Writers

Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls is a 14-time champion National Hunt trainer based in Ditcheat, Somerset. His racing career started off in the saddle but though he managed 133 winners as a jockey, weight battles brought his riding career to an end! Becoming a trainer was always at the back of his mind and after two years as an assistant trainer to David Baron, Paul grabbed an opportunity to take the lease in Paul Barber's Ditcheat yard

There have been many highlights since, including four Cheltenham Gold Cups with See More Business, Kauto Star (twice) and Denman. In the 2007-08 season Paul trained 155 winner and accumulated over £4 million in prize money, a record that still stands to this day

Paul is also a Grand National-winning trainer having saddled Neptune Collonges to victory in 2012 and most recently he trained his 50th Cheltenham Festival winner when Caldwell Potter stormed to victory at Prestbury Park. Read More Paul Nicholls

Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer is regarded as one of the greatest English strikers of all time and remains the Premier League's record goalscorer with 260 goals. He spent his entire career playing in the top-flight of English football, and won the Premier League title with Blackburn in 1995, before moving to his hometown club Newcastle United in 1996 for a then world record £15m.

A three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner and winner of the Golden Boot with England at Euro 96, Alan has most recently been an ever-present pundit on BBC's Match of the Day where his excellent punditry alongside Ian Wright and Gary Lineker was a staple of every football fans' Saturday night viewing.

Rachael Blackmore

Rachael Blackmore is one of the UK & Ireland's most successful jockeys. In 2021 she became the first female jockey to win the world's most famous steeplechase, the Aintree Grand National, when steering Minella Times to victory. Rachael is a multiple Grade 1 winner and also in 2021 she was the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, riding six winners during the week and in doing so becoming the first woman to win the Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey award.

Riding winners regularly for Henry de Bromhead, in 2022 Rachael made more history when she became the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard, and she is perhaps best known for her partnership with the brilliant mare Honeysuckle, who she rode to two Champion Hurdle victories, two Mares' Hurdle wins and three Irish Champion Hurdle victories.

Rachael's achievements saw her named the 2021 RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and the BBC World Sport Star of the Year.