The BHA Podcast

The LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings have been updated today, with Ombudsman and Ka Ying Rising sharing top billing on a rating on 131. BHA's Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardiner-Hill plays a leading role in compiling the global rankings and sat down with us to explain the thinking behind the ratings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special episode of The BHA Podcast, host Nick Lightfoot is joined by the BHA's Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Greg Swift, to reflect on the Gambling Commission's announcement that it will implement financial risk assessments on punters. It features contributions by Dan Carden MP, Sally Jameson MP, Charlotte Cane MP, Louie French MP, Esther McVey MP and Helen Maguire MP, all...

Constitution River handed Aidan O’Brien a tenth Coral Eclipse, winning by three lengths under Ryan Moore at Sandown Park at the weekend. Here host Tommy Churchyard sat down with the BHA's Head of Handicapping, Dominic Gardiner-Hill, to assess his performance and look ahead to a potentially mouth watering contest in the Juddmonte International in York next month. --- You can find all published hand...

Align The Stars stayed on strongly to take the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate under Daniel Muscutt for trainer Charlie Johnston and owner Tony Farmer on Saturday. Tommy Churchyard sat down with BHA Handicapper Adam Barnes for his assessment of the five-year-old gelding's performance at Newcastle Racecourse.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back after a remarkable Royal Ascot, full of great performances and no little drama. Host Nick Lightfoot looks back on it all with BHA Chief Executive Brant Dunshea and Head of Stewarding Shaun Parker, as well as finding out how the BHA has responded to the extraordinary heatwave in Britain. Michelle Douglas also joins the show to discuss the upcoming 2026 British Horseracing Development Pro...

Ombudsman won the Prince of Wales's Stakes for a second successive year after delivering a memorable performance on the second day of Royal Ascot.  Having had a few days to reflect, we sat down with the BHA's Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardiner-Hill to assess his impressive victory and confirm his new mark following 'the best performance we've seen in the world in 2026.' Hosted on Acast. Se...

Scandinavia battled past Trawlerman for a thrilling victory in the 2026 Gold Cup on the third day of Royal Ascot, handing trainer Aidan O'Brien his 100th success at the meeting. Tommy Churchyard caught up with BHA Handicapper shortly after the race to get his early thoughts on the contest.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could that be his best performance yet? Ombudsman made it back-to-back victories in the Prince of Wales Stakes in impressive fashion under William Buick on the second day of Royal Ascot. We caught up with BHA Handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill to get his immediate reflections on the race, plus an assessment of Bow Echo's success in the St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day.  Hosted on Ac...

Christmas Day cruised to victory under Ronan Whelan in the 247th running of the Betfred Derby on Saturday, handing trainer Aidan O’Brien his 12th success in the British Classic. Bay City Roller and jockey Oisin Murphy landed the Coronation Cup for trainer George Scott earlier in the day while on Friday, Thundering On secured victory in the Betfred Oaks, partnered by Dylan Browne McMonagle for Jose...

With the debate continuing following the decision by the Stewards at Epsom to declare favourite Benvenuto Cellini a non-runner following the Betfred Derby, BHA Chief Executive Brant Dunshea joins host Nick Lightfoot to explain what happened at the start of the world's most famous flat race. === Needless to say, the incident involving the declaration of Benvenuto Cellini as a non-runner in this yea...

Thundering On produced an impressive display to take the Betfred Oaks for jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle and trainer Joseph O'Brien. BHA Handicapper Mark Olley spoke to James Giblett moments after the race for his immediate assessment of the race and took a look ahead to tomorrow's Coronation Cup and Betfred Derby 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ombudsman stormed to victory under jockey William Buick to land the Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes on a glorious evening at Sandown Park last Thursday. Host Tommy Churchill sat down with the BHA's Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardiner-Hill to reflect on the contest and assess his prospects at Royal Ascot in a couple of weeks. ==== You can find all published handicap ratings for horses running...

Night Raider produced a late finish to take the William Hill Temple Stakes on Saturday afternoon, completing a double for jockey Clifford Lee and trainer Karl Burke at Haydock Park. BHA handicapper Chris Nash joined us to discuss the race and rates Night Raider's prospects for Royal Ascot in a few weeks time.  ==== Mission statement for BHA handicapping Fair Every horse will be treated fairly...

In a bumper episode of The BHA Podcast, host Nick Lightfoot is joined by BHA handicappers Martin Greenwood and Michael Harris to reflect on the publication of the Anglo-Irish Jumps Classification and look back on a memorable season. Director of Integrity John Burgess and Media Manager Mark Scully also stop by to discuss online abuse of racing participants, consider the scale of the problem and ask...

Notable Speech’s performance in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury was the joint-best since Frankel won the race in 2012, according to BHA Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardener-Hill.   Hear Dominic’s full reflections on Saturday’s race, plus his view on Notable Speech’s prospects for the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark the start of Racing Together Community Week, we revisit Lucy Gurney's recent interview for The BHA Podcast. Lucy has held roles at the Jockey Club Rooms and Weatherbys, and is currently Community Engagement Manager for Racing Together. She spoke to host Nick Lightfoot about British racing’s nationwide week of employee volunteering and explained how you can get involved. ---- What is R...

BHA Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardiner-Hill joins Tommy Churchyard to dissect Bow Echo’s impressive 2000 Guineas success for George Boughey and Billy Loughnane at Newmarket on Saturday. Dominic also touches on True Love’s win in the 1000 Guineas in the hands of Wayne Lordan. Ratings are updated every Tuesday at https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/official-ratings/ratings-database/ Hos...

The latest BHA Podcast finds host Nick Lightfoot at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile during the Betfred Guineas Festival. As the crowds flock once more to enjoy world class racing at one of British sport’s iconic venues, the threat posed by affordability checks continues to loom large. The BHA’s Director of Communications Greg Swift explains to Nick why this is such a pivotal week. Later, Lucy Gurney stops...

BHA Handicapper Martin Greenwood joins host Tommy Churchyard to provide his take on I Am Maximus’ historic second Grand National success at Aintree on Saturday. Ratings updated every Tuesday: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/official-ratings/ratings-database Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former jockey Barry Geraghty, who won the Grand National in 2003 aboard Monty's Pass, will be joined by fellow weighing room legends Sir Anthony McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Mick Fitzgerald to deliver a briefing to all jockeys riding in the 2026 Randox Grand National. In this excerpt from the latest BHA Podcast, Barry shares his memories of riding in the race and tells us the key messages he'll be passin...

One of the best days of the year is finally here! It's the 2026 Randox Grand National and we've got everything you need to start your morning. BHA CEO Brant Dunshea joins host Nick Lightfoot to run through some of the big recent headlines, before James Given stops by to discuss the BHA's role in keep the equine stars of the show safe and healthy. Meanwhile, on-course at Aintree, Mark Scully speaks...

BHA Head of Handicapping Dominic Gardiner-Hill joins Tommy Churchyard to discuss Urban Lion's victory in a thrilling William Hill Lincoln, handing trainer Jack Channon a memorable double at the Flat season curtain raiser at Doncaster Raceourse.   The ratings are updated every Tuesday at britishhorseracing.com/regulation/official-ratings/ratings-database Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

BHA handicapper Adam Barnes joins Tommy Churchyard to discuss Constitution Hill, who received an official rating following his second Flat win last week. He won in the Virgin Bet Novice Stakes at Kempton Racecourse on Wednesday (25.03.26). • Constitution Hill’s unbeaten start • His new handicap mark • Future prospects on the Flat   The ratings are updated every Tuesday at briti...

In a bumper episode of The BHA Podcast, host Nick Lightfoot looks back on some of the main talking points from the Cheltenham Festival before Richard Wayman stops by to discuss the recently-announced Training Fees Credit Scheme. Finally, Rose Grissell joins the show to expand on the sport's new diversity and inclusion strategy. --- The Training Fees Credit Scheme got underway at @CheltenhamRaces l...

Tommy Churchyard caught up with BHA Handicapper Martin Greenwood to reflect on Gaelic Warrior's emphatic victory in the Boodles Gold Cup on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival last week. The handicap ratings are updated every Tuesday on the BHA website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.