The Irish Field Podcasts

It’s Betfred Derby week at Epsom and The Racing Edge Podcast team of Mark Boylan, Anne Marie Duff and Amy Lynam are on hand to preview each of the three Group 1s down for decision. Fresh from a stunning 1-2-3 in Sunday’s French Derby, Aidan O’Brien has a strong hand in both classics, as well as in the revamped Coolmore Coronation Cup. Following the news that popular Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness has been retired at the age of 11, his owner Declan Landy is a special guest on the podcast to reflect on the stalwart performer’s career. The team also react to the recent veterinary and ground-related cases involving the IHRB.

Tune in to this week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast for a comprehensive rundown of all the Group 1 action on Tattersalls Irish Guineas weekend at the Curragh, with Mark Boylan, Anne Marie Duff, and Mark Costello joined by Sarah Lynam for analysis. Podcast listeners would have been in clover if following the advice of Amy Lynam last week when Headmaster dramatically got on top close home to win Saturday’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap at 14/1 under Dylan Browne McMonagle. Sarah astutely bought the blue-blooded four-year-old for 48,000gns last October and plays a key role in his training with her father, Eddie. The RTÉ Radio and TG4 pundit weighs in on all the major talking points from the Curragh, which saw Aidan O’Brien complete a big-race double in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas courtesy of Gstaad and Precise. Can Saturday’s winner reverse Newmarket form with Bow Echo in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot? Is Precise a likely stayer if stepping up in trip for the Betfred Oaks at Epsom? The team each nominates beaten eye-catchers from the Curragh and looks forward to the French Derby this weekend, a Group 1 seemingly likely to feature the well-touted Constitution River.

Karl Burke has become a mainstay in major Irish prizes in recent seasons, and the top trainer joins this week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast to discuss his team for Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend at the Curragh. Alparslan, a winner at last year’s Irish Champions Festival, is on course to tackle Gstaad in Saturday’s Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, while Burke is set to run a long-absent dark horse against a strong Ballydoyle squad in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday. The Irish Field’s Mark Boylan is joined by Anne Marie Duff and Amy Lynam to talk through the key weekend action from Ireland and Britain, including Royal Ascot Trials Day eye-catchers from Naas and what’s next for Albert Einstein. The team weigh in on a big Grade 1 success for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend at Auteuil on Sunday with Selma De Vary. Amy Lynam responds to a story in last week’s paper regarding a need to improve racecourse offerings to owners, while the trio also react to reports of horses being moved by Amo Racing from Robson De Aguiar. There is also a preview of the three Group 1 races upcoming at the Curragh this weekend.

There were almost back-to-back fireworks at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale in France last weekend for Mick Murphy and Sarah O’Connell’s Longways Stables, as they supplied two of the sale’s top six lots sold in quick succession. Murphy joins this week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast to discuss how he and his partner turned a 98,000gns yearling by Blue Point into an €800,000 breeze-up colt, as well as delivering a terrific return with a Showcasing filly, who realised €625,000 from a yearling purchase price of 140,000gns. The Longways team sold four horses for a total of €1.74 million at a sale that still presented its share of challenges for the vendors in the market. Elsewhere on the podcast, Mark Boylan is joined by Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff to look back on the classic trial action of the past week at Chester, Lingfield and Leopardstown. Aidan O’Brien’s French 1000 Guineas victory with the unbeaten Diamond Necklace was also the subject of discussion, as were novel initiatives to attract more racegoers to the track and previews of the Dante and Lockinge Stakes later this week.

After one of the busiest spells of top-class racing in the calendar, The Racing Edge Podcast is back to review the main talking points from the Punchestown Festival, Guineas weekend at Newmarket and a host of other eye-catching performances. Fresh from capturing the Betfred 1000 Guineas on the impressive True Love, Wayne Lordan is our special guest. A key part of the Ballydoyle team, he is now a three-time winner of the fillies’ classic and will be in classic trial action this week for the world-leading operation. Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff join Mark Boylan to give their performances of the week from Punchestown, names for the notebook and predictions for the 2026/’27 season.

Get set for the 2026 Punchestown Festival with The Racing Edge Podcast’s special episode previewing all 12 Grade 1 races this week. Will Marine Nationale end his season on a high against Il Etait Temps and Majborough in the William Hill Champion Chase? Who will reign supreme in the latest rematch between staying giants Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File? Can anyone stop Lossiemouth from winning her first Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown? All the key questions are discussed with host Mark Boylan and regular analysts Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff. The team also take a brief look forward to this weekend’s 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, and Anne Marie gives her selection for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mark Costello pays tribute to some popular racing names, who have sadly passed away in the last seven days, including John Fleming, Liam Browne and Caroline Bleahen. Those gearing up for the Punchestown Festival can receive three Punchestown tips from The Irish Field team each day of the meeting by signing up to The Punchestown Edge via our website. This premium email service costs just €4.99 for the week, and you can find more details here - https://www.theirishfield.ie/racing/news/get-the-punchestown-edge-911472

The countdown is on ahead of the 2026 Punchestown Festival, and trainer Barry Connell joins this week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast to discuss Marine Nationale’s bid for back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase. Last season’s runaway winner missed the Cheltenham Festival this term, but Connell provides up an upbeat bulletin before his stable star’s anticipated clash with Il Etait Temps next week. He also gives a bumper horse to follow ahead of a possible debut at Kilbeggan this week, and updates listeners on William Munny and Eachtotheirown. Mark Boylan is joined by Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff to look back on the classic trial action of the past week, with Anne Marie believing there is value to be found in the 2000 Guineas ante-post market. Mark Costello offers a detailed assessment of the picture surrounding Thurles Racecourse, hot on the heels of news that the track will remain open for the coming year. There are also reflections on trade at last week’s Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. The team nominate their usual horses to follow from the week and look ahead to Saturday’s quality card at Sandown. Those gearing up for next week’s Grade 1 action can receive three Punchestown tips from The Irish Field team each day of the Festival by signing up to The Punchestown Edge via our website. This premium email service costs just €4.99 for the week, and you can find more details here - https://www.theirishfield.ie/racing/news/get-the-punchestown-edge-911472.

No Irish rider recorded more winners at the 2026 Randox Grand National Festival than J.J. Slevin, who joins this week’s episode of The Racing Edge Podcast - looking back at a massive three days at Aintree. Home By The Lee and Zeus Power ensured the leading rider visited the winner’s enclosure on Merseyside last week, and he also was just touched off in second on Solness in an absorbing Melling Chase battle with Grey Dawning. Later in the show, Mark Boylan is joined by Anne Marie Duff and Amy Lynam to reflect on I Am Maximus’ historic win off top-weight in the feature - Willie Mullins’ third consecutive win the race. What are his prospects of emulating Red Rum with a third straight Grand National triumph next year? Amy was on reporting duty at Leopardstown for the track’s classic trial card on Sunday and gives her assessment of the meeting, which included a notable defeat for the early Betfred Derby favourite Pierre Bonnard. As always, the team round off the show by highlighting their horses to follow for the week.

After a memorable BoyleSports Irish Grand National weekend at Fairyhouse, The Racing Edge Podcast team welcome trainer Andy Slattery to this week's episode - fresh from winning his first Grade 1 with Fleur In The Park in the WillowWarm Gold Cup. There cannot be many more in-form stables in Ireland or Britain right now than the family-run operation in Co Tipperary, and Slattery also has a smart team of flat horses to look forward to for the summer. Podcast regulars Mark Boylan, Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff review the feature races from Fairyhouse, including a sensational Irish Grand National success for Soldier In Milan. Ahead of the Randox Grand National Festival later this week, the team also give their selections for the Aintree feature, as well as some names to note in the senior Grade 1 events.Listeners of The Racing Edge Podcast have the chance to win a The Irish Field-branded Aquatec gilet by completing a survey on their feedback to the podcast series. To complete the short survey and be in with a chance to win the gilet, click here - https://form.jotform.com/260344488360358