The BHA Podcast

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.

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You can find all published handicap ratings for horses running in Britain on the BHA website, updated each week on Tuesday morning: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/official-ratings/ratings-database

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Mission statement for BHA handicapping

Fair
Every horse will be treated fairly and with the highest level of integrity at all times, strictly on the merit of its form and using good handicapping practice.

Transparent
BHA Handicapping will be accessible and understandable for all customers. BHA methodology will be published, demystified and actively communicated.

Accountable
BHA Handicappers will be available to participants to provide logical and reasonable explanations for their decisions via the appropriate channels at the appropriate time.

Consistent
Using robust data analysis, the BHA Handicapping department will monitor and publish its work to ensure a consistent and equitable approach for all customer groups.

Progressive
The BHA Handicapping department will conduct research and analysis to ensure its policies are optimal in achieving a fair outcome for horses racing in British handicaps.
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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.

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Mission statement for BHA handicapping

Fair
Every horse will be treated fairly and with the highest level of integrity at all times, strictly on the merit of its form and using good handicapping practice.

Transparent
BHA Handicapping will be accessible and understandable for all customers. BHA methodology will be published, demystified and actively communicated.

Accountable
BHA Handicappers will be available to participants to provide logical and reasonable explanations for their decisions via the appropriate channels at the appropriate time.

Consistent
Using robust data analysis, the BHA Handicapping department will monitor and publish its work to ensure a consistent and equitable approach for all customer groups.

Progressive
The BHA Handicapping department will conduct research and analysis to ensure its policies are optimal in achieving a fair outcome for horses racing in British handicaps.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 what can be done?
Finally, the BHA's top vet James Given gives the latest on the spread of equine flu and the steps being taken to protect the sport.

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Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior heads 2025/26 Anglo-Irish Jumps Classification
Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Gaelic Warrior has finished top of the end-of-season Anglo Irish Jumps Classification for 2025/26 with a rating of 180.
The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old lined up in the Gold Cup for the first time this year and produced a blistering performance to defeat Jango Baie (168) by eight lengths under Paul Townend.
He followed that up with an even more comprehensive victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup, getting the better of Fact To File (173) – who had previously beaten Gaelic Warrior in February’s Irish Gold Cup – by 26 lengths.
His other efforts last season saw him involved in two narrow finishes, landing the John Durkan by a neck first-time-out and then finishing third in a remarkable renewal of the King George VI Chase won by The Jukebox Man (168), with the first four home separated by just half a length.

Full info: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/gold-cup-winner-gaelic-warrior-heads-2025-26-anglo-irish-jumps-classification/

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RaceWISE: British racing’s anonymous reporting service
RaceWISE is a secure way for anyone with concerns about potential wrongdoing in the sport to report these to the BHA, without having to reveal their identity.
This may include possible integrity threats, both on and off the racecourse, the treatment and welfare of horses and humans, safeguarding and equality concerns, or anything else related to British racing that may not feel or look quite right and could damage the reputation of the sport.

Find out how to get in touch: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/racewise

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Equine flu update: Only horses from licensed training yards to be permitted raceday access
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed today that from Wednesday 20 May, only horses from licensed training yards will be permitted to enter racecourse property on raceday.
With a continued rise in reported equine influenza cases in the non-thoroughbred population, this is a precautionary measure to prevent any mixing between the thoroughbred racing herd and horses and ponies from yards that are not licensed.
This decision will result in the abandonment of all scheduled Hunter Chase races from 20 May, including the Hunter Chase evening at Stratford Racecourse on 29 May.
It also means the cancellation of other equine events due to take place on British racecourses, including Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) parades and activities such as petting farms and pony rides as part of family fun day entertainment.

Latest update: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/equine-flu-update-only-horses-from-licensed-training-yards-to-be-permitted-raceday-access/
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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.

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What is Racing Together Community Week?

British racing’s nationwide week of employee volunteering on 18-24 May 2026.
Initiated to collectively inspire and showcase racing creating impact in their communities through volunteering
Volunteering activity ranges from skills sharing, to careers days, environmental clean-ups and more
This year it is also an opportunity to talk about British racing’s year-round community and social impact
The optional theme is ‘tackling loneliness’. It is designed to support those racing organisations that would like to align to an industry-wide theme.
It’s a nationwide initiative, supported via the website and social media, tag @racingtogether
Over 90 racing organisations signed up to give back to their local communities through volunteering 700+ hours in 2025. Watch a previous round up video below.

More information: https://www.racingtogether.co.uk/racing-together-community-week/
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