Racing Post

A day of drama at Ascot, spiky words from a top Irish jumps figure and the latest chapter in the Constitution Hill saga are all covered in this week's edition of The Front Page.
Jonbon had a day to remember in the Clarence House Chase but he triumphed under James Bowen, not Harry Cobden, after JP McManus's next retained rider was injured in an earlier race. 
Lee Mottershead, Chris Cook and Jonathan Harding look at what the win means for Jonbon and debate some dismissive comments from Marine Nationale's owner-trainer Barry Connell. 
They also ask what the future holds for Cobden and Mark Walsh, who has been McManus's principal rider in Ireland.
As well as reflecting on the other weekend action, which included a devastating victory by Old Park Star, we examine a run of odds-on defeats for Willie Mullins-trained horses, a new Flat target for Constitution Hill and the ongoing stand-off between BHA chair Lord Allen and Britain's racecourses.

Harry Cobden has been appointed JP McManus's new retained jockey in major racing transfer news.
That is the main topic on this week's The Front Page, as the breaking news is discussed with James Stevens, Maddy Playle and Liam Headd.
The panel also look back on the weekend racing and how last week's cold weather has been detrimental to the sport as well as latest entries for the Cheltenham Festival.
There are concerns for racing's future and Racing Post Editor Tom Kerr looks at the latest challenge facing BHA chair Lord Allen.

James Stevens is joined by Liam Headd, Keith Melrose and Unibet’s Ed Nicholson to dive into the weekend action, dissecting the ITV racing including the Classic Chase at Warwick and a top Saturday card at Kempton, including the Lanzarote Hurdle.
With the weather playing its part, the team assess the key races as we hope for a competitive weekend of jumps racing.

Are attendances set to bounce back at the Cheltenham Festival? That is just one of the questions examined in this week's edition of The Front Page.

Hopes are high that falling crowd numbers at the sport's biggest meeting could become a thing of the past after Cheltenham's New Year's Day fixture was a sellout for the first time in its history. With attendances having also risen at Kempton, Ascot, Leopardstown and elsewhere across the Christmas and new year period, the sport is enjoying a positive start to 2026.

Lee Mottershead, Lewis Porteous and Scott Burton look at that recent development and also discuss Betfred's decision to so far reject a new media rights deal with a collection of British racecourses. The team debate what that means and consider a move by campaigners to persuade government that gambling advertising should be banned.

In another packed edition, Lee, Lewis and Scott also salute Billy Loughnane after the young riding sensation set a major new record.