The Irish Field Podcasts

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

With Cheltenham's November Meeting and the Navan Racing Festival on the horizon, it really feels like the National Hunt season is ratcheting up another gear this weekend. Mark Boylan, Mark Costello and Anne Marie Duff are on hand to discuss the big results and talking points of the last week in racing, as well as looking forward to the main jumping action this weekend. The team also discuss British and Irish racing's promotion in light of the Racing Blogger's success down under in recent weeks, and Rachael Blackmore's new appointment with The Jockey Club.