We’re delighted that James Fanshawe joins us for the start of Series 3. James, of course, was Charlie’s boss for five years and we hear about those times at Pegasus Stables where James has trained so many top-class horses, including under National Hunt rules. James proves to be a hugely entertaining – and modest – guest. He tells us about his latest adventure, having a first Breeders’ Cup runner, and winner, with Audarya. “For me, to come down after Audarya, took a while,’ he tells us. Basically, it’s a brilliant chat and we’re very grateful to James for giving up his time to join us, socially-distanced, outside in George’s covered ride on a cold April evening.
There’s loads more to enjoy in the episode. George and Polly have had twins over the winter – plus both of our trainers have been having winners in the early weeks of the Turf season (as George is keen to tell us!). 
Series 3 is off to a flying start!

S3E1 - We're Back... with James Fanshawe

If you only ever listen to one episode of George & Charlie Off The Bridle, then please let this be it. We visited the atmospheric Heath House, home to the one and only Sir Mark Prescott, who was in fantastic form. He regaled us with a long list of marvellous stories from more than 50 years spent around racehorses and racing people.
The episode started in lively enough fashion but really began to crank through the gears in the second half as Sir Mark shared tales from his younger days. His captive audience barely needed to ask a question as the anecdotes just kept flowing.
It really was a memorable two hours, with Sir Mark still going strong after the microphones were disconnected! His equine insights were fascinating; his stories about the people he has met were uproariously entertaining.
Sit back and enjoy an extra special episode with the inimitable Sir Mark Prescott...

S3E2 - Afternoon tea with Sir Mark

We’ve taken our time to record this episode. Lots of reasons, but the main one was: how on earth do we follow Sir Mark Prescott? Well, in Michael Holding we have just about the only man who could. ‘Mikey’ came to visit us at Eve Lodge and what a gentleman… warmth and dignity in equal measures. And lots of insights. Find out how he came to call Newmarket his home from home; discover which top trainer he spends many of his summer mornings with. And also he reveals a fellow West Indian fast bowler ‘who would bounce his mother’! Racing and cricket chat - we've got it covered.
As Michael was our guest, it was only fitting that Charlie recalled his net ‘session’ with England pacer Matthew Hoggard. And, guess what. George has been to Wembley. He was only there to witness a little piece of history as England beat Germany 2-0.
It’s all in episode 3 of series 3… listen and enjoy.

S3E3 -  Michael Holding – the cricketing giant shares his racing passion

When George teed up Nicky Henderson as a possible guest we knew we had to return early for Series 4!
With the Festival around the corner, it was the perfect time to talk to the National Hunt legend and he was on top form. He gives us an insight into his 2022 Cheltenham plans and reveals a little of what it’s really like behind the scenes in the build-up weeks. In a light-hearted but informative chat with the lads, Nicky also pinpoints his most memorable Festival win – and there’s 70 to choose from!
Episode 1 of our new series includes George ‘Slim’ Scott and Charlie ‘Fit’ Fellowes telling us all about their intensive personal training programmes – find out which one of them is struggling with his press-ups!
There’s also plenty of the usual racing and sports chat with Charlie dreaming of Nottingham Forest ending their Premier League exile. All in all, it’s a fast start to Series 4 and we hope you enjoy the episode as much as we did chatting to the one and only Nicky H!

S4E1 - Star guest Nicky Henderson fuels our Festival excitement

William Buick makes for a fascinating star guest in an in-depth and candid interview. He talks about his life as a Godolphin jockey, including reminiscing about his 2018 Derby victory on Masar. He reflects on the formidable alliance he has with trainer Charlie Appleby and also look back fondly on his time as stable jockey to John Gosden. And of course, we couldn’t sit down with William and not talk to him about all things Native Trail and Coroebus!
Throughout, Will gave us a series of thoughtful and really interesting answers. We loved our chat with him and hope you enjoy listening to him as much as we did.
Also in the episode, George discusses his flying start to the 2022 season and Charlie reveals that, all going well, he will have a Derby runner in the shape of Grand Alliance.
Thanks as always to our friends Fitzdares, who not only sponsor our podcast but also the Fitzdares Thirsk Hunt Cup.

S4E2 - Where there’s a Will, there’s a way

Scott and Fellowes are joined by George Boughey, who has enjoyed a remarkable rise in just over three years since he took out a training licence. In the episode Boughey talks about quitting university to make his way in racing with a stint in Australia followed by his years as assistant to Hugo Palmer. We hear all about his 1,000 Guineas heroine Cachet and other stars such as recent Royal Ascot winner Missed The Cut.
Boughey is not the only trainer named George having a good time of it. Our very own Mr Scott is flying and has an exciting stakes colt in Rocket Rodney who has made rapid progress. Not to be outdone, Charlie has a good two-year-old too with Marbaan on an upward curve. Loads more in another episode that we had a lot of fun putting together.

S4E3 - By George...

William Haggas joins us for one of our most enjoyable and entertaining episodes… for starters he talks about Baaeed ahead of the brilliant colt’s appearance at York. William also reflects on his career with insight and humour. He recalls his pride on being asked to train for The Queen and also remembers his times as pupil assistant to Sir Mark Prescott. There’s a particularly funny story about a painful awakening when he was late in for morning stables at Heath House! He also makes us laugh about how he developed his riding skills with the late international show jumper Ted Williams.
As well as William being a brilliant guest, Charlie talks about options for his Glorious Goodwood Group-race winner Marbaan. There is just one thing missing from our latest episode – and that’s George! But the presence of G Scott is never far away, not least because Charlie takes the opportunity to have a pop or two at him in his absence!
We hope you’ll agree that Episode 4 of Series 4 is a great listen…

S4E4 - Just William...

With winter behind us (just about!), it’s almost time for the Turf season – and that means Scott and Fellowes are back for a fifth series of Off The Bridle.
In the first episode of 2023 we welcome to the podcast a star of 2022; jockey Dan Muscutt reflects on his breakout year in which he rode 127 winners, including a first-ever Group 1 triumph. There’s also a second big-name guest with Ed Crisford on the line from Dubai, talking about leading World Cup contender Algiers.
As well as chatting to Dan and Ed, George and Charlie are back with all the banter that reflects their professional rivalry and friendship. Listen and enjoy…!

S5E1 - The 2023 Relaunch

There’s always lots of chat on our WhatsApp group about who we should invite on as a special guest. Funny, entertaining, informative and opinionated are among the key qualities on the criteria list. Our latest guest ticks all those boxes and plenty more. In an engaging conversation with George and Charlie, renowned racing broadcaster Matt Chapman fires straight from the lip on a number of subjects. He also gives us the lowdown on his backstory. All in all, it makes for a fascinating listen.
There’s also plenty to catch up on from the worlds of Scott and Fellowes; the latter tells the former “When you know, you know” when it comes to identifying smart two-year-old prospects in his string. Charlie also laments his Masters’ golf bets and fears for his beloved Nottingham Forest’s Premier League future. Meanwhile, George’s enthusiasm is even higher than usual after a streak of success at Wolverhampton – and the full-on arrival of the Turf season as the first Classics loom ever closer.

S5E2 - Chapman speaks!

Not sure we’ve ever had a podcast episode featuring such an array of different subjects. The diverse menu of colourful conversation is very much down to our brilliant guest Emma Banks, who owns the magnificent Lady Bowthorpe. There is loads about Lady B, of course. But there’s also stories that start off, ‘I remember I was in Bogota with Florence and The Machine’ – as you do. For Emma is a music agent with a client roster of many big-name stars. So there’s a fascinating insight into her world – and somehow there’s even chat about her beloved Luton Town FC.
Fellowes and Scott have been enjoying success on the track, which makes for the useful banter. Plus, they cast their eye over the upcoming Guineas Festival and flag up horses from their own stables to watch out for in the next few weeks.
As always, it’s an episode that’s well worth a listen. Thanks to our pals Fitzdares for their much-appreciated ongoing support.

S5E3 - Starring music agent and Lady Bowthorpe’s owner Emma Banks

Our latest episode is all about dreams; two-year-old dreams, the Derby dream and – um – Vadream.
Yes, George looks to have a bit of a whizz-bang in the shape of Watch My Tracer, who won impressively on debut at Yarmouth and is Coventry Stakes-bound. Charlie experienced the joy of a Group-race winner at Newmarket on 2,000 Guineas day, thanks to Vadream getting up to score in the Palace House Stakes. And, with the Derby upon us, we had the great pleasure of talking to Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos Family, who will be represented in the most famous Classic of them all by Passenger.
Charlie also reflects on Nottingham Forest beating the drop and is predicting a bold show in the next week or so from one of his improvers. To find out who it is, give us a listen!

S5E4 - Time to dream...

Much of the nation has been absorbed in Baz-ball this summer…here in Newmarket George has been busy with his own brand of cricket: George-ball. It’s his game, he captains the team and, to be fair, he takes all the catches. He’s also been training plenty of winners in the last few weeks. Charlie has also been in fine form with a nice Saturday double following on from a 100 grand success in the Racing League – on which, you won’t be surprised to know, he has some interesting thoughts. In fact, Charlie, George and Tony are in full-scale chipper mood throughout another lively episode that features plenty of King George and Goodwood chat. Check it out…

S5E6 - Catches win matches

As you may have noticed, it’s been a while! Mainly, that’s down to the fact that the sales season has been in full swing and Messrs Scott and Fellowes have been busy recruiting for their 2024 strings. So, we’re bringing you plenty of sales chat. Also front and centre is the 2023 Scott-Fellowes winners’ head-to-head – and it’s close!
We also reflect on Frankie’s decision to ride on and look ahead to Champions’ Day where Charlie has a (Va-)dream!
It’s a fun episode, supported as always by our good friends at Fitzdares. Give us a listen…

S5E7 - Sales reflections, track chat and Dettori decision discussions

Episode 1 of our new series includes the usual sparring between trainers George Scott and Charlie Fellowes. Thankfully, Jamie Osborne is a very entertaining special guest!
Big thanks to our podcast pals Fitzdares for all their support…

S6E1 - Star guest Jamie Osborne gets us off to a flyer for 2024!

Richard Hannon joins the boys for an entertaining chat ahead of the 2,000 Guineas in which he saddles star colts Rosallion and Haatem. Richard gives us his thoughts ahead of the year’s first Classic. And we also find out more about a lively winter skiing trip that he and Charlie went on. There’s two more charity bets from the boys, plus Richard flags up a colt to follow from his crack two-year-old team.

S6E2 - Special Guest Richard Hannon

Lots for George and Charlie to chat through now that that the Flat season is amid its key summer spectacles. The boys – George, in particular – are blown away by City of Troy’s stunning success in the Derby and reflect on all things Epsom. And, with Royal Ascot around the corner, they look forward to the most prestigious Turf festival of them all.
Talking about Ascot, Charlie looks back on The Wizard of Eye’s recent victory at the Berkshire. George has also had a couple of high-profile triumphs, not least when he pipped Fellowes’ runner in a Group 3 at Newmarket.
There’s the usual other stuff, including news that one of the lads has left the gym group to join another get-fit gang comprised of trainers. You heard it here first…

S6E3 - Epsom reflections, Ascot anticipations

Find out about the email that left George in a bad mood; hear Charlie's verdict on Scott's cricket captaincy and catch both of their assessments on upcoming runners. And that's not even the half of it...lively chat in the main. And Charlie also provides a moving tribute.

S6E4 - Trolling!

George and Charlie talk through their differing approaches to the yearling sales – and reflect on their recent tipping successes. They also shoot the breeze on the Olympics and flag up horses they’re looking forward to running over the coming weeks.

S6E5 - Drilling down on the sales season

George has a new two-year-old star ( Bay City Roller). Charlie has a potential two-year-old star (Luther). Tony has a new haircut (bad) – and a new book (good ).
Racing, the sales circuit, the SAS and – best of all – a saga surrounding Kieran Shoemark’s car are all covered in true Off The Bridle style in our latest episode.

S6E6 - All New

We are joined by bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, a key figure in Kia Joorabchian’s AMO Racing team who made the headlines during Book 1 of Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. In an absorbing interview, Alex offers a series of fascinating insights, not least into the recent fireworks at Tatts.
In other news, find out which one of the lads is struggling to adjust to the recent clock change – and find out who their latest Fitzdares charity bet selections.

S6E7 - Agent Alex

AMO Racing’s founder Kia Joorabchian is a fascinating guest for our final podcast of 2024. Kia’s knowledge and passion for sport are crystal clear as he discusses his vision and hopes for AMO. It’s a brilliant and informative chat with the man who set alight the yearling sales circuit during the autumn.

 

Also in our latest episode, we find out about George and Charlie’s festive stable parties…guess which one is Grinch?! Also, one of the boys has struck a bold bet with another Newmarket trainer.

 

It’s all in the racing podcast, brought to you in partnership with Fitzdares bookmakers. Season’s greetings to one and all…

S6E8 - Kia's Vision

We thought having a special guest along would ensure Episode 2 wasn’t all about Charlie... but somehow the plan backfired. Our first guest, Oli Bell from ITV Racing, was of course an absolute star with tales of his recent Frodon-Frost moment at Cheltenham alongside an insight on his boxing ‘career’ plus loads of other great stuff. Oli was indeed a brilliant first guest and yet Fellowes trumps him and co-host Scott – who himself provides a top Deontay Wilder stalking story – with an extraordinary wedding-aisle yarn (the fainting Rev!). In another Fellowes belter, he also explains how he managed to get his hand broken by England bowler Matthew Hoggard on a stag do. Frankly, there are parts of Episode 2 that are just an astounding listen...we hope you agree!
 
SHOW NOTES
 
4min 14sec – Charlie ends up at the wrong house on  his way to a party – only there’s far more to it than that
 
7min 56sec – George stalks heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder on the LA streets
 
10min 02sec – It’s our very first guest – Mr Oli Bell. Time to talk Frodon …and Matt Chapman
 
21min 31sec – Oli on the time he was called a ‘lunatic’ by The Queen
 
34min 06sec – part one of a Fellowes double-header…the time he had his hand broken by England cricketer Matthew Hoggard
 
35min 34sec – and part two…Fellowes and his very own ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ moment…the fainting Rev.
 
43min 58secs – George and Charlie turn their attention to the upcoming Turf season and their respective Lincoln hopes

Episode 2 - The one with Oli Bell...

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...

Episode 8 - The one where Hayley returns!

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...

Episode 10 - The one from the heat wave

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!

Episode 12 - The one with the lads' plan...

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!

Episode 13 - The one with the Sprint King

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.

S2E2 - Jack Whitehall joins the boys...

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.

S2E3 And it’s time for Royal Ascot...

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.

S2E5 - Straight talking with Mark Johnston

In our final episode of 2020, George and Charlie reflect on a very different kind of year. The two Newmarket trainers and their friend Tony Rushmer look back on a challenging season, but pick out some highlights and memorable moments from within it. They also identify some all-weather horses to follow and the two-year-olds that are fuelling their dreams for 2021.
We also have a fun guest in Will Woodhams, chief exec at our friends Fitzdares. In an entertaining chat, Will shares his racing passion and reveals a little bit of an exclusive (could the podcast be the source of breaking news when it comes to a possible major-race sponsorship? We’ll let you decide!).
All the best folks – have a great Christmas and we’re planning to be back in the spring...

S2E9 - So that was 2020...

Newmarket trainers George Scott and Charlie Fellowes extend their rivalry beyond the racecourse with a twice a month podcast. ‘George and Charlie Off The Bridle’ is a mix of heavyweight opinion  and racing banter. Happily they often have a special guest to help keep the peace. Plus, they have sports journalist and co-host Tony Rushmer ensuring that tempers don’t boil over (most of the time). Partnered by our good friends @Fitzdares.
‘George and Charlie Off The Bridle’ is produced by Carl Homer of Cambridge TV.

George and Charlie: Off the Bridle

Popular tracks