Female horse racing presenters, reporters and pundits play prominent roles across ITV Racing, Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV.
Francesca Cumani, Alex Hammond, Alice Plunkett, Gina Bryce, Adele Mulrennan, Megan Nicholls, Lydia Hislop and Hayley Moore are among the best-known women currently working in British racing broadcasting.
Their roles vary considerably. Some present live programmes, others provide race analysis, conduct interviews, report from the paddock or betting ring, or bring experience from previous careers as jockeys and riders.
Here are some of the leading female horse racing broadcasters familiar to British racing viewers.
Francesca Cumani
Francesca Cumani is one of the principal presenters of ITV Racing.
She works alongside Ed Chamberlin and is particularly prominent during the Flat season.
ITV confirmed that Cumani would continue as part of its main presenting team for 2026, including coverage of major meetings such as Royal Ascot and the York Ebor Festival.
Her racing background began long before her television career.
Francesca is the daughter of Classic-winning trainer Luca Cumani and grew up around his Bedford House Stables in Newmarket.
That background gives her experience of the racing industry as well as broadcasting.
She has worked internationally and is particularly associated with major Flat meetings.
British viewers will regularly see her during:
- Royal Ascot
- The Derby Festival
- Glorious Goodwood
- York’s Ebor Festival
- British Champions Day
- Other Major ITV Flat Meetings
Cumani’s role normally combines presenting with interviews and discussion alongside ITV’s racing analysts.
Our ITV Racing page explains the channel’s wider horse racing coverage.
Gina Bryce
Gina Bryce is a presenter, reporter and racing broadcaster associated with Sky Sports Racing.
She has considerable experience across racing television, radio and print journalism.
Her specialist knowledge includes the bloodstock industry, an area covering the breeding, buying and selling of thoroughbred racehorses.
Bryce worked in racing broadcasting before the launch of Sky Sports Racing and became part of the team when the channel replaced At The Races in January 2019.
She has also written for racing publications including the Racing Post, The Irish Field and Thoroughbred Owner Breeder.
Her work demonstrates why the term “horse racing presenter” covers considerably more than simply introducing races.
A racing broadcaster may need to discuss:
- Form
- Breeding
- Sales
- Trainers
- Jockeys
- Race Tactics
- Major Racing Stories
Bryce’s bloodstock knowledge gives her a particular area of expertise within that wider coverage.
Known for her colourful, fabulous fashion, Gina Bryce is a great female horse racing presenter. She is hugely knowledgeable and has a great sense of humour.
Alex Hammond
Alex Hammond is one of the most experienced female horse racing presenters on British television.
She is closely associated with Sky Sports Racing and continues to present its live coverage in 2026.
Hammond’s broadcasting career stretches back to The Racing Channel in the 1990s.
She subsequently became familiar to a much wider audience through Sky Sports, where her roles included presenting sports news and reporting from racecourses.
When Sky Sports Racing launched on 1 January 2019, Hammond became one of the channel’s principal presenters.
She has also ridden as an amateur jockey, giving her practical experience in the saddle as well as many years of broadcasting experience.
Her Sky Sports Racing work includes:
- Live Race Presentation
- Race Analysis
- Jockey and Trainer Interviews
- Major Meeting Coverage
- Studio Presentation
Hammond remains a regular presence on the channel’s current live racing coverage.
Leonna Mayor
Leonna Mayor is a former jockey who moved into racing media after her riding career ended.
She rode professionally before an ankle injury brought her career in the saddle to an early conclusion.
Mayor subsequently developed a career in racing broadcasting and has appeared on Sky Sports Racing.
Her experience as a former jockey gives her first-hand knowledge of race riding and horse behaviour.
That can be particularly useful in paddock and racecourse analysis, where broadcasters are expected to interpret how horses look and behave as well as discussing their form.
The previous version of this page concentrated heavily on Mayor’s appearance and an old tabloid description of her.
That adds little to an assessment of her work as a racing broadcaster.
Her riding experience and subsequent media career are considerably more relevant.
Alice Plunkett
Alice Plunkett is a former rider and long-standing member of the ITV Racing team.
Her racing and equestrian background is unusual even among former riders working in broadcasting.
Plunkett competed as an event rider and also rode in National Hunt racing.
She is particularly associated with jump racing coverage and racecourse reporting.
Her television career included Channel 4 Racing before she joined the ITV Racing team when ITV took over Britain’s terrestrial racing coverage in 2017.
Plunkett remains involved in ITV’s current coverage.
At the 2026 Grand National Festival, for example, ITV included her in its on-course reporting team alongside Matt Chapman and Rishi Persad.
Her experience allows her to discuss racing from a rider’s perspective as well as interviewing trainers, jockeys and connections.
She is particularly familiar to viewers of:
- Cheltenham
- Aintree
- National Hunt Racing
- Major ITV Racing Festivals
Megan Nicholls
Megan Nicholls moved into racing broadcasting after a successful career as a jockey.
She is the daughter of multiple champion National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls and grew up around one of Britain’s leading jumps yards.
Megan established her own career in the saddle rather than relying solely on that racing background.
She rode more than 100 winners before retiring from race riding in 2022.
Her media career has since developed rapidly.
Megan Nicholls works across racing broadcasting and has become an increasingly prominent member of the ITV Racing team.
ITV expanded her role further in 2026 by making her the host of its Friday Night Live racing coverage.
She also appears as an analyst and presenter during other ITV meetings.
Her experience gives her insight into:
- Race Riding
- Jockey Tactics
- Horse Behaviour
- Flat Racing
- National Hunt Racing
- Training Yards
That combination makes her useful in both presenting and analytical roles.
Hayley Moore
Hayley Moore is a presenter and reporter for Sky Sports Racing.
She comes from one of British racing’s best-known families.
Her father Gary Moore is a trainer, while her brothers include jockeys Ryan and Jamie Moore and trainer/jockey Josh Moore.
Hayley also rode as an amateur before concentrating on racing broadcasting.
She worked for At The Races before becoming part of the Sky Sports Racing team.
Moore continues to feature prominently in Sky’s live racing coverage in 2026.
Her role includes presenting, racecourse reporting, interviews and analysis.
Her experience in the saddle and lifelong involvement in racing gives her a useful perspective when discussing jockeys and the physical demands of race riding.
Lydia Hislop
Lydia Hislop is a racing journalist, broadcaster and analyst best known for her work with Racing TV.
She differs from several people on this list because her reputation has been built primarily through racing journalism and analysis rather than a previous professional riding career.
Hislop has covered racing across television, print and digital media and is known for detailed analysis of the sport.
She is closely associated with Racing TV and its specialist racing programming.
One of her best-known programmes is Road To Cheltenham, which analyses the major National Hunt races and leading contenders as the Cheltenham Festival approaches.
Her work is particularly relevant to racing followers interested in deeper form analysis rather than solely race-day presentation.
Our Racing TV page explains the wider service and its live racing coverage.
Adele Mulrennan
Adele Mulrennan is an ITV Racing presenter and former jockey.
She rode as an apprentice and recorded victories during her career in the saddle before moving into broadcasting.
After retiring from race riding, Mulrennan undertook media training and became involved with Go Racing in Yorkshire.
Her work covering Yorkshire racecourses helped establish her broadcasting career before she became part of ITV Racing.
Mulrennan remains a regular member of the ITV team in 2026.
She provides expert analysis and racecourse reporting and was part of ITV’s daily team for the 2026 York Ebor Festival alongside Francesca Cumani and Jason Weaver.
Her former riding career gives her practical knowledge when discussing how horses move, behave and perform before a race.
Charlotte Hawkins
Charlotte Hawkins is best known as a television presenter and journalist outside racing, particularly through Good Morning Britain.
She is also a racing enthusiast and has appeared as part of ITV’s coverage of major meetings.
Her role differs from that of Francesca Cumani or Alice Plunkett.
Hawkins is not one of ITV’s principal racing analysts.
Instead, her appearances have often focused on the wider race-day experience, including major festivals and their social and fashion elements.
She has appeared during meetings such as Royal Ascot as part of ITV’s broader festival coverage.
This distinction is worth making because presenters, reporters, analysts and contributors have different jobs within a racing broadcast.
Lucy Verasamy
Lucy Verasamy brings a different area of expertise to horse racing broadcasting.
She is an ITV weather presenter rather than a racing presenter in the conventional sense.
Weather still matters considerably to horse racing.
Rain, temperature, wind and drying conditions can alter the going and therefore affect how races are analysed.
Verasamy has contributed weather information to ITV’s racing coverage alongside her wider work for ITV News, ITV Sport and Good Morning Britain.
This role is particularly relevant during multi-day racing festivals when conditions can change considerably across the meeting.
Our horse racing going page explains why changes in the racing surface can affect different horses.
Female ITV Racing Presenters
ITV has played a major role in making female broadcasters prominent within British racing coverage.
Its current and recent female racing team includes broadcasters working in several different roles.
Among the most prominent are:
- Francesca Cumani: Principal presenter, particularly during the Flat season.
- Alice Plunkett: Racecourse reporter with extensive riding and equestrian experience.
- Adele Mulrennan: Former jockey providing analysis and reporting.
- Megan Nicholls: Former jockey, analyst and presenter who hosts Friday Night Live.
- Lucy Verasamy: Weather specialist contributing to racing coverage.
- Charlotte Hawkins: Presenter appearing during selected major racing occasions.
ITV’s racing team is much broader than this list and personnel vary according to the meeting.
Our ITV Racing tips page covers selections for races televised on ITV.
Female Sky Sports Racing Presenters
Sky Sports Racing has several established female broadcasters.
The best-known include:
- Alex Hammond: One of the channel’s principal live racing presenters.
- Gina Bryce: Presenter and reporter with specialist bloodstock knowledge.
- Hayley Moore: Presenter, reporter and former amateur jockey.
- Leonna Mayor: Former jockey who has contributed to the channel’s racing coverage.
- Zoey Bird: Racecourse presenter and reporter appearing across Sky Sports Racing coverage.
- Vanessa Ryle: Racing broadcaster and presenter appearing on the channel’s live coverage.
Sky Sports Racing replaced At The Races as the television channel in January 2019.
Older biographies still regularly describe current broadcasters as working for At The Races.
That is usually a reference to their previous role rather than the current name of the television channel.
Female Racing TV Presenters and Pundits
Racing TV uses presenters, reporters and analysts across its British and Irish racecourse coverage.
Lydia Hislop is one of its most recognisable female racing broadcasters.
Other female contributors have included racing journalists, former riders and people working directly within the sport.
Racing TV differs from ITV because it operates as a specialist racing service rather than primarily covering selected major meetings for a general television audience.
That creates more airtime for detailed race analysis, previews and specialist programmes.
Female Horse Racing Commentators
Presenting and commentating are different jobs.
A presenter introduces and links the television coverage.
A pundit or analyst interprets the racing.
A reporter conducts interviews and gathers information around the racecourse.
A race commentator describes the race live as it happens.
Women have historically been less common in British race commentary than in presenting and reporting, although that is changing.
Gina Bryce made racing history in 2025 when she became the first woman in the modern era to commentate live on the Grand National.
That was a notable development in a role traditionally dominated by male commentators.
Female Horse Racing Pundits
A pundit provides analysis rather than simply presenting the programme.
Former jockeys are particularly well suited to this role because they can explain aspects of racing that are difficult to understand from form figures alone.
These include:
- Pace: How quickly the race develops and where pressure is applied.
- Positioning: Where a jockey places a horse during different stages of the race.
- Balance: How comfortably a horse travels around bends and undulations.
- Jumping: The quality and efficiency of a horse’s technique over obstacles.
- Ground: How a horse is handling the racing surface.
- Race Riding: Why a jockey makes particular tactical decisions.
Megan Nicholls, Adele Mulrennan, Hayley Moore and Alice Plunkett all bring riding experience to their broadcasting work.
For bettors, that analysis can complement conventional horse racing form and racecard information.
Why Are So Many Racing Presenters Former Jockeys?
Racing is a technical sport.
A former jockey understands what happens during a race from experience rather than observation alone.
They can often explain why a horse:
- Changed Position
- Struggled Around a Bend
- Jumped to One Side
- Raced Too Keenly
- Failed to Settle
- Was Asked for an Effort
- Changed Leads
- Lost Momentum
That knowledge is useful to viewers trying to understand why a race developed in a particular way.
It is also why broadcasters use former jockeys alongside professional presenters and journalists.
The two skill sets are different.
Strong racing coverage combines broadcasting ability with specialist knowledge.
Female Horse Racing Journalists
Not every prominent female racing journalist works principally as a television presenter.
Racing journalism covers newspapers, specialist publications, websites, radio, podcasts and television.
Lydia Hislop is a good example of a broadcaster whose work is closely connected to racing journalism and analysis.
Gina Bryce has also written for racing publications alongside her television work.
Journalists can specialise in areas including:
- Race Analysis
- Bloodstock
- Breeding
- Betting
- Industry News
- Racecourse Reporting
- Trainer and Jockey Interviews
These specialisms help explain why broadcasters are often chosen for particular roles rather than simply being interchangeable television personalities.
Former Female Horse Racing Presenters
British racing broadcasting has featured many prominent women over the years.
Emma Spencer
Emma Spencer is a former amateur jockey and racing broadcaster.
She became well known through Channel 4 Racing, where she covered major British and international meetings.
Spencer was part of the Channel 4 team for many years before ITV acquired the terrestrial British racing rights from 2017.
She remains an important name in the history of female racing broadcasting even though she should not be described as a current member of the ITV or Sky Sports Racing presenting teams.
Clare Balding
Clare Balding is one of Britain’s best-known sports broadcasters.
Horse racing played a major role in the development of her television career.
She grew up in a racing family and rode as an amateur before moving into broadcasting.
Balding subsequently became closely associated with BBC racing coverage and later Channel 4 Racing.
Her broadcasting career expanded far beyond horse racing, including Olympic and Paralympic sport and major national events.
She remains one of the most influential female broadcasters to have emerged from British racing.
What Happened to Channel 4 Racing?
Channel 4 was Britain’s terrestrial horse racing broadcaster for many years.
Its coverage ended in December 2016.
ITV took over terrestrial British racing coverage from January 2017.
This is why older biographies for Alice Plunkett, Emma Spencer, Gina Bryce and other racing broadcasters frequently mention Channel 4 Racing.
It should be treated as part of their broadcasting history rather than their current employer.
What Happened to At The Races?
At The Races was a dedicated racing television channel familiar to British and Irish racing viewers for many years.
Sky Sports Racing replaced the At The Races television channel on 1 January 2019.
This means descriptions stating that Alex Hammond, Gina Bryce or Hayley Moore currently present “At The Races” are outdated.
They may have worked for At The Races historically, but current television coverage is branded Sky Sports Racing.
Who Presents ITV Racing?
Ed Chamberlin remains ITV Racing’s principal presenter.
Francesca Cumani works alongside him as a leading presenter, particularly for the Flat season.
The wider ITV team contains presenters, analysts, reporters, commentators and specialist contributors.
Women currently prominent within that coverage include Francesca Cumani, Alice Plunkett, Adele Mulrennan and Megan Nicholls.
ITV announced more than 70 days of racing on ITV1 during 2026 as part of 116 days of scheduled racing coverage across its channels and platforms.
The programme covers major meetings including the Cheltenham Festival, Grand National Festival, Epsom Derby Festival and Royal Ascot.
Who Presents Sky Sports Racing?
Alex Hammond is one of the principal presenters associated with Sky Sports Racing.
The channel uses a larger team according to the meeting being covered.
Female broadcasters regularly appearing across its racing output include Alex Hammond, Hayley Moore, Gina Bryce, Zoey Bird and Vanessa Ryle.
Sky Sports Racing covers British and international racing and is separate from Racing TV.
Our Racing TV guide explains the other major specialist racing television service.
Are There Female Horse Racing Commentators?
Yes.
Women work across racing commentary, although historically there have been considerably fewer female race callers than female presenters and reporters.
Gina Bryce’s Grand National commentary role in 2025 was significant because of that history.
Commentary requires a different skill set from presenting.
The commentator must identify horses quickly, describe changes in position and communicate the race clearly while the action is taking place.
Who Is the Female Presenter on ITV Racing?
The answer depends on the meeting.
Francesca Cumani is ITV Racing’s leading female presenter and is particularly prominent during the Flat season.
Alice Plunkett, Adele Mulrennan and Megan Nicholls also have significant roles within the current team.
Other female contributors appear according to the meeting and type of coverage.
Who Is the Female Presenter on Sky Sports Racing?
Alex Hammond is one of the best-known presenters on Sky Sports Racing.
Gina Bryce, Hayley Moore, Zoey Bird and Vanessa Ryle are among the other female broadcasters appearing on the channel.
The exact team changes according to the day’s meetings.
Female Horse Racing Presenters FAQs
Who are the best-known female horse racing presenters in the UK?
Francesca Cumani, Alex Hammond, Alice Plunkett, Gina Bryce, Megan Nicholls, Adele Mulrennan, Lydia Hislop and Hayley Moore are among the best-known women working in British racing broadcasting.
Who is the main female presenter on ITV Racing?
Francesca Cumani is ITV Racing’s principal female presenter and works alongside Ed Chamberlin, particularly during the Flat season.
Who is the main female presenter on Sky Sports Racing?
Alex Hammond is one of Sky Sports Racing’s principal presenters and has been closely associated with the channel since its launch in 2019.
Is Francesca Cumani still on ITV Racing?
Yes. ITV confirmed Francesca Cumani as part of its main presenting team for the 2026 season.
Is Megan Nicholls an ITV Racing presenter?
Yes. Megan Nicholls works across ITV’s racing coverage and became the host of the new Friday Night Live racing series in 2026.
Is Adele Mulrennan still on ITV Racing?
Yes. Adele Mulrennan remains part of ITV Racing’s team and provides analysis and racecourse coverage.
Is Alice Plunkett still on ITV Racing?
Yes. Alice Plunkett remains involved in ITV Racing and was part of its reporting team for the 2026 Grand National Festival.
Is Alex Hammond still on Sky Sports Racing?
Yes. Alex Hammond continues to present live racing on Sky Sports Racing.
Is Hayley Moore still on Sky Sports Racing?
Yes. Hayley Moore continues to appear on Sky Sports Racing as a presenter and analyst.
What channel replaced At The Races?
Sky Sports Racing replaced the At The Races television channel on 1 January 2019.
Does Channel 4 still show horse racing?
Channel 4’s regular British horse racing coverage ended in 2016. ITV took over terrestrial coverage from January 2017.
Who is Lydia Hislop?
Lydia Hislop is a racing journalist, broadcaster and analyst closely associated with Racing TV. She is particularly well known for detailed National Hunt analysis and Road To Cheltenham.
Was Clare Balding a horse racing presenter?
Yes. Horse racing was a major part of Clare Balding’s broadcasting career, particularly through the BBC and Channel 4.
Was Emma Spencer a jockey?
Emma Spencer was a successful amateur Flat jockey before becoming a racing broadcaster and Channel 4 Racing presenter.
Are there female race commentators?
Yes. Women increasingly work in race commentary as well as presenting and reporting. Gina Bryce became the first woman in the modern era to commentate live on the Grand National in 2025.
Which female racing presenters were jockeys?
Several broadcasters have riding experience, including Megan Nicholls, Adele Mulrennan, Hayley Moore, Alice Plunkett, Alex Hammond, Leonna Mayor and Emma Spencer.
Where can I watch ITV Racing?
ITV broadcasts racing across ITV1, ITV4 and ITVX according to the meeting and schedule. See our ITV Racing page for more information.
Where can I watch Racing TV?
Racing TV is available through its television and digital services. Our Racing TV guide covers channels, membership, streaming and racecourse coverage.
Summary
Women now hold prominent presenting, reporting and analytical roles across British horse racing broadcasting.
Francesca Cumani is a leading figure on ITV Racing, while Alex Hammond is closely associated with Sky Sports Racing. Alice Plunkett, Adele Mulrennan and Megan Nicholls bring riding experience to ITV’s coverage, while Gina Bryce and Hayley Moore are familiar faces on Sky Sports Racing. Lydia Hislop is one of Racing TV’s best-known journalists and analysts.
The broadcasters do not all perform the same job.
Presenters control the programme, reporters gather information and conduct interviews, pundits analyse the racing, and commentators describe races live.
Several of the women working in those roles have ridden competitively, while others come from journalism, broadcasting, bloodstock or specialist areas such as weather.
For more television coverage, see our ITV Racing and Racing TV pages. Readers looking for selections from televised racing can also see the existing ITV Racing tips, ITV Pick 7 tips and horse racing tipsters sections.
