Many horse racing fans in our groups are asking, “Who is the male horse racing pundit?”
In this guide to the best male horse racing presenters in 2026, we will name the top presenters and some legends from the past.
Gary O’Brien
Gary O’Brien is a broadcaster, racecourse commentator, and enthusiastic racehorse owner.
Initially, Gary hosted At The Races from 2004 to 2018 and was regarded as “the voice of Irish racing” by his former colleague, Matt Chapman.
Not only has he worked for At The Races, but Gary has also been part of BBC Radio 5 Live’s Grand National commentary team for the last 15 years.
In early 2019, Gary O’Brien was allowed to become the chief presenter in Ireland for Racing TV.
It was a no-brainer for the racehorse broadcasting icon, and he joined the Racing TV crew.
He has tasted victory during his time as a racehorse owner, with Bayan winning the 2014 Ladbroke Hurdle and two fantastic chasers, Vics Canvas and Folsom Blue.
Kevin O’Ryan
Jockey’s agent, Racing TV presenter, Goffs HIT agent, MC Leopardstown, Gowran Park, Thurles and Naas.
Kevin has been a massive fan of horse racing since he was a child, thanks to his Dad being a head trainer for several different racehorse trainers.
Kevin O’Ryan used to be one of the commentators of At The Races but changed allegiance in early 2019 to Racing TV, alongside his long-time colleague, Gary O’Brien.
Since then, Kevin has enjoyed success as a Goffs HIT agent and a jockey’s agent. He also runs his breaking and pre-training yard, helping horses prepare for racing.
Currently, Kevin O’Ryan has become a favourite amongst Racing TV viewers for his in-depth analysis and fantastic tips.
Ruby Walsh
Rupert “Ruby” Walsh was born on 14th May 1979 and is an Irish former jockey.
He is the second child and eldest son of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.
Ruby Walsh is the third most prolific winner in British and Irish jump racing history, behind only Sir Anthony McCoy and Richard Johnson.
In 2012, Ruby featured in a documentary called “Jump Boys”, which focused on him, Barry Geraghty and Davy Russell on their 2011/12 season.
Sadly, Ruby was the victim of a lot of different injuries, and due to this, he was often on the sidelines later in his career. To fill the time, Ruby began serving as a racing pundit for RTÉ and appeared on the Channel 4 Racing Saturday morning programme, The Morning Line, on several occasions.
Walsh also became a figurehead for Paddy Power, as he was featured in numerous advertisements, with the 2016 Cheltenham Festival ad being a favourite among fans.
Tony McCoy
Sir Anthony Peter McCoy OBE was born on 4th May 1974.
In the horse racing world, he is known as AP McCoy (Tony McCoy) and has ridden a record 4,358 winners. AP McCoy was Champion Jockey a record 20 consecutive times, every year that he was a professional.
In 1992, Tony rode to his first-ever victory at the age of 17 during a flat race at Thurles Racecourse.
Sadly, a few years later, Tony McCoy suffered a broken leg, and during the healing process, he started to grow taller. At this point, he believed that he had to become a jump jockey if he wanted to continue to race.
Since the change, Tony has become a household name when mentioned, jumping jockeys and has led thousands of horses to first place, making himself a favourite among pundits.
In 2010, he became the first-ever jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and beat a lot of well-known athletes to this title.
In 2015, Tony McCoy retired from horse racing, leaving a significant imprint on the sport. His impact was so significant that he was knighted in 2016 for his services to horse racing.
He currently serves as a pundit on ITV’s Horse Racing coverage.
With so many winning rides, AP McCoy is one of the most popular ITV racing presenters in June 2026.
Brian Gleeson
Brian Gleeson is a horse racing pundit on ITV’s racing coverage. Brian can be heard on RTE, TV3, and the BBC across Ireland and the UK.
Brian has become a cult-classic broadcaster due to his distinctive presenting and excellent race analysis.
Due to his popularity, he even became the ambassador to the 150th Melbourne Cup, leading to more racehorse fans learning about this incredible presenter.
Brian Gleeson is also a racehorse owner, with his horses Hi Stranger and A Dream To Share becoming winners at multiple races. The most famous victory was A Dream To Share at the Cheltenham festival, ridden by his son John Gleeson.
Brian has been trusted with some of the most exclusive interviews in the sport, including people like Sir Alex Ferguson, who just came off a loss on his horse but had a great laugh with Brian Gleeson.
Rishi Persad
Rishi Persad is a presenter of ITV’s horse racing coverage.
Rishi began his racing broadcasting career in 2002 when At The Races was first launched. Only 8 months later, he would make his debut on Channel 4 Racing. Shortly after that, he would find his home at the BBC, where he would become a staple mark presenter.
Because of his extensive sports knowledge, the BBC even had him appear on other shows to cover other sports, where fans came to know him as the go-to presenter.
In 2012, Rishi was given a lifetime opportunity to interview AP McCoy on behalf of Channel 4 Racing. This interview was where AP McCoy announced his retirement.
Since then, he has worked for Racing TV, Channel 4, Sky Sports, and the BBC in a racing capacity, covering a wide range of events, including The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, The Grand National, Cheltenham Festival, Derby Festival, and Royal Ascot.
John McCririck
John McCririck was the “punters’ champion” and a favourite among all horse racing fans across the globe.
John began his career in journalism at The Sporting Life, where he won the British Press Awards twice while writing for the publication. He then moved to the Daily Star, which he later sued for publishing misleading allegations about his debt.
1988 was the year when John McCririck became the UK’s go-to horse racing expert, with his appearance on the Channel 4 show “After Dark”, where he spoke about horse racing and how it’s the sport of kings.
He worked for Channel 4 for a long time and was later let go. He then moved to The Racing Post in 2018.
Sadly, John is no longer with us, having passed away in 2019. John McCririck was the most recognisable character on Channel 4 Racing for decades. Many fans remember his iconic gags and sayings, and he will be deeply missed by all.
Fran Berry
Fran Berry was a former jockey who turned pundit and Racing TV presenter in 2019.
Fran won his first event in 1997 at Sligo Racecourse, where his father (Frank Berry) saddled Fran’s first winner.
Winning the Coral Cup in 1999, Fran Berry’s career accelerated at a rapid pace, becoming an excellent jockey in the horse racing community.
He primarily focused on flat racing, but occasionally ventured into other avenues.
Sadly, Fran suffered a severe spinal injury in January 2019 and was advised to retire. In April 2019, Fran hung up his boots and retired from the sport.
Since then, Fran Berry has become a personality on Racing TV, providing viewers with laughs and valuable advice.
He has also worked with Paddy Power, becoming a well-respected pundit whose many predictions have come true.
Nick Luck
Nick Luck has become the community’s benchmark for presenters.
Luck began his career in 2004, being the presenter of Racing UK after 18 months of being a part of the original Racing Channel team.
He hosted all the major events, including the Derby, Grand National and Cheltenham Festival and presents the weekly show “Luck on Sunday”.
Being a part of the NBC Breeders’ Cup team and being an eight-time Horserace Writers’ & Photographers’ Association Broadcaster of the Year, it’s no surprise that Luck went on to take over the role of BBC Equestrian commentator from Mike Tucker.
As the BBC Equestrian commentator, he has covered events such as the Olympia Horse Show, Badminton Horse Trials, Burghley Horse Trials, and the Olympic Games for the BBC.
Nick Luck currently works for Racing’s 24/7 and acts as a pundit for William Hill.
Mick Fitzgerald
Being a former Jockey, Mick made a considerable impact on the racing scene and later went on to become a horse racing presenter.
Starting his jockey career as a pony rider, Fitzgerald has had 15 years of racing in significant events. He has won at the Grand National (with Rough Quest in 1996) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (riding See More Business in 1999).
With such big wins under his belt, Mick has worked for many famous horse trainers like Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls. With these trainers, he has gone on to win additional events, further establishing his reputation.
However, during the Grand National in 2008, Mick Fitzgerald fell off L’Ami and suffered severe spinal injuries, which led to his retirement later that year with the threat of paralysis.
After this, Mick Fitzgerald went on to present At The Races and joined the Channel 4 Racing team to provide in-depth analysis and tips for viewers.
Because of his impact on the racing scene, he also taught at the British Racing School, helping young jockeys build successful careers.
Derek Thompson
Having an incredibly successful career in presenting, Derek Thompson is a familiar name to anyone who has been watching horse racing for years.
Starting his presenting career at 18 on a local radio station, Derek was a confident and charismatic race horse commentator, providing listeners with in-depth looks at the competition.
Due to the success of his presenting work, he was offered work with ITV on the show World of Sport, where he became a fan favourite with his witty anecdotes.
In 1985, Derek found another opportunity to pursue his dreams of presenting when he was integrated into the newly formed Channel 4 Racing team.
From 1985 to 2012, Derek worked for Channel 4 Racing. During this time, Thompson became an icon of the show, with many tuning in to hear his opinions on race.
However, Derek decided to step down in 2012 due to his needing surgery to remove a tumour in the bowel. He recovered and decided to permanently stand down from his role in October of the same year.
Since then, Derek Thompson has been featured in numerous advertisements about races and has even returned to radio commentating. Derek even became a meme from one of these adverts, boosting his fame even more.
Jerry Hannon
When it comes to the voice of Irish horse racing, Jerry Hannon has solidified himself in this position.
Hannon, who first picked up a microphone at 18 for a pony race in Athea, has always given 100% to the role. After his first gig, he was taken under the wing of the famous Healy family in his hometown and given more opportunities.
Since then, Hannon has travelled to most of the Irish racecourses and commentatored some of the biggest races in Irish history.
In 2018, Des Scahill retired from his post as the nation’s horse racing commentator, and Jerry Hannon was chosen to be his successor.
Jerry has done a fantastic job and has ignited the love of Irish horse racing in hundreds of thousands of people across the world.
Richard Hoiles
There’s no other man who busted onto the scene quite like Richard Hoiles. From being an accountant to a medium-sized firm to being one of the main presenters for ITV Horse Racing, Richard has become a staple mark commentator.
Richard started his career in horse racing as a commentator for SIS in 1992. He commentated at Bath on Cup Final Day in 1992 and became an instant favourite among fans.
Richard has extensive experience working overseas, including a two-year contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club (1997-1999), as well as racing in Japan, Canada, Dubai, and the Spanish Derby.
In 2013, Richard Hoiles found himself a part of Channel 4’s commentary team for Aintree. The previous year, he captured the unique feat of being the Racecourse Commentator for every Classic in that year.
Today, you can find Richard on ITV Racing providing viewers with an enjoyable viewing experience, backed by a lot of stats. He also interacts with many racehorse fans on Twitter.
Simon Holt
If you’re a die-hard fan of Channel 4 Racing, then the name Simon Holt should be ingrained in your memories.
Becoming a racehorse commentator in 1984, Simon Holt provided listeners with in-depth, fantastic reviews of the races and offered valuable information.
Channel 4 saw the potential of this commentator and gave him his TV debut in 1994 at Newmarket. Since then, he has covered prestigious events, including the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival, on behalf of Channel 4.
In 2000, Holt proved to Channel 4 that he was exceptional at his job and, as a result, was appointed the show’s lead commentator for 16 years.
Nowadays, Simon is often seen at his local racetracks providing his magical commentary and writing blogs on sportinglife.com.
Mike Cattermole
One of the longest-serving commentators in the sport, Mike Cattermole, has proven to be a standout in the art of commentating.
Starting way back in 1984 for Timeform, Mike became an instant success, with thousands tuning in to hear what he had thought of the recent races.
After his stunt with Timeform, he became a vital member of The Sporting Life Weekender, attracting thousands to the brand and helping it remain viable during a challenging period.
Not only has he worked for one of the biggest names in horse racing, but he has also done extensive work for At The Races and even become a presenter on Sky Sports for horse racing.
Mike also had a spell as a jockey manager for the talented Willie Carson, which led to 700 victories achieved with Mike as manager.
He still writes for The Sporting Life and shares his views on races, so be sure to stay up-to-date with him!
Chris Hughes
One of the younger horse racing presenters, Chris Hughes, is not a stranger to the camera.
In 2017, Chris got his big break in the media by appearing on the hit reality TV show Love Island, where he finished in third place. As a result, Chris began to receive much more attention.
Through all of this attention, one thing seemed to be very clear. Christ Hughes loves horse racing. Ever since he was a child, he can remember watching the races with his Dad and even learned how to ride a horse so he could become a jockey.
Even though he never reached the level of being a jockey, ITV saw this huge interest and took a gamble by inviting him to be a presenter for significant events (like the Cheltenham Festival and the Royal Ascot).
He instantly became a classic presenter, and fans grew to love him more as he proved that he deserved his position.
Currently, Chris still presents some of the racing events and is working on his show.
Oli Bell
Finding someone who is a naturally talented commentator is incredibly hard, but Oli Bell is a natural.
While studying drama in school, Oli was allowed to host the school radio show during the breakfast hour at age 15. He was an instant success.
With his charisma and friendliness rising him above the rest, it was only a matter of time until his talents were put to use. Knowing his keen interest in horse racing, he was hired to be a presenter at a wide variety of horse racing events.
With Racing TV, he would also write his blogs, going in-depth about each event and the chances each competitor stood. Many horse racing fans could see that he was a serious pundit.
Oli Bell was so good at presenting that Sky Australia hired him to cover all of their national horse racing events, which he did so brilliantly.
In 2017, Oli signed with ITV Racing, and ever since then, he has become one of the leading commentators and presenters within the world of horse racing.
Ed Chamberlain
Ever heard of Sky Sports? If yes, then you’ve seen Ed Chamberlain.
Starting his presenting career in 1999 with Sky, Ed became a popular presence on the channel and helped Sky Sports secure the number one spot in horse racing.
During this time, he also hosted a show called “The Full SP” with Jeff Stilling, where the two would cover the week of horse racing.
Between 2000 and 2016, Ed became the main sports presenter for football, covering everything from the Premier League to the Champions League.
In 2017, Chamberlain decided to move back to horse racing and became the main presenter of ITV Racing. To this day, he still presents on the show and hasn’t lost his charm.
Matt Chapman
When it comes to award-winning horse racing presenters, Matt Chapman is one of the best within the industry.
Once he graduated from university, he joined the International Racing Bureau (IRB) in Newmarket before writing for the Racing Post for 8 years.
Over the years of writing, he demonstrated his deep knowledge of horse racing and garnered a large audience of loyal fans.
In 2000, he started making appearances on At The Races and soon became a vital member of their team. He has been said to have helped the At The Races show reach the stardom it is remembered for.
Winning the HWPA broadcaster award in 2010 and the public-voted Racing Post Broadcasters World Cup in the same year, it’s easy to see why so many people loved Matt Chapman.
Nowadays, Matt can still be found making appearances on TV and writing tips for upcoming races on Paddy Power.
Luke Harvey
As a familiar face, Luke Harvey has presented on numerous different shows and, as a result, is often seen as the face of horse racing.
Participating in shows like ITV At The Races, BBC Radio 5, and Live Video content provider for RaceBets, as well as Sky, Luke is likely to be one of the most experienced broadcasters in the industry.
Not only is he famous for his presenting, but Luke was also an experienced Jockey. He raced a total of 16 seasons and took home victories in some of the most significant events, including the Welsh Grand National, Cheltenham and Aintree festivals and Sandown’s prestigious Mildmay Memorial Chase.
In present times, Luke regularly works at the Royal Ascot, the Epsom Derby, the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival as a host and MC.
John Brough Scott
Being one of the most experienced horse racing presenters in history, John Brough Scott has been around to see a lot of the most iconic moments in horse racing history.
Born in 1942, John was raised around the sport of horse racing, having been introduced to it at a young age by his family.
Once he finished college, John practised to be a jockey and rode winners over 100 times. Some of his biggest wins ever include The Imperial Cup and The Mandarin Handicap Chase.
He decided in 1971 to change his career from being a jockey to being a horse racing correspondent for The ITV Seven. He would provide viewers with excellent analysis and summarise the history of the sport for younger viewers.
Once he finished with ITV Seven, he decided to move to Channel 4 Racing for over 30 years!
He was also a racing correspondent for The Sunday Times and wrote for the Racing Post (which he co-founded), The Independent and The Sunday Telegraph.
In 2017, John Brough Scott made his TV return after a 46-year hiatus since his debut. Since then, he still appears on ITV Racing and gives viewers a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Mark Johnson
Mark Johnson has one of the most iconic voices in the horse racing community.
Starting his commentating career in 1986 at Tweseldown Racecourse in Fleet, Hampshire, Mark instantly became a favourite commentator amongst racing fans.
Due to his massive success and fan base, he was called up in 1995 to announce and commentate on his first Classic, the St Leger Stakes.
Even though Mark Johnson was a British racecourse announcer, the sudden death of American horse racing commentator Luke Kruytbosch left a space that only Mark could fill.
Mark would then start commentating on the Kentucky Derby, and with his performance being spot on, his fan base grew significantly. He has been adding his charisma to this race since 2009.
However, as Mark gets older, he wishes to spend less time behind the mic in Kentucky and more time in front of the camera covering British races.
Currently, Mark Johnson makes appearances on ITV Racing, drawing on his years of commentating experience to create a sense of pure excitement.
