoke to the bookmaker's 'commercial manager', posing as a prospective customer, and heard how affordability checks and account restrictions were causing the illegal operator's business to boom.They're joined by Jon Harding and Maddy Playle to discuss the significance of the story and what it tells us about the betting black market. It comes as MPs are set to debate affordability checks in Westminster on Monday evening.The panel also discusses the Grand National weights and shares the one thing they'd change about the Cheltenham Festival.

Duration:00:30:03

Sam Hart is joined by Robbie Wilders, Jonny Pearson and Unibet's Brett Williams to preview the action at Kempton, Newcastle and Southwell this weekend.The first part of the show analyses the card at Kempton. Grade 2 galore on the card at Kempton with the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle, Pendil Novices' Chase and the Dovecote Novices' Hurdle. We also have the competitive Coral Trophy Handicap Chase to get stuck into.In the second part of the show, the team preview the action at Newcastle and Southwell. Newcastle hosts the Eider Handicap Chase, while on the Flat at Southwell the feature is the Group 3 Winter Derby Stakes.To finish, the team provide their other weekend racing tips before giving their weekend NAPs.

Duration:00:40:14

Tickets that are selling slower than usual, races being run faster than usual and a European snub for York and Ascot are the subjects up for debate in this week’s edition of The Front Page.James Stevens asks why the Cheltenham Festival is proving a harder sell than in previous years, with Gold Cup day not yet sold out and the meeting’s first three days in danger of suffering another attendance drop.Lee Mottershead looks at claims made by Harry Fry and Aidan Coleman that British jumps races are being run at too fast a pace, producing unappetising contests in which the last man standing wins. Both men believe the sport needs a culture change.The BHA wanted to change the City of York Stakes and British Champions Long Distance Cup from Group 2 to Group 1 status. Maddy Playle examines the European Pattern Committee’s failure to support the proposals and the wider fear over a reduction in quality of the top European prizes.

Duration:00:40:48

Sam Hart is joined by David Jennings, Matt Gardner and Unibet's Ed Nicholson to preview the action at Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton this weekend.The first part of the show analyses the card at Ascot. L'Homme Presse, one of the leading British contenders for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, heads the market for the Grade 1 Ascot Chase, but does Venetia Williams current form worry the panel?In the second part of the show, the team preview the action at Haydock and Wincanton. Haydock hosts its Grand National Trial, while Wincanton's feature is the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle.To finish, the team provide their other weekend racing tips before giving their weekend NAPs.

Duration:00:50:40

Two huge punting festivals and two huge issues for punters exercise the panel on this week's edition of The Front Page.Maddy Playle gets the ball rolling by assessing the weekend's top performances and particularly Shishkin's Newbury success. Can he now win the Cheltenham Gold Cup? And why were only 5,000 people at Newbury? Both questions are tackled in depth.Lee Mottershead then highlights his latest Monday column, which criticised overzealous bookmaker restrictions. He argues these must be sending racing fans to the black market. Affordability checks are already doing exactly that, a point that will no doubt be raised at the key Westminster Hall debate later this month. We have the latest on that as well.Peter Scargill wraps things up by leading debate on the Grand National entries and asking a question that will exercise plenty of minds between now and the great race - how small will the British contingent be?

Duration:00:40:15