The Irish Field Podcasts

Get ready for the biggest weekend in the Irish flat racing calendar with The Racing Edge Podcast’s Irish Champions Festival 2026 preview. Mark Boylan is joined by Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff to run through each of the seven Group 1 contests at Leopardstown and the Curragh this Saturday and Sunday. The panel nominate their best bets, favourites to oppose and value outsiders to note, while also looking back at last week’s high-class action at ParisLongchamp, Kentucky Downs and Haydock. The Irish Field editor Mark Costello speaks to Leopardstown boss Mark Clayton ahead of his first Irish Champions Festival in charge at the Co Dublin track.

Mark Boylan visits Ballydoyle to hear directly from Aidan O’Brien about the trainer’s Irish Champions Festival running plans. Mark also speaks to Curragh Racecourse CEO Brian Kavanagh about the upcoming big meeting. Mark Costello chips in with his thoughts on some of last weekend’s big races and the team finish with a preview of next weekend’s racing highlights including the Haydock Sprint Cup, the September Stakes at Kempton and a couple of multi-million dollar races with Irish runners in the USA.

This Saturday at the Curragh marks one of the track’s most poignant fixtures in the calendar when the Pat Smullen Raceday in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland takes place, coinciding with the Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle. On this week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast (by The Irish Field), Frances Crowley provides an update on the impact that funds raised in her late husband’s name have been making in medical circles, while looking ahead to the activities upcoming this weekend. Following a top-class period of racing at York’s Ebor Festival, Mark Boylan is joined by Mark Costello to discuss all the Group 1 action and main talking points from the week. A sensational five-timer for Dylan Browne McMonagle at the Curragh and top-level prizes in France are also analysed, before the team nominate a horse to follow each. If you would like to support the efforts of Cancer Trials Ireland in the name of Pat Smullen, please visit www.cancertrials.ie/pat-smullen Alternatively, if you would like to make a specific donation to the fundraising efforts of one particular rider competing in Saturday’s charity race, you can find details of each rider on https://patsmullenraceday.enthuse.com/profile

No female rider in Ireland has ridden more winners on the flat this season than Orla Tynan, who joins The Racing Edge Podcast (by The Irish Field) this week after recording her first Curragh success on Sunday aboard Liberation Date. The Co Tipperary teenager has ridden nine winners in the calendar year and seven since the turf season got underway, continuing to make a bright impression in the apprentice ranks. It’s Sky Bet Ebor Festival week at York and the usual team of Mark Boylan, Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff are on hand to preview the main races from a sensational few days on the Knavesmire. There is also a review of Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois action in France, and a look ahead to what should be a spectacular Irish Champions Festival on home soil next month.

Former Grade 1 winner Asterion Forlonge took the Dublin Horse Show by storm last weekend when capturing the Racehorse to Riding Horse crown with talented horsewoman Clare Ricketts, who tells the popular grey’s story on this week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast (by The Irish Field). The Co Carlow-based Ricketts has been steeped in horses throughout her life but got an immense thrill from her victory at the RDS. She is also responsible for looking after the mighty Douvan in his retirement from racing and gives an insight into the options open to racehorses once their careers on the track have come to an end. Mark Boylan is joined by Anne Marie Duff and Mark Costello to discuss Group 1 action from Ireland and France over the weekend, including Sunday’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes won by Sun Goddess. Bow Echo’s upcoming Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques Le Marois test on Sunday is previewed and the panel weigh up how the 2026 Irish Champions Festival could be key to Aidan O’Brien’s chances of breaking the world record for most Group 1/Grade 1 wins in a year.

This week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast (by The Irish Field) is jam-packed, as Mark Boylan, Anne Marie Duff, and Amy Lynam dive into the Galway Festival and Qatar Goodwood Festival’s main races and talking points. Feature-race winners are analysed, as well as plenty of discussion surrounding racing’s stories away from the track over the past week. Ahead of Sunday’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, the panel gives their early selections for the Group 1 contest, while also nominating their eye-catchers from the past week at Ballybrit.