The Irish Field podcasts

In this episode of Bloodlines, Sweat and Tears, the Irish Horse Breeding podcast from Irish Country Living and The Irish Field, host Helen Sharp explores the enduring influence of Thoroughbred blood on Irish sport horse breeding.Long valued for adding stamina, sharpness and athletic refinement, the Thoroughbred has helped shape the success of the modern Irish Sport Horse. But as breeding trends evolve, is that influence changing—and what does it mean for the future?Helen is joined by an expert panel including Dr Alison Corbally, Dr Andrea Ryan, and Chris Ryan of Scarteen House. Together, they discuss the history, practical considerations, and future role of Thoroughbred blood in Irish Sport Horse breeding.A must-listen for breeders, producers and anyone passionate about the evolution of the Irish sport horse, this episode asks a key question: does the next generation still need that famous Thoroughbred edge? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you turn a 25,000gns horse-in-training purchase, rated 75, into a dual listed winner who could yet take on Constitution Hill? On this week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast, Kevin Blake tells the story behind Beset, the winner of Naas’ joint-feature on Sunday. The leading pundit, who wears many hats as a horseman, owner-breeder and race planner, is involved in the partnership behind one of the most improved mares in training. Ahead of Saturday’s Dubai World Cup night, he also gives an update on Joseph O’Brien’s hopes of a winner at Meydan with Al Riffa and Sons And Lovers. The Racing Edge team review the main action from the weekend in Ireland, and discuss a number of talking points from the latest edition of The Irish Field. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trainer Padraig Roche joins The Irish Field team to reflect on the highs and lows of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish Field team share their final thoughts on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jump jockey John Shinnick talks about the joy of riding out his claim, while Mark Boylan reports from Dubai where many racing professionals were stranded following the aerial attacks on Iran Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The recently-turned professional jump jockey joins Mark Costello, Anne Marie Duff and Amy Lynam to discuss the racing week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After seeing his star novice hurdler Heads Up bounce back with a listed victory at Punchestown on Sunday, Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer John McConnell joins The Racing Edge podcast this week to discuss his Cotswolds contender and a host of other topics. Joined by Mark Boylan and Anne Marie Duff from The Irish Field, the panel weigh up whether Jonbon can make it Grade 1 win number 13 in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, as well as counting down to Constitution Hill’s much-talked-out flat debut at Southwell on Friday. Each of the team nominate an Aintree horse to keep an eye on, ahead of this week’s Randox Grand National weights reveal. With a lack of betting pattern monitoring services were highlighted in the aftermath of the recent Redwood Queen case involving Philip and Charles Byrnes, John and Mark look at the current state of play regarding the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board’s bet-tracking operations, as highlighted in The Irish Field this week by columnist Tony Keenan.  Mark and Anne Marie were on The Jockey Club’s Cheltenham press tour around Ireland last week and report some nuggets from their mornings with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. All three discuss whether Britain can put it up to Ireland in the Prestbury Cup this year, following no outright win for the host team in the competition since 2015. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gowran Park manager Eddie Scally joins Mark Costello, Anne Marie Duff and Amy Lynam to discuss the racing week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a breathtaking bank holiday weekend of racing, The Racing Edge team are back to review the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival. Mark Walsh took the meeting by storm and his Grade 1 four-timer is analysed by Mark Boylan, Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff, who are joined this week by special guest Finny Maguire. Widely regarded as one of the top amateur jockeys in Ireland and Britain, Maguire was among the winners at the DRF when partnering Moonverrin to a dramatic win in the Grade 2 Coolmore N.H. Sires Los Angeles Irish EBF Mares Bumper, before jetting across to Kempton on Monday for an impressive bumper winner, trained by Harry Derham. Is Fact To File the answer to the 2026 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup? Where does Galopin Des Champs stand now after his Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup third? Do the panel hold out hope that Marine Nationale can reverse DRF form with Majborough next month? And what are the knock-on implications of Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth’s engaging rematch? All the key questions are discussed in this whistle-stop tour through the main action from one of the biggest weekends in the Irish racing calendar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At a live preview, sponsored by the Tote, Mark Boylan gets the views of David Casey, Rory Delargy, Jamie Codd and Amy Lynam ahead of the two-day Leopardstown meeting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s nearly here! Ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster Dublin Racing Festival, The Racing Edge team preview Leopardstown’s Grade 1 action and are joined by trainer Patrick Harty, whose Irish Panther is one of the leading contenders for the Goffs Irish Arkle.  Trained in partnership with his father Eddie, the 19,000gns bargain buy gave Romeo Coolio an almighty scare at Leopardstown last month and looks one of Ireland’s top novice chasers in training this season. After what was a successful weekend for Irish connections in Britain, the panel also look back on the main races from Cheltenham and Doncaster. Could Jimmy Mangan have a genuine Cheltenham Gold Cup contender on his hands in Spillane’s Tower? Can either of Paul Nolan’s Doncaster winners make a splash at the Festival in March? And what now for the Champion Hurdle division after a most unfortunate injury to Sir Gino? Cheltenham’s dramatic delay to racing due to a hole in the track is discussed, as well as Horse Racing Ireland’s fresh plans to increase Irish prize money levels over the next three years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of The Racing Edge podcast, Gordon Elliott speaks to Mark Boylan about his big guns heading to the Dublin Racing Festival. The 41-time Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer gives the latest on Brighterdaysahead, Romeo Coolio and a bumper horse who he says could surprise a few at Leopardstown. Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff reflect on Jonbon’s win in the Clarence House Chase, and weigh up whether Barry Connell crossed a line when branding the Grade 1 a “Mickey Mouse race”. While final fields were awaiting to be published at the time of recording, the team give their selections for Thursday’s Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran and look forward to Cheltenham Festival Trials Day on Saturday. Does Anne Marie reckon we’ll see the Champion Hurdle winner in action this weekend? Mark Costello also shares some insight from an encouraging day at Thurles, where a strong crowd turned out for a meeting with free admission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HOT on the heels of Harry Cobden being announced as J.P. McManus’ new retained rider for 2026/’27 and beyond, The Racing Edge team are back to discuss the massive jockey appointment for British and Irish racing. What might the knock-on consequences be for Mark Walsh, Nico de Boinville, Willie Mullins’ riders and others? The Irish Field’s Mark Costello and Amy Lynam join Mark Boylan to weigh up the situation in the company of special guest, Irish on-course bookmaker and breeder Brian Keenan. Do the panel fancy the chances of I’ll Sort That following up his Naas Grade 1 win at the Cheltenham Festival for Declan Queally? All the graded action from Ireland last weekend is assessed. Keenan also shares his experience from the betting rings over Christmas and reflects on how on-course trade has been faring. There is extended insight into the ITM Irish Stallion Trail, which takes place later this week, Mark Costello details HRI’s push for extra prize money from the Department of Agriculture, and each of the panelists nominate a horse to follow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a short hiatus over the Christmas period, The Racing Edge team are back to assess the winners and losers from a crucial window of National Hunt action.Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff join Mark Boylan to discuss Gordon Elliott’s potential trainers’ title bid, and look back at the major talking points from his festive bonanza. What race do the team expect Romeo Coolio will line up in at the Cheltenham Festival? Is El Cairos in the driver’s seat for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle? Can Brighterdaysahead turn the tables on Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival?Mark Costello looks into whether there could be value in following some of Willie Mullins beaten Christmas runners, Mark Boylan fancies the champion trainer to win the rescheduled Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Naas on Friday and Anne Marie Duff unearths some big-priced Cheltenham Festival fancies in the ante-post markets.The panel also rank the top three staying chasers in training after a hugely informative few days at Kempton, Leopardstown and Chepstow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish Field team discuss the highs and lows of 2025 on and off the track, plus there’s plenty of tips for the festive period. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Racehorse trainer Lorna Fowler joins The Racing Edge team to chat about lots of racing stories and Colonel Mustard’s chances of a big win this Saturday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anne Marie Duff and Mark Costello join Mark Boylan to recap the week's events in Irish racing, including a superb success for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend in the Tingle Creek at Sandown. Is Il Etait Temps now the standout horse to beat in the two-mile chasing division? Stablemate Majborough was let down by his jumping on his Hilly Way Chase comeback at Cork, and the team weigh up whether he can cope with the demands of a Champion Chase at Cheltenham. Another excellent weekend for Gordon Elliott is discussed too - how far away is he from launching another meaningful Irish National Hunt Trainers' Championship bid? All three members of the team attended Monday evening's annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards and reflect on the big winners from the night, while also highlighting some names who didn't collect a trophy but were deserving of credit for their year's work. With HWPA Broadcaster of the Year Nick Luck the subject of this week's edition of The Big Interview in The Irish Field, the panel each put forward their favourite racing television broadcasting pairings. This weekend's feature handicap chase at Cheltenham has a special new name in the title, being run on Saturday as the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup. The Hunt Family Fund has been established to support charities and causes helping, empowering and inspiring young women following the tragic loss of Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt - the beloved family of popular commentator John Hunt. A silent auction to raise money for the fund is upcoming and full details of the initiative can be found here, as well as links to donate to this excellent cause - https://bidaid.com/auction/HFF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The two-mile hurdling scene is the gift that keeps on giving in terms of drama, and this week The Racing Edge looks back on an eye-opening edition of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. Where do connections of Constitution Hill go now after a third fall in four starts? Mark Boylan and Anne Marie Duff weigh in on the former champion’s future. On home soil, Teahupoo's duel with Ballyburn and Romeo Coolio's dazzling Drinmore victory are put under the microscope, as well as previews of this weekend's major action at Sandown and Cork. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a cracking weekend of National Hunt racing in Britain and Ireland, Mark Boylan, Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff are back to review all the key action from Punchestown and Haydock, as well as weighing in on the week’s talking points. The team look ahead to the upcoming Fairyhouse Winter Festival and a sizzling edition of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, including the return of Constitution Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A hugely informative weekend of action at the Navan Racing Festival and Cheltenham November Meeting is dissected by Mark Boylan, Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff of The Irish Field on the latest episode of The Racing Edge podcast. How did the team assess the chasing debuts of top youngsters Final Demand, Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba? Has the ship sailed on Jonbon winning a Queen Mother Champion Chase after his Shloer defeat? Could this finally be Dan Skelton’s year to win the British trainers’ title? In news, the panel weigh up whether Irish racing really needs another all-weather track, following the announcement that Horse Racing Ireland has finally got the green light to proceed with building a new facility at Tipperary Racecourse. Ahead of a cracking weekend of action at Punchestown and Haydock, the team give their selections for the Morgiana Hurdle, John Durkan Memorial Chase and Betfair Chase, as well as highlighting their latest horses to follow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.