George And Charlie: Off The Bridle

George and Charlie look forward to high-profile assignments for their horses at Doncaster’s Leger Festival. They also give an insight into the yearling sales, plus find out why Scott and Fellowes have just done racing’s equivalent of MTV Cribs! * This episode was recorded on Sept 8th before the latest COVID restrictions were announced.

Classic-winning jockey turned broadcaster Jason Weaver makes for a superb interview in an episode in which we are also joined by York Racecourse boss William Derby. Jason shares his fascinating story in which he switched from being a budding teenage scrum-half in Wales to a star of the saddle. He reflects on a fine career as a jockey, including offering insights on two of his former bosses Luca Cumani and Mark Johnston. Jason also speaks with candour about his second career as a racing presenter and pundit for ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing. In the week of the Ebor Festival, William Derby joins us to talk about how York Racecourse has been facing the challenges of racing behind closed doors. Fellowes and Scott also outline how they’re back in five-a-side football action, plus there’s promising news about the Off The Bridle Podcast Syndicate horses.

Record-breaking trainer Mark Johnston is our very special guest in the latest episode. In a great chat, he takes us inside the mighty organisation and family business that is Johnston Racing. We hear the story of how he came upon the firm’s famous ‘Always Trying’ motto – and also find out which race DVD he’d take to a desert island (he recently appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs and revealed he’d be listening to Fleetwood Mac, while peering at passing boats through a pair of trusty binoculars!). Fittingly, for a man who has sent out 84 Glorious Goodwood winners, there’s plenty of chat about next week’s meeting. George is looking forward to sending a handy-looking team to the Downs, while also in this episode Charlie gets a bit hot under the collar about his beloved Nottingham Forest.

In our latest episode, Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold gives us a superb insight into Sheikh Hamdan’s renowned racing and breeding operation. Angus is a fascinating and amusing guest, reflecting on his 30-plus years working for Shadwell. Among others. he talks about sprint stars Dayjur and Battaash as well as Derby heroes Nashwan and Erhaab. His insights on trainers, including Major Dick Hern, are well worth a listen. Meanwhile, Charlie has just about come down from Cloud 9 after two Royal Ascot victories (Sheikh Hamdan had six, Chas!). And he and George – who also has his team in good order – turn their focus on Epsom’s Classic Saturday. Last but not least, the pair flag up horses from their own stables that they’re looking forward to running in the next couple of weeks. It’s a cracking episode. Can we say that? Ah, sure we can...enjoy!

George and Charlie are back just in time for Royal Ascot. In the latest episode, the pair provide trainers' insights into behind-closed-doors racing and then turn their attention to the Royal meeting. Our partners Fitzdares are going 4/1 for either Scott or Fellowes to saddle a placed horse at Ascot and Charlie shares details of one of his runners that he thinks has a squeak of landing the price. There is news too of the Podcast Syndicate with George updating after the equine version of ‘Charlie Fellowes’ made a promising debut at Wolverhampton. The episode also proves that Charlie is a multi-tasker as he doubles up as babysitter for his three-month-old son and gives us his Royal Ascot nap.

Who better to give us lockdown laughs than Jack Whitehall. The stand-up comic and actor - among his many talents - talks to us about his love of a day at the races and a brief flirtation with racehorse ownership. He also debates whether it's harder to be a jump jockey or a stand-up comedian, while George recalls a day in the dim and distant past when he once served as Jack's driver before a gig in Chester. Meanwhile Charlie laments the loss of De Niros nightclub in Newmarket - and George explains why he recently downed a raw egg. There's also an update on the joys of fatherhood as Charlie talks us through doing the late-night feed! We really enjoyed episode 2 - and we hope you do too.

Welcome back to the start of a new series of George and Charlie: Off The Bridle. For our opening episode we were joined by West Brom striker and racehorse owner Charlie Austin, who was great fun. There’s also all the latest on the Podcast syndicate horses ‘George Scott’ and ‘Charlie Fellowes’. Find out too which one of the lads is adopting a skinhead look for lockdown, while the other grows a debonair moustache. And lots more besides in our opening episode with all participants recorded individually from their offices/homes...we hope you enjoy it!

When our partners Fitzdares suggested an episode in front of a ‘live’ audience at the King’s Head, Dullingham, we thought ‘what a great idea’. So, George, Charlie and Tony mustered a bit of Dutch courage and set out to entertain an assembled throng that included friends, family, owners and others. It was a fun way to finish the very first series of Off The Bridle. So, please enjoy Episode 17. We’ll be back in the spring... until then, have a great Christmas and a happy new year.

He just about got through the birth (sheet-white, sat in the corner with his head down). So, in our latest episode front and centre we hear about George’s early days as a proud parent and proud husband. Indeed, the birth story is one not to miss. Also tune in for traveller’s tales as Charlie looks back on a bold bid for glory in the Melbourne Cup with Prince of Arran.

Episode 15 and we hear about George’s pending paternity and the perils of building a pram. Charlie’s been off to see his favourite band Foals again, while both boys have a rugby World Cup semi-final conundrum. There’s the latest on the Podcast Syndicate – both yearlings are now bought and shares are available! Scott and Fellowes also discuss recent big-race winners and mull over landmark news from the sport. Plus, we also pay our respects to the wonderful Wicklow Brave.

Episode 14 is full of the usual mix of racing chat and good humour, but attentive listeners will note on more than one occasion that Charlie appears to be nibbling away on something in between sentences. Something had to give and, sure enough, while Charlie is in full flow a peanut takes a wrong turn. Happily, father-to-be George is in the room, poised and ready to apply newly-learned skills. Just as importantly, Charlie has been to the sales and bought a yearling for the recently-unveiled Podcast Syndicate, which George is struggling to find a nifty name for. There has also been a fair amount of Guinness (other stouts are available!) consumed (by Fellowes) in recent days with the Sales season having landed in Ireland. Cheers!

We’ve had jockeys, broadcasters but it’s taken until Episode 13 of Off The Bridle for us to persuade another trainer to sit around the table with us. It was worth the wait! Robert Cowell proved to be an excellent guest with insights and advice. Plus, he happily joined in with George’s jibes about Charlie’s racing attire! Anyway, we think it’s the best episode we’ve done in a while - but we’ll let you be the judges of that. Enjoy!

All those mornings waiting on the Hill for your horses leave plenty of time for thinking for trainers... and at this time of the year thoughts tend to revolve around the yearling sales and, specifically, how to secure new recruits. Well, George and Charlie have hatched a plan that will add at least one to their respective 2020 teams… each buys a cheapish horse and sends it into training with the other! The twist? Well, you’ll have to listen to Episode 12 to find out. Let’s just say the naming process is as whacky as it is original. As well as sales season chat – the boys have been to Deauville – there are thoughts on the Ebor Festival as well as a bit of random cricket chat… enjoy!

Khadijah Mellah gave racing one of its best feel-good stories of the year when she won the Magnolia Cup at Glorious Goodwood. She’d never sat on a racehorse before this year, but ended up winning in front of huge crowds at one of British racing’s biggest festival meetings. She was victorious on Haverland, trained by Charlie, so who better for Episode 11 of the podcast than Khadijah. And, of course, the victory was all the sweeter for Charlie because among those behind Khadijah in the Magnolia Cup was a horse trained by George, ridden by another friend of the podcast, Luisa Zissman. For all the post-race fall-out and a look ahead to the Ebor Festival at York, we give you...’the one with Khadijah’

Some bright spark suggested we do a podcast to preview the King George and Glorious Goodwood – only we chose to record it on the most sweltering July day that Britain has ever experienced. Suffice to say there was even more hot air than normal as both the boys looked ahead to the Magnolia Cup, in which their respective stables go head to head – the subject of a hefty match bet. Plus, Fellowes gleefully reveals how his good mate Oli Bell failed to catch the climax of the Cricket World Cup, despite having a ticket at Lord’s – and Scott is dreaming of a big-race success at Goodwood. It’s all in episode 10...

To hoots of derision Fellowes claims to be ‘the saviour of racing’ in an episode in which use of the whip in racing provokes some very lively discussion. Thankfully, ITV Racing’s presenter Ed Chamberlin is along to offer excellent insights and some welcome common sense! Ed also reveals what it was really like to work alongside Gary Neville on Sky Sports and gives a couple of thoughts on the upcoming football season. Meanwhile Scott is basking in the glory of his success – on the rounders’ field. And we have news of our new partner...welcome Fitzdares!

After Charlie smashed it with his first ever Royal Ascot winner, we knew there was no chance we’d get away without hearing all about it. So to help the tale, who better to have with us than the rather marvellous Hayley Turner, the history-making jockey who teamed up with Thanks Be to make it all happen for team Fellowes. It’s Hayley’s second outing on the podcast and, as always, she was in brilliant form. George is in mischievous mode to make sure his great mate and rival doesn’t have it all his own way. We think it’s best episode so far, we hope you do too...

So, when our good friends at Fitzdares asked if we’d like to take the pod on tour to the prestigious Annabel’s in Mayfair, how could we refuse? Especially given that the one and only Frankie Dettori joined us to chat about his rides at Royal Ascot. Even better, George manfully took the helm after @RushmerPR got lost – or something like that – in east London. Enjoy...

Here’s Episode 6 and George and Charlie mix reflections on the Derby with their thoughts about gallops mornings. With insights from both of their stables and news on upcoming runners, the boys convey what it’s really like to train in Newmarket, the historic home of horseracing.

Possibly the best episode so far; definitely the episode with the most laughs. Apprentice runner-up Luisa Zissman is a magnificent guest, joining us in the Kings Head, Dullingham straight after riding out on the gallops for George. Luisa is preparing to compete in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood and her latest outing on the Newmarket Heath won’t be forgotten by anyone who witnessed it... ’Watch out! I’m coming through, I’m so sorry!” Luisa also offers a real behind the scenes insight into her time on The Apprentice. The boys are in great form too – guess which one got identified by a stranger after doing a reading at a wedding last weekend? And find out which of the guys once had a pierced eyebrow and also won a dance-off in his younger years? It’s all in episode 5!