MEET THE TEAM
%20(1).png)
Rory Paddock
(MD & Chief Editor)
Meet our MD and Chief Editor Rory! Rory set up the company back in 2012 and with a background in primary teaching, he wasn’t destined for the world of horse racing editorial. However, having since worked with major publications and well-regarded companies in the racing industry, his love for racing and desire to provide a platform that’s by racing fans and for racing fans drives him to make the company a leading player in delivering UK and Irish racing content.
Dean Kilbryde
(Senior Pundit)
An avid horse racing fan, Dean began writing for for Racing Daily in 2014 and has been a stalwart member of the team ever since, covering both the flat and jumps… and even overseas meetings such as The Breeders Cup! Dean often employs a stats-based approach to his selections, considering prior key race trends in addition to various other factors when trying to find that hidden gem in a race card.
Matt Polley
(Senior Pundit)
Matt watched his first Grand National while at primary school, and from that moment knew horse racing was going to be his life.
Matt has worked in multiple positions within the racing industry, including assistant trainer to three trainers and is also a point to point winning jockey.
Favourite horse he’s ever ridden? Strong Promise is his answer.
Matt currently works in one of Europes leading equine hospitals as a radiographer as part of team dealing with some of the best bloodstock in the world.
.png)
Luke Tucker
(Senior Pundit)
Luke joined the Racing Daily Team around the 2018/19 jumps season. A die hard sports fan, specifically football (his beloved Bristol Rovers) and racing where National Hunt is where his real love for the sport blossoms. A regular attendee of the Cheltenham Festival and at his beloved local Wincanton track. Luke isn't afraid to try and find some antepost value in the build-up to any of the big weekend races.
Kieran McHugh
(Senior Pundit)
Kieran McHugh is one of our resident journalists, who’s love for racing spurred him into taking a degree, writing about it. From covering big meetings to conducting interviews, our roaming reporter strives to keep the fans updated and entertained. He’s written for various organisations and has worked with leading industry figures to provide varying types of content.
John Arnold
(Journalist & Bus Dev)
John is part of our editorial team providing Antepost Angle articles on major flat and jumps races in the UK and Irish calendars. He is also a regular panellist on our 'Turf Talk' podcast and does tipping previews to weekend TV races, as well as on course content.
John's love for horse racing came at a young age firstly on the flat following jockeys like Fallon, Eddery and Kinane regularly at Newmarket and Yarmouth. He has immense passion in both racing codes, flat & jumps, and is always happy to share his views and opinions on the sport. He regularly attends race meetings, notably the Cheltenham Festival each year, and has experienced the thrill and excitement of racing all across the UK, Ireland and France. His three favourite horses of recent years are Hurricane Fly, Native River and Galileo.
Sam King
(Pundit & Bus Dev)
Meet Sam, a current racing journalist and analyst who has amassed knowledge and experience from working in racing for several years. He began his journey at the Racing Post and has a particular interest in UK flat racing. A weekly regular on the racecourse, Sam has experience working in racing yards and for current jockeys. From older horse handicaps to juvenile five-furlong contests, Sam enjoys delving into the puzzle to solve some of racing’s biggest punting conundrums. When not on the racecourse or travelling towards one, you can often find him playing a variety of sports, with Football, Golf, Cricket and Tennis all on the agenda throughout the week.
Toby Darby
(Overseas Racing Pundit)
Toby has been Racing Fan for 8 years, he loves nothing more than to watch racing from across the globe, whether it be UK, Ireland, France or further afield in Hong Kong, Dubai or the US. A passion for all types of racing that takes up any spare moment he has. He loves nothing more than to go racing, a regular at Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival. It is not just Horse Racing, Toby will watch sport at every opportunity whether it’s Football, Formula 1, American Football or Greyhound Racing.
Alan Morris
(Journalist)
Alan has been following racing daily since the age of 10 and has written for many publications as well as running his own racing website and publishing ’50 Ways To Improve Your Betting’. Alan worked in racing administration for many years and subsequently as a Jockeys Agent. Alan loves trying to solve racing’s daily puzzles regardless of the class and enjoys gigs, quizzes and playing football on the side.
Dafydd Lloyd
(Journalist & Podcast)
Dafydd is part of our editorial team and regular panelist on our 'Turf Talk' podcast.
Dafydd’s love for horse racing came at a young age following interest in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and especially the rivalry between Kauto Star & Denman for many years. He has immense passion in both racing codes, flat & jumps, and is always open and excited to share his views and opinions on the sport. He regularly attends race meetings, notably the Cheltenham Festival each year, but has also experienced the thrill and excitement of Derby & Oaks Day at Epsom.
Katie Gibson
(Racing Lifestyle)
Meet your racing lifestyle columnist Katie Gibson. As a teacher, you can find Katie at a racecourse during the weekends, and occasionally midweek too…after all what are school trips for right? Before teaching, Katie explored a career in journalism writing for a number of magazines and then in marketing at James Purdey & Sons. During lockdown, Katie read every horse racing book she could get her hands becoming borderline obsessed with the sport. Now there is nothing she looks forward to more than the next big racing meet - oh and having the perfect outfit to ensure she’s the best turned out!
Gabriella Herbert
(Pedigree & Breeding)
Ella has worked with racehorses since she was at school, and has worked on various point-to-point yards for years, having a few spins herself as a novice rider. This sparked her interest in the sales industry and bloodstock side of things. She loves looking into form and pedigrees. She contributes to Racing Daily alongside working with pointers and breeze-up horses.
Liam Hall
(Pundit)
Meet Liam, he's spent 14 years working in different roles within the industry which includes riding as an Amateur Jockey and working as a pupil assistant trainer amongst other roles which will help him pass judgment on rides given by jockeys. He's spent plenty of hours studying breeding profiles to assist with his time spent at the sales which is an asset to both the team and his content here at Racing Daily,
Paul 'The Hat' Taylor
(Racing Social)
Paul has been following racing since the early eighties when his brother joined Nick Gazelee's stable as a "lad". He is a veteran of most Hennessey/ Ladbrokes / Coral cups since Galway Blaze triumphed in 85. He also has a strong affinity with Cheltenham having first visited the festival in 87 (snow year) and most years since (All 3 or 4 days). Out of racing he is a recycling & Waste Consultant and spends much of his time talking rubbish. Paul has a current ownership in a racehorse and rides his own ex-hunter regularly.
Racing Daily
