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Talking Horses

Today's best bets, the latest racing news plus day five of our weekly tipping competition

12pm Nowhere to go for Paco Boy

Chris Cook: You can watch yesterday's Prix du Moulin here. Paco Boy did not seem to run up to his best and could perhaps have used a stronger pace. Richard Hughes had him well placed through the first half of the race, just behind the leaders, but it was a pity he ended up being trapped behind the front pair in the home straight, with nowhere to go.

11.55pm Reading matter for you Cathy Gannon fans

Chris Cook: Cathy Gannon, well established as the most popular jockey on Talking Horses, has a full page to herself in today's Racing Post. She shares the ups and downs of her week, starting with an emotional first Group win in Ireland and ending with an injury at Brighton. It's well worth a read.

Today's best bets, by Will Hayler

By the time you read this, I will hopefully be safely ensconced in a Bath boozer, supping gently upon a pint of Old Nettlethrasher.

Today marks the annual pilgrimage I make with a few friends down to the South-West's most unextraordinary racecourse. At the time of writing. it looks a painfully difficult card to unravel, but buoyed by a couple of soothing ales I'm sure to be brimming with confidence by the time that the first race ticks around.

With plenty of pace in the line-up, I'm hoping they go fast enough for Barons Spy's (3.10) stamina to come into play. His mark has come down 9lb from the rating off which he outstayed his rivals at Warwick last summer and his latest third at Chepstow in quite a well-contested affair hinted at a revival in form.

Whodathought (2.10) makes some appeal tried in blinkers for the first time and with Richard Hughes taking the reins ahead of stablemate Fly By White. On more than one occasion, Whodathought has looked a slightly tricky sort, travelling smoothly before pressure is exerted at which point he has quickly capitulated.

Soft ground wouldn't have suited last time and today's race represents a definite drop in grade. Even if he can't keep his head in front at the line, I would fancy him to trade short in running for those prepared to try and lock in a profit on Betfair.

Glenmuir (4.50) represents a stable who are all performing better now than when under a cloud earlier in the season and he could go well despite his big weight at Newcastle.

But the pick of today's rather meagre offerings could be at Newton Abbot. Off for two years with a leg injury, Maizy Missile (3.00) has returned in fine form, showing admirable determination to get the better of her main rival in a similar contest at Uttoxeter in July.

She has far fewer miles on the clock than most of today's rivals and in a similar contest, she can defy a 9lb hike in the weights and win again. Interestingly, Maizy Missile is the only horse trained by Evan Williams' mum, Mary Evans.

Tipping competition - a new week

For the second time in a month, JahLion came out on top last week. He had no winners on the final day but his closest pursuers fared no better and he held on with a score of £12.25 to nab the brace of tickets to the Ayr Gold Cup offered by William Hill.　

This week's prize is a copy of the new book Rodders Of Arabia, the autobiography of the former trainer Rod "Nipper Reed" Simpson. "When you talk about the 'characters' in racing Rod Simpson is guaranteed to be in the top three," says John Francome in the press release. "On a different path he could have been a Sir Michael Stoute."

To kick things off, we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 3.20 Newcastle, 4.00 Newton Abbot, 4.40 Bath.　

In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.

As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers.

For terms and conditions click here.

Good luck!

Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results.

Click here for today's latest odds. [url: http://guardian.oddschecker.com/ ]

And post your racing-related comments below.

Paco Boy finds path blocked in Prix du Moulin at Longchamp

• Fuisse, an outsider, wins Group One mile contest
• Richard Hughes hits traffic problems on Paco Boy

Paco Boy failed to end a weekend of celebrations on a high when suffering comprehensive defeat in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. Richard Hughes, who less than 24 hours earlier had been an usher at the wedding of Paco Boy's assistant trainer, Richard Hannon Jr, failed to find a clear passage when challenging against the far rail and was forced to snatch up the colt just as they had reached top gear.

Fearing a slow early pace, Hughes rode Paco Boy more prominently than usual, settling him in third place behind the early frontrunner Siyouni before stoking his mount up with two furlongs left when the pace quickened.

It was a brave move and one which might have paid off had Paco Boy showed his trademark burst of acceleration but he was still struggling to get on top of the leader when the gap closed.

Victory went to Fuisse, who had delayed the start of the race by 15 minutes when twice unshipping his jockey Stéphane Pasquier in the preliminaries and running loose.

Fuisse, trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, stayed on strongly down the outside of the field and led in the last strides to deny Godolphin's Rio De La Plata by a head, with the same margin back to Siyouni. Paco Boy finished a further length and a half adrift in fourth, with the disappointing French Guineas and Derby winner Lope De Vega only fifth.

Head-Maarek said afterwards that she may now send Fuisse to Newmarket for the Emirates Champion Stakes in mid-October. Paco Boy, the 13-10 favourite, "didn't finish like he usually does", according to Hughes.

Godolphin also missed out in Baden-Baden as the increasingly disappointing Cavalryman failed to fire in the Group One Grosser Preis von Baden, but British-trained runners fared better in Turkey, claiming victories in both of the main contests.

Pressing and Dream Ahead filled the same placings in the Topkapi Trophy at Veliefendi as they did 12 months ago, with the Michael Jarvis-trained Pressing just holding on to claim the first prize worth £238,000.

Ridden prominently, Pressing shot clear a furlong out but drifted across the course as he began to tire and the line just came in time for Neil Callan's mount as Andrew Balding's runner-up came with a late lunge. The Luca Cumani-trained Mabait finished third.

British stables also achieved a one-two-three in the Bosphorus Cup, the James Given-trained Indian Days, ridden by Alan Munro, beating Sri Putra and Buzzword.

Talking Horses

Today's best bets and the latest racing news

Paul Hanagan reaches the 142 mark

Will Hayler: While Richard Hughes was heading into a Parisian dead end with Paco Boy in the Prix du Moulin, Paul Hanagan tightened his grip on the jockeys' championship at York.

A busy day at the track had started with a memorial service in nearby Malton, which many of the riders attended on the one-year anniversary of the death of jockeys Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson in a fire.

Hanagan, who along with his colleagues wore a black armband during racing, further extended his advantage over Hughes and Ryan Moore, who drew a blank from his mounts at the track.

After the success of El Viento for boss Richard Fahey in the two-year-old maiden, Hanagan has now ridden 142 winners this season, 20 more than Hughes and 39 more than Moore. Most bookmakers have now closed betting on the title, but Paddy Power quote Hanagan at 1-6.

"With riders as good as Ryan and Richard on your tail, you can't take anything for granted, but obviously it's looking good," said Hanagan.

"The biggest obstacle now is the tiredness. The Lincoln seems a long time ago now and to be honest, I am starting to feel it a bit. It's the miles that you do on the road which are the hardest. But I've got to my get my head down and keep focussing."

Officials at Kempton have played down an incident which took place after racing at the track on Saturday.

For the second year running at the meeting, a fracas broke down among racegoers, which one eyewitness described to Guardian Sport as "quite a punch-up".

"One bloke looked in a really bad way and then when this big security guard came running in, he managed to accidentally knock over a middle-aged lady who got on his way," the eyewitness added.

Kempton managing director Amy Starkey responded: "It was nothing like as serious as last year, after which lessons were learned, and security quickly escorted one person from the racecourse.

"We'd had a really good day with a crowd of 4,000, many of whom stayed behind to watch Olly Murs after racing, and this was only a very minor incident which was over almost as soon as it started."

15.20pm: Fuisse lifts Prix du Moulin

Will Hayler: Paco Boy failed to find top gear when it was needed and finished well beaten in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp this afternoon.

There was to be no double celebration for jockey Richard Hughes, who had last night attended the wedding celebrations of Paco Boy's assistant trainer, Richard Hannon Jr.

Hughes had the hot favourite positioned more prominently than usual in third as the Aga Khan's Siyouni cut out a fairly modest pace.

Turning for home, Hughes stuck to the far rail to try and make his challenge but even before the gap closed in front of him forcing Hughes to snatch up his mount with a furlong to run, Paco Boy was being asked some serious questions and it's impossible to argue that he would have won but for meeting the interference.

Instead, it was the fast-finishing Fuisse, the horse who had delayed the start by 15 minutes when unseating Christophe Lemaire and running loose, who got up in the last stride to deny Godolphin's Rio de la Plata.

15.05pm: Pressing scores for Michael Jarvis

Will Hayler: British runners dominated the finish of the Topkapi Trophy in Turkey this afternoon with Pressing and Dream Ahead filled the same placings as they did 12 months ago, with the Michael Jarvis-trained Pressing just holding on to claim the £238,000 first prize.

Ridden prominently, Pressing shot clear a furlong out but drifted across the course as he began to tire and the line only just came in time for Neil Callan's mount as Andrew Balding's runner-up came with a late lunge. The Luca Cumani-trained Mabait finished third.

Jarvis, who had watched home, said: "That was great, he's a fantastic horse, he really is. He's not happy unless he is away for three or four days!

"Maybe he was idling in front a touch, but he has that one big kick. It is always quite worrying whether Neil goes too early or leaves it too late, but it is a wonderful burst which helps him win his races."

Today's best bets, by Will Hayler

Rather Jo'Burg (3.10) than me. A 500-mile round trip from Sussex to York on the last weekend of the summer sounds fraught with danger to me, but Jo'Burg makes the trip north from Lady Herries' Angmering yard and I'm presuming it's not to watch Peppa Pig and pals at York Press Family Raceday..

He's an interesting horse, classy in his youth before losing his way but brought back to something like his best in winning two decent mile-and-a-quarter handicaps at Sandown.

Jo'Burg is happiest when given plenty of space and has proved most effective at Sandown this year when switched away from the field to the stands' rail — this tactic saw him beaten less than two lengths in a valuable affair at the same track a fortnight ago.

It would be no surprise to see him trying something similar under Seb Sanders this afternoon in a claimer where the £10,100 prize money is responsible for producing a field which is well above-average for this kind of event and tougher-looking than the claimers in which Sunnyside Tom has been mopping up recently.

As I write this, the crowds are pouring in at York, but 95 per cent of them are heading for the middle of the course at six quid a head. Someone 100 yards from the winning post is hammering in a windbreak. Given that today's card looks largely impossible, the best place to be is stood in the middle with a board and a marker.

Our old friend River Falcon (4.50) is back in action today, still attempting to re-invent himself as a seven-furlong performer. At his favourite track, I can't bring myself to oppose him.

Without Makfi and Goldikova in the line-up, Paco Boy has an obvious chance in today's Prix du Moulin, but I much prefer Lope de Vega (2.43) at the odds.

There's no guarantee that Paco Boy will get a decent pace to aim at today and that may put the ball in the court of Lope de Vega, especially if he gets a soft lead.

Tattenham Corner

Jamie Spencer, the top jockey, has complained about tempting food being on view in Newcastle's weighing room

Jamie Spencer wants ban on egg butties

Fake Twitter accounts appearing in the name of celebrities remain a constant problem for journalists hoping to use the website for information and quotes. A bogus account in the name of John McCririck caused a stir a couple of weeks ago, but a new name on the tweeting scene – and seemingly a genuine source – is that of the jockey Jamie Spencer. As well as addressing more mundane matters, he took umbrage over the Racing Post's assessment of his ride on Traffic Guard at Windsor last Saturday – "more rubbish" and threatened "excessive use of the whip" against the jockey with "egg butties in the weighing room" at Newcastle. The trainer Stef Higgins is another whose account is worth following. Having accused the handicapper this week of assessing one of her horses "at Pimm's o'clock", she gave a big word for Friday's Kempton winner My Best Bet.

Brighton rocked

High excitement at a busy East Brighton golf club yesterday after Gibraltar Lass, a filly running at Brighton, bolted, threw her rider, broke through a plastic rail and galloped on to the prestigious golf course. The horse ran alongside the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes to the par-five 18th where she careered down the fairway and jumped on the green, damaging it. Then she went down the first fairway, sending golfers scurrying into the rough – if they weren't there already – before leaving hoofprints all over the practice putting green. Gibraltar Lass's trainer, Hugh Collingridge, said today the filly had escaped with a few abrasions after being given a tranquilliser. Sedatives were also administered in the clubhouse, though members' talk soon turned to how many "horseshoe" putts they'd endured.

Don't panic Mr Mannering

Limited To Ladies, a syndicate set up exclusively for female owners of the John Best-trained filly Suspender Belt, nearly had a surprise new member last week. A Folkestone raffle for a share in the filly was won by a 92-year-old gentleman by the name of Mr Mannering. Happily, the story had a nice ending as he is giving his syndicate share to a daughter, Leanne.

Dead scared

Halloween is taken seriously across the Atlantic as Churchill Downs in Kentucky – which recently introduced floodlights for evening meetings – has found. The track was due to stage a "Downs After Dark" card beginning at 4.30pm on 31 October. But – fearing that a night beneath the twin spires could prove too spooky – the start has been moved to lunchtime so that the action can take place in daylight.

What's In A Name?

Last Saturday's Prestige Stakes winner Theyskens' Theory is the favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas following her Goodwood success and her name reflects the business interests of her United States-based owner, Andrew Rosen. He is chief executive of the Theory fashion business and his homebred filly's name reflects the fact that his company had just signed up the top designer Olivier Theyskens to produce a new line of clothing. It is a naming system that has worked in the past – Rosen's father, Carl, named his 1974 champion filly Chris Evert after a line of sportswear he had just brought out backed by the tennis star.

Cape Blanco storms home for Seamus Heffernan in Irish Champion Stakes

• Aidan O'Brien second string is high class at Leopardstown
• Hot favourite and stablemate Rip Van Winkle a poor second

Aidan O'Brien's attempt to complete a Group One treble in less than 70 minutes came up just short today, but while his authority could not extend to Haydock's Sprint Cup, his dominance here was all but absolute. O'Brien saddled four of the first five winners on the most important afternoon of Leopardstown's season, including a 1-2 with Cape Blanco and Rip Van Winkle in the Irish Champion Stakes, and the only disappointment for his followers in the day's feature race was that the forecast was in the "wrong" order.

Rip Van Winkle, the winner of the International Stakes at York last month, was the 8-11 favourite for the Champion, while Cape Blanco, O'Brien's Irish Derby winner, was sent off at 6-1. In the early stages, as Seamus Heffernan set a solid gallop on Cape Blanco, it seemed that he might set the race up for his stable companion, but even an operation with Ballydoyle's wealth of riches does not waste a Derby winner in a pacemaking role.

Heffernan judged the tempo to perfection, and got Cape Blanco running with such a powerful rhythm that it was clear from two furlongs out that it would take an immense effort to pass him. Another kick on the home turn was the final act, and though Rip Van Winkle quickened from the rear to short-head Twice Over for second, he was still five and a half lengths away from the winner.

Cape Blanco beat Workforce, the Derby winner, in the Dante at York in May, and finished a distant second to Harbinger in the King George last time out, so there is little reason to doubt the form. He now seems more likely to run in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket next month rather than the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in which O'Brien already has the ante-post favourite, Fame And Glory.

"Seamus gave him a great ride," O'Brien said. "We've always thought this horse wanted a mile and a quarter and nice ground. He showed a lot of speed, class and determination, and he got into that great rhythm. He probably gets a mile and a half because his class makes him get it, rather than being a mile and a half horse. It was his courage that got him home at The Curragh. The lads will talk about everything now, he's got races like the Champion and America, there's a lot of possibilities.

"We were delighted with Rip Van Winkle. The ground is on the soft side now, and if we'd had that at declaration time, we wouldn't have been here with him. He has speed and he's a real miler."

O'Brien took his first Group One of the afternoon in the Matron Stakes here, as Lillie Langtry – at 7-2, the longest price of his major contenders for the day's main events – beat Spacious by a neck. She had a couple of lengths to find on the runner-up turning into the short home straight, but while the final margin was small, Lillie Langtry's attitude was admirable, and there was never much doubt from a furlong out that Murtagh would get her home.

O'Brien is inclined to send the winner to the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp on Arc day, while she is also likely to form part of Ballydoyle's contingent for the Breeders' Cup in Kentucky in early November. Last year, she finished eighth when favourite for the Juvenile Fillies' Turf, and either the Mile or the Filly & Mare Turf would appear to be a realistic target.

"She was just ready to start back today," O'Brien said, "and Johnny gave her a masterful ride. He only really asked her to race for furlong and a half, so he gave her a peach. She was brave and determined, and she's always been a very classy filly. We'll look forward to her now for the rest of the year."

The Group One race that escaped Ballydoyle's grasp was the Sprint Cup at Haydock, where O'Brien's Starspangledbanner, a dual winner at the top level this season, faded abruptly after setting a strong pace and finished only fifth behind Henry Candy's gelding Markab. The winner may now head for the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp next month.

"He's a seven-year-old and has got a lot of miles on the clock," Candy said. "He started running in 80-rated handicaps over seven furlongs at Lingfield and it is incredible how he has progressed since."

Paco Boy appears to have a straightforward task in the Group One Prix du Moulin at Longchamp tomorrow afternoon, in which he seems sure to start favourite with both Goldikova and Makfi heading elsewhere.

Lope De Vega (2.43) could still be a significant obstacle, however. André Fabre's colt looked outstanding when winning both the French 2,000 Guineas over tomorrow's track and trip and the French Derby over 10 furlongs, and though he ran poorly last time, when he failed to beat even his pacemaker in the Prix Jean Prat, his earlier form gives him a outstanding chance.

Talking Horses | Will Hayler

Today's best bets and latest news in our daily racing blog

Cape Blanco triumphs at Leopardstown

3.45pm: Cape Blanco, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, won the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The winner, a 6-1 shot, had the field well stretched before the home straight and, by forcing the pace, Heffernan had Johnny Murtagh struggling on stablemate Rip Van Winkle (8-11 fav), who had to battle for second place half a dozen lengths back.

Starspangledbanner at half-mast

3.45pm: Markab, trained by Henry Candy and ridden by Pat Cosgrave, won the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock at odds of 12-1. The seven-year-old powered clear up the stand side, leaving the heavily backed favourite Starspangledbanner trailing in his wake.
Despite drifting towards the far side in the closing stages, Markab comfortably held the late charge of Lady Of The Desert (9-1). Genki was third at 20-1.

Rain at Leopardstown

1.30pm: There has been plenty of rain in the Dublin area – it was hurling it down as the Airbus inched its way along O'Connell Street this morning – and the official going has now been tweaked from good-to-firm to good-to-firm, good in places. The rain has eased off now, but it looks like showers through the afternoon, and the first race should give a better indication of just how much of it has got into the ground. There has been plenty of watering here this week, after all.

Today's TV races

Johnny Murtagh could have travelled to Haydock to partner Starspangledbanner in the Betfred Sprint Cup but stays closer to home in order to maintain his association with a colt he has always held in the very highest esteem.

Murtagh may have underestimated the strength of the opposition at York last month, for having travelled strongly, Rip Van Winkle suddenly had to be asked a question at the furlong pole to get the better of Twice Over.

To some extent Twice Over could be considered slightly unlucky that day as by the time the winner's challenge emerged, he had been softened up by the effects of a protracted duel for the lead with Byword, which lasted the length of the straight.

But Rip Van Winkle (3.45) has been registering improved figures with every start this season and his second to the outstanding Sea The Stars in last year's Coral-Eclipse remains fresh in the memory. That form is some way better than Twice Over's success in the same race 12 months later and he can confirm the York placings today.

Haydock 2.00 On his belated return to action, Awzaan looks highly vulnerable. Despite having to give weight away, Fanunalter makes plenty of appeal. He finished only four lengths behind Premio Loco two runs ago, despite not being suited by the slow pace, and endured a luckless run at Salisbury last time.

Kempton 2.15 Some will be willing to take on Hooray having to give 2lb to The Paddyman, but Sir Mark Prescott's filly is tough. If she gets her own way at the front again, she will be hard to pass.

Haydock 2.30 Third in the King's Stand Stakes last season, Anglezarke had seemed to lose her way on her first few starts for Richard Fahey, but caught the eye when rattling home in fourth in the Beverley Bullet last weekend. She has dropped to a nice-looking handicap mark.

Kempton 2.45 Despite having been put in his place by Sans Frontieres last time out, Laaheb is still of obvious interest in this line-up and can confirm form by again beating Saptapadi. He was probably in front soon enough last time and it would be no surprise to see more conservative riding tactics employed today.

Thirsk 2.55 Mulish in the preliminaries and only marginally more tractable in the race itself, Green Lightning looked a difficult customer at York last time out. But maybe the booking of Silvestre de Sousa can make the difference here. There is no tougher jockey than the Brazilian.

Haydock 3.05 A competitive affair, but plenty of these look to be losing the battle against the handicapper judged upon their latest efforts and the answer may lie with a progressive stayer such as Kansai Spirit. He impressed in victory at Newbury last time out, travelling comfortably throughout and quickening clear to score in the manner of a horse who is ahead of the handicapper at present.

Kempton 3.20 An open contest in which Clockmaker can only be a tentative selection after his appalling run at Sandown last time out. He had looked smart previously at this track and the return to Polytrack can only help.

Haydock 3.35 Starspangledbanner should appreciate the return to six furlongs having been outpaced in last month's Nunthorpe Stakes at York. However, he has had a busy year on both sides of the globe and that may just be catching up with him. A lightly raced three-year-old who boasts Group One form and could well be open to improvement faced with this different kind of test, Rainfall is a ludicrous price at around 20-1. Her profile is reminiscent of the 2005 winner Goodricke, who came back down in trip to beat better-fancied older rivals. A gutsy winner of the Jersey Stakes, Rainfall was third in the Falmouth before seeming not to get home over a mile behind Goldikova last time. But she travelled with power in that contest before running out of gas and is classy.

Horse sense

Twice Over (3.45) has work to do if he is to reverse form with Rip Van Winkle at Leopardstown this afternoon, but he seems better than ever at home at Newmarket and it is far from impossible that he can rise to the occasion in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Henry Cecil and jockey Tom Queally have a couple of ideas up their sleeves as to how best to go about getting the better of their Irish-trained rival who was arguably suited by the way in which Twice Over and Byword took each other on at York, leaving them both vulnerable to a sucker punch.

Kansai Spirit (3.05) was paired up with Duncan to work in John Gosden's second lot on the Al Bahathri gallop on Wednesday morning and had pleased his trainer since his latest win at Newbury. He is a young horse on the upgrade and may be too smart for some more exposed types in the Old Borough Cup at Haydock today.

Gosden has a two-year-old who is very much one to look out for, an unraced Medicean colt called Naqash who holds an entry in the Dewhurst Stakes and has produced some highly impressive pieces of work in recent weeks.

Cityscape (2.00) carries some stable confidence on his first start for almost four months in Haydock's opening race. Roger Charlton's runner has had his problems, but also has a good record coming back from a break and was not at his best when outpointed by King Of Dixie at Ascot last time.

Brian Meehan has been finding the net with a few of his two-year-olds in the last few days and Hammer Home (4.10) is another who is fancied to go close at Haydock today. Stablemate Titus Mills, who works well with some of Meehan's most promising juveniles at home, is being lined up to appear at Goodwood on Tuesday and is also fancied to run a big race.

Seen and heard

Controversy remains firmly on the local news agenda before next week's St Leger meeting at Doncaster. After a local action group staged a sit-in to prevent trees being cut down earlier this year, council plans have now been submitted for a second stage of "tree management". Full details are not due to be released to the public until later this month but a local newspaper, The Star, suggested this week that up to 80 per cent of trees on the common land in the middle of the course could be felled in order to improve viewing from the stands - leaving activists up in arms.

Man Of The Match is fancied to go close on his handicap bow at Haydock this afternoon. His trainer, Alan Bailey, rates the colt highly and admitted in a recent television interview that at a princely 135,000 guineas, Man Of The Match's purchase price was about as much as the rest of his stable put together. Confusingly, however, Bailey seemed unclear about the Rathordan Partnership, the colt's registered owners. "I don't know - I haven't really met them," he said. How odd.

Will Hayler's best bet

Orpenindeed (8.20 Wolverhampton)

Orpenindeed's spell in the care of Tim Vaughan in south Wales came to an end after a disappointing third here last time out, but six furlongs seemed too sharp for him that day. Transferred to Jim Best in Lewes, the seven-year-old is back at seven furlongs now and, with blinkers fitted in an attempt to sharpen him up, he looks a more trustworthy conveyance than main rival Dingaan.

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Ebor-winning Marcus Reeder fails to pass 'fit and proper person' test

• BHA tells owner he will not be allowed to re-register
• Dirar's owner warned off twice for breaking betting rules

Marcus Reeder, who enjoyed his biggest moment as an owner when Dirar won the Ebor last month, has been prevented from re-registering as an owner in Britain. The Northamptonshire man has been told that he fails the "fit and proper person" test, having been warned off twice for breaches of the sport's rules on corruption.

The decision by a licensing committee of the British Horseracing Authority appears to kill off Reeder's hopes of expanding his racing interests in this country. Standing in the winner's enclosure after Dirar's success at York, he said: "I've just started buying a lot more horses and a few will be going to Gordon [Elliott, trainer of Dirar] and a few will be going with one of my good friends, Seamus Durack [a jump jockey], who's just got a licence to train. He'll be based in Lambourn."

Reeder, who may appeal against the decision, has served two bans for separate breaches of racing's rules. He was banned for a year in 2006 after laying one of his own horses through Betfair and then for a further 18 months in 2008 when he was found to be part of a nine-man conspiracy to profit from the laying of horses, some of which were owned by one of his co-conspirators.

After that second ban ended in May, Reeder wrote to the BHA expressing contrition and seeking to resume his activities as an owner in Britain. In the immediate aftermath of the Ebor, the BHA signalled that Reeder had been successful, but this was a mistake and in fact the matter was still under consideration. He was not available for comment last night.

Dirar was able to run in Reeder's name because the horse is based in Ireland, where the authorities have allowed him to re-register, in full knowledge of his history. A spokesman for Horse Racing Ireland said at the time that there was "no reason not to set up an account".

It remains to be seen whether the BHA will now take any action to prevent Reeder-owned runners based in Ireland from running in Britain, or if the Irish authorities will reconsider their position.

The field for today's Matron Stakes, one of two Group One races taking place at Leopardstown, has been reduced to six following the withdrawal of Jacqueline Quest, who was first past the post in the 1,000 Guineas in May. "She's just got a bit of a swollen joint," said a spokeswoman for her trainer, Henry Cecil. "It's nothing to worry about and she should be back out in a few weeks."

The chances of Aidan O'Brien winning three Group Ones today are no bigger than 12-1, according to one firm of bookmakers. O'Brien has half the field for the Irish Champion Stakes, as well as Starspangledbanner in Haydock's big sprint, but reportedly views Lillie Langtry in the Matron as a weak link. The filly is returning from a disappointing run at Newmarket's July meeting.

Talking Horses

Today's best bets, the latest racing news plus day five of our weekly tipping competition

Today's best bets, by Will Hayler

Dedication. Dedication. Dedication. That's what you need. There might just be a chance that I am simply trying to be too clever in picking out Record Breaker (9.15) in the last race at Kempton tonight, particularly as the betting does not suggest that anyone else gives him much of a chance at around the 14-1 mark.

His form has been in something of a downward spiral since he finished second to Buxted in a Listed race on his last visit to this track in March.

However, having been wearing a visor for his last couple of starts, the blinkers he has worn for his last two successes are back on now and I am hoping that this switch coincides with a return to more aggressive riding tactics, as these have been used to good effect with him in the past and he also has the services of the excellent front-running rider Joe Fanning this evening.

Looking through his rivals, there seems a good chance that Fanning should be able to get to the front easily enough if he wants to and if the pair can dominate I give Record Breaker a serious chance even with his all-weather rating having annoyingly been kept much higher than his turf mark.

Johnson might have already had a winner on the Kempton card by then because Glen Shiel (5.45) has an obvious chance in the opener.

He produced a rare poor effort on his only previous try on Polytrack but has been running really well on turf of late, finishing second in a solid Ayr handicap full of recent winners last time out.

This evening's move up to a mile should suit and against a largely exposed bunch of rivals, he may prove tough to beat if repeating the form of any of his last three runs.

Smarty Socks (4.10) would have gone close in a valuable handicap at Ripon on Monday but for meeting trouble in running having already done his usual trick of losing half a dozen lengths coming out of the stalls.

Today's competition at Musselburgh looks considerably softer and granted a better route through the pack, he must be the one to beat.

Ryan Moore, the champion Flat jockey, continues to ease himself back into the daily routine after an injury when he partners Lost In The Moment (3.50) at Lingfield. Kieren Fallon, who has been sidelined by flu-type symptoms for the last two days, is expected to be back in action with several mounts at the same track.

Tipping competition, day five

Donlewis was yesterday's leader and found an 11-4 winner, yet he's dropped to third. JahLion went steaming past with winners at 5-1 and 11-4, while londonpatrick had the 5-1 winner to go second.

This week's prize is a pair of tickets to the top enclosure on Ayr Gold Cup day, Saturday 18 September, generously offered by William Hill, who sponsor the great sprint handicap.

Get those tips in early! In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day (i.e. today).

For today's thrilling climax we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 4.40 Musselburgh, 5.00 Brighton, 5.20 Lingfield.

As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not yet joined in this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you must start on -12.

For terms and conditions click here.

Good luck!

Standings after day four

JahLion +15.25

londonpatrick +13.50

donlewis +13.25

goofs +7.75

DrSativa +6

MauriceNL +5.50

Woadboy +5

Mulldog +4.50

xwireman +3.50

TheVic +3.50

BearRides +3

millreef +2.50

Ellandback +2.25

chiefhk +0.50

chrishol +0

chris1623 +0

sandiuk -0.50

tom1977 -1

JDK1 -1

15244 -1

TL127 -1

moidadembums -2.75

sangfroid -3

carl31 -3.25

erifder -5.50

Copshaw -5.50

23skidoo -6

suckzinclee -6

diegoisgod -6.50

coma88 -6.50

Rivercity -6.50

pops2 -6.50

WalthamstowLad -6.50

MrPositive -7

melonk -7

titusisashambles -7.50

Ormrod76 -7.50

slackdad38 -7.50

Viejo -12

Cairo -12

leviticus67 -12

Onmeheadson -12

Shrewdette -12

snowy81 -12

drupat -12

Rollneck -12

peterpickum -12

MISTERCHESTER -12

Templegate -12

Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results.

Click here for today's latest odds.

And post your racing-related comments below

Claims Five: Why you should care about the Am I Blue coup | Chris Cook

An obscure race at Hereford this week showed up a lot of the problems with British horse racing

Somebody made a killing from a handicap hurdle at Hereford on Wednesday. As you may well be aware, the race was won in impressive fashion by Am I Blue, who had been backed from 25-1 down to 5-1 before hosing up by 19 lengths.

The filly opened at 25-1 because she seemed to have lost what ability she once had. Still without a win in 16 races, she had been consistently moderate when trained by Tim Vaughan but seemed to have become utterly hopeless since moving a few miles down the road to Delyth Thomas at Bridgend.

In her three runs before Wednesday, she was stuffed out of sight, being beaten by 22 lengths, 75 lengths and 88 lengths. The handicap rating assigned to her went down with each race, while her odds got bigger and bigger.

Then came Wednesday and an implausible reversal of fortune. Perhaps there are reasonable explanations for everything that happened that day, but we have not yet heard them in anything other than outline form. There has been outrage in some quarters, amusement in others. Here's my reaction.

1) The stewards have let everyone down

In the immediate aftermath of the race, the stewards asked Thomas if she knew any reason for Am I Blue's improved form. Thomas offered two, that the horse had had "spinal therapy" and had benefited from a change in tactics, racing prominently instead of being held up.

Whether or not they were disposed to believe her, the stewards should at this point have called a formal inquiry, so that at the very least they could get as much detail as possible from Thomas about the treatment this horse is supposed to have had. In light of the amazingly prescient support for Am I Blue in the betting market, it would then have been an excellent idea to refer the whole matter to the British Horseracing Authority, who would be in a better position to investigate the source of that support and the reasons for it.

Instead, the stewards noted Thomas's comments and took no further action. All was right with their world and nothing untoward could possibly have occurred. They had no curiosity about, for example, the precise details of this spinal therapy that can apparently transform a horse from tail-ender to easy winner in just two weeks.

"There was nothing suspicious to investigate," the stipendiary steward, Simon Cowley, told the Racing Post. Given the amazing circumstances of this coup, the stewards should have been very careful in accepting any explanation that Thomas might offer. That they swallowed her words whole and enquired no further suggests they are so credulous as to be incapable of doing a steward's job properly.

As it turns out, there will be an investigation by the British Horseracing Authority in any case. The fact that this was announced just two hours after the race merely goes to show that the Hereford stewards should have taken more of an interest in the first place. Let's hope the investigation is not hampered by their failure to take full, detailed statements in the immediate aftermath.

2) Delyth Thomas seems an unlikely mastermind

Thomas appears to be very well respected as a trainer of Arab racehorses but her record in thoroughbred racing is poor. She has had 19 runners on the Flat since 1989 without getting one in the first three and her 173 runners over jumps had yielded just two successes before this week. Both those wins were recorded by Timidjar some five years ago, in selling hurdles for conditional riders.

When Timidjar won for Thomas, he started at 14-1 and 11-1, so it's clear that this trainer has absolutely no history of orchestrating anything approaching what happened on Wednesday.

That, of course, would make her the ideal name to have next to your horse in the racecard if you were plotting some kind of coup. Thomas is also the registered owner of Am I Blue, but it is difficult to believe that she alone has prepared this horse, especially if we accept her word that she took no part in the gamble. That money came from someone with reason to expect a big run.

Thomas must be asked if anyone else, perhaps a more established trainer, had any hand in Am I Blue's preparation. Of course, one would hardly expect her to answer 'yes' to such a question, which is why one hopes the BHA have an integrity department that can get information by other means than asking questions.

3) Pre-race information is vital

It is deeply unsatisfactory that a trainer can expect to land a coup and then wave away queries by saying: "Well, we fixed [insert physical problem here] and he/she/it obviously feels like a different horse today." Anyone who imagines that punters will swallow that without further elaboration is treating us with contempt.

Here's a thought: if you know a reason why your horse may run a great deal better than it did last time, why not mention it to somebody beforehand? That would seem to be the sensible thing to do, unless you want to find yourself constantly on the receiving end of opprobrium from the press and public.

In fact, Thomas appears to have broken the rules of racing by failing to mention the spinal therapy to officials before Wednesday's race. If, as she claims, some kind of back or shoulder problem was to blame for the three woeful efforts by Am I Blue that preceded her win, Thomas was bound to report that under BHA rule 30.1, which says:

"A trainer must make a report of anything that he considers might have materially affected the performance in the race of any horse trained by him."

As soon as she discovered the problem and commissioned that much-vaunted spinal therapy, Thomas should have been straight on the phone to the BHA. Why wasn't she?

I dare say she would claim inexperience or ignorance of the rule, but the fact is that this rule seems more honoured in the breach than the observance. Times without number, trainers have stood in the winner's enclosure and explained that their charge had been found to have a runny nose / the plague / a missing leg after its previous race and was a certainty to win once the issue was resolved.

Always, on these occasions, the trainer expects to be congratulated for having fixed the problem, instead of being beaten to death for failing to mention it.

Well, trainers are busy people. Perhaps we should make it easier for them to comply with the rules.

Why could there not be a simple piece of software that allows the stable secretary to tap into their computer any reason why Horse A is going to run better in tomorrow's race than it did last time? The explanation could appear on the BHA's excellent website on a page dedicated to that purpose and arranged by race. Punters could scan that page for useful information before placing their bets.

4) Jockey changes should be like-for-like

One of the factors that aggravated punters in regard to Am I Blue was that the jockey whose name appeared next to it in the racecard was Dean Coleman, whereas the horse was in fact ridden by the vastly more experienced Richard Johnson. Thomas and Coleman appear to have tried hard to make this feature of the race as annoying as possible, by providing conflicting explanations for the switch.

Thomas told reporters that Coleman had had to go to the dentist. Coleman, who was present at the track when the race was run, claims the change was necessary because his car got a puncture and he was in danger of arriving late.

Ho hum. They'll probably have their story sorted out by the time the BHA's investigators call round. I suppose it is not completely impossible that both explanations could be true; that Coleman went to the dentist and then tried to make it to the track before sustaining a puncture.

But if it should turn out that either of these explanations is actually bogus, it may look as though connections of Am I Blue were trying to put punters away, lining up a top jockey for their fancied runner but pretending that some youngster would be in the saddle until the bets were on.

It all seems so unnecessary, if the switch was actually planned, since Coleman is capable and would surely have won on Am I Blue in any case. Heck, almost any jockey with a licence could have won on him.

The time has come for the BHA to contemplate a rule that prevents trainers ditching a no-name rider for a big-name jockey at the last moment. Coleman is still so inexperienced that he is allowed to claim 5lb from the weight his mounts are set to carry. If he is taken off a horse, for any reason, his replacement should also be a claimer.

The BHA's spokesman, Paul Struthers, told me that such a rule would now be considered. "It happens rarely but when it does happen it always causes consternation and suspicion," he said.

That's not to say that such suspicion is always justified. But there's no need to rub the audience up the wrong way.

5) Why this matters

Horse racing depends on the support of punters, who make an enormous contribution to the sport, running into tens of millions of pounds every year, via the levy on bookmakers' profits. Admittedly, that source of income is in decline, while racecourses are getting more and more money through picture rights.

Of course, that money also depends on punters. Bookmakers will lose interest in screening live racing in their shops if no one is betting on it. Terrestrial TV channels will cut back on their coverage if no one tunes in.

If it did not grip gamblers around Britain, horse racing would be as obscure and as precariously funded as show-jumping.

It should not be necessary to assert the importance of keeping punters happy, but sadly it is, because many racing professionals show little but disdain for the betting public. And in spite of their importance, punters form the only body of people in the factionalised world of racing without any organisation to protect their interests.

Racing takes punters for granted and I can imagine no future in which that will not be the case. It is a dangerous, self-harming way to behave and the sport's best friends will always be those who advise it to curb that tendency, to do something for the gamblers, to pay lip service at the very least to the idea that they are valued.

It is simply not enough to shrug and say that this kind of thing has always happened, that many punters appreciate a good coup, even if they're not on the winning side.

When a horse with rubbish form is heavily backed and wins easily, punters are bound to suspect they're being taken for a ride. If officials show no interest in examining such events, punters will feel like gullible marks in a cruel and cynical world. And whose money will we take when they're gone?

Twice Over camp hoping shorter track helps them beat Rip Van Winkle

• Tomorrow's Leopardstown race 100 yards shorter than York
• Harbinger sold to stand at stud in Japan

Connections of Twice Over are pinning their hopes on the layout of Leopardstown racecourse as the reason why their horse might beat Rip Van Winkle in the Irish Champion Stakes tomorrow. When the pair met in the Juddmonte International at York last month, Rip Van Winkle finished strongly to go past his rival in the final strides.

"Saturday's race is about 100 yards less and you'd have backed Twice Over to win the York race with 100 yards to go," said Teddy Grimthorpe, a spokesman for Twice Over's owner, Khalid Abdulla. "The run-in at Leopardstown is not as far as it is at York and we were only beaten half a length. It's not such a great lot to turn around."

Grimthorpe said Twice Over was versatile as to tactics and he may need to be, as the pace of the race is likely to be controlled by Aidan O'Brien's three runners.

Kieren Fallon missed a second day's racing because of flu-like symptoms, which caused him to give up six rides at Salisbury. The jockey is expected to return this afternoon at Lingfield.

Harbinger has been sold for an undisclosed sum to stand at stud in Japan. The colt, briefly the highest-rated racehorse in the world after winning the King George by 11 lengths, is said to be recovering well from the fractured cannon bone he sustained on the gallops last month.

Ryan Moore returns to action but accepts that title chance has gone

The champion jockey was unplaced on two rides as he came back from a three-week absence

No one expected Ryan Moore to celebrate his return to race-riding after three weeks on the sidelines by high-fiving a long line of punters as he left the weighing room but, even by his standards, his afternoon here was distinctly low-key. The one bright moment came as he walked into the paddock for his first ride of the day.

"Don't smile, Ryan," Frankie Dettori called out breezily as they trotted past the press corps and, just for once, the champion jockey found it difficult to do anything but.

For any punters still clinging forlornly to short-priced bets on Moore for the jockeys' title, though, this was the day when all hope seemed to evaporate. Moore's two rides on the card were both unfancied in the market and both failed to trouble the judge.

Caraboss, an 8-1 chance owned by the Queen, did at least make it into fourth place in division two of the fillies' maiden, but Tale Untold, at 20-1, was only fifth of eight in the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes half an hour later.

Despite his three previous titles, the championship has never been an over- riding priority for Moore, who was struggling to keep up with Paul Hanagan even before he suffered a wrist injury in a post-race fall at Windsor on 9 August.

With his services likely to be required in America for the Breeders' Cup in the final week of the turf season, he would need to build a secure lead by the end of October and, even if Sir Michael Stoute's stable explodes into form, just bridging the 33-winner gap to Hanagan would be an immense task.

But Caraboss did not hint at a sudden spate of winners from Freemason Lodge – indeed Stoute, for all the lucrative heroics of Workforce and Harbinger, has saddled saddled just 17 winners since the end of June.

Moore, who spoke briefly to reporters afterwards, has apparently accepted that his title race is run. "It appears that way," he said. "It's not that I don't rate championships, I wouldn't say that, but I guess I'll just keep doing what I usually do."

Moore tried to reduce the swelling on his injured wrist and accelerate his recovery using a cryogenic chamber at a specialist centre in Tring.

"I was down in Tring for about 10 days," he said. "The treatment helps to keep your fitness up because you do a bit of training afterwards and it gives you a bit of a boost, so it's easier to work after you've had the treatment. I've been riding out for the last week and a half now. It's good to be back."

Moore would not be drawn, though, on who he expects to succeed him as champion in what looks like a straight race between Hanagan and Richard Hughes. "It's two months away," he said, "and anything can happen in racing."

It felt like high summer at Salisbury, but the results did not match the fine weather, with 33-1 chances successful in both divisions of the maiden and Margot Did, the hot favourite for the Dick Poole, edged out by a nose and a neck behind Brevity in a race that never quite unfolded as Hayley Turner, Margot Did's rider, would have liked.

Dettori later failed to deliver on an even-money chance as Khawlah, whose relatives include Sea The Stars, started slowly and finished fast but too late in division two of the maiden.

Both Shim Sham and Brevity are trained by Brian Meehan, who could be a man to follow closely over the next few weeks. "The spring was tough, but they're coming through now," Meehan said. "I think my two-year-olds are very special. I thought we had a hell of a bunch last year but they're even better this year."

Talking Horses: The latest news and best bets in our daily horse racing blog, plus our weekly tipping competition

The latest news and best bets in our daily horse racing blog, plus our weekly tipping competition

3.20pm Moore is fourth on return to action

Chris Cook: Ryan Moore finished fourth in a Salisbury maiden on his return to the track after a wrist injury. Riding Caraboss in the Queen's colours, Moore found his mount getting outpaced in mid-race before running on well at the end.

There was a lot of support for Godolphin's Khawlah, sent off the even-money favourite, but she was in trouble after starting slowly and getting trapped on the rail at the rear. Naturally, she ran on strongly when it was too late to catch Brian Meehan's Shim Sham (33-1). Sympathy to you favourite-backers.

Win VIP tickets to the Ayr Gold Cup

For anyone who doesn't win this week's competition, you've got a second bite at the cherry. Enter our online competition to win VIP tickets to the Ayr Gold Cup here.

Tim Vaughan's thoughts on Am I Blue

Chris Cook: Here's a posting I put on the blog last night, which I'm sticking up here as well in case anyone missed it who may be interested. I called Tim Vaughan to ask for his thoughts on Am I Blue, who landed an amazing gamble at Hereford yesterday, and he was happy to discuss it.

Vaughan trained the filly from last autumn until the end of March, at which point Am I Blue was sold by her owner, David Lovell, to Delyth Thomas, who trains a few miles from Vaughan's yard.

Vaughan didn't manage to get Am I Blue to win from five attempts over hurdles but she ran respectably, producing form figures of 32553. She appeared to have completely lost her form in three runs for Thomas, in all of which she was tailed off, before hacking up yesterday when well backed.

Vaughan said he had always felt the filly had ability but that she was too high in the weights. "She was very consistent with me but she was running off a mark of 100," he said. "Since she left me, she's been dropped a considerable amount."

That last point is perfectly true. Having still been on a rating of 100 when running for Thomas in June, Am I Blue had been dropped 17lb to yesterday's mark of 83.

Vaughan also feels that the horse has improved for today's step up to two and a half miles. He thought, when she was in his yard, that this might be the case, but could find no suitable races over further than two miles for such a young horse.

"She had better form with me than she's shown today, but off higher marks," Vaughan said. "I saw her in the paper today and I thought, good God, running off 83 and over two and a half miles, she'll be thrown in.

"We always thought she was a decent enough little horse but she was exposed. At the time, she was handicapped to what she was. Today, she was running off a mark of 83 and I should think she'll probably go straight back up to 100 again and she'll struggle. Well, she might be competitive, but she certainly won't be thrown in.

"She was very consistent with me and, if she'd stayed here, she'd probably still be on 100. Well, regrettably, owners don't want to keep paying to be third.

Today's best bets, by Will Hayler

There's a bug going round, as my mum used to say. On Tuesday it was Richard Hughes and now it's Kieren Fallon who's too unwell to ride. Could it be that Ryan Moore, due to return from his own three-and-a-half-week spell on the sidelines might pick up a spare ride or two at Salisbury this afternoon?

I've had my say on yesterday's Hereford shenanigans elsewhere, but I wasn't feeling any happier last night when Carlton Scroop obliged at Kempton to complete the second half of what would have been a tasty double with Northern Lad, the horse who was unfortunate enough to run into Am I Blue. There's no point crying over spilt milk, though, and I'm sure that even now the British Horseracing Authority's team are setting to work to establish whether there is any evidence of anything untoward having taken place.

Up at Redcar today, Soviet Secret (3.40) looks a fair each-way price at 9-1 to cover the petrol money for Newmarket trainer Charlie McBride. Despite having a run of 2s next to his name in the formbook, he doesn't seem to be doing much wrong at the business end of his races and gave subsequent winner Wake Up Call a real fight at Yarmouth two runs ago.

If you forgive his first-ever below-par effort when favourite at Newmarket on his latest start, he looks sure to get involved today and the booking of 5lb-claimer Adam Beschizza (whose name I have heard pronounced a dozen different ways) helps offset the rather harsh hike in the weights he received for that penultimate run.

Margot Did is likely to be over-bet as she steps down in grade at Salisbury, after looking most unfortunate not to get her head in front in Group races on her last two starts. Punters who backed her at York last month will, understandably, want to get their money back in today's Dick Poole Stakes at 3.40pm and she is certainly the likeliest winner by far but, at around the even-money mark, I'd be too worried about the unexposed nature of her opposition to get involved.

Returning to Polytrack and seven furlongs should suit Medicean Man (8.20) at Wolverhampton tonight, Jeremy Gask's runner having caught the eye making late gains to finish just outside the frame at Ripon last time out. Still lightly raced enough to have further improvement left to offer, he was understandably unable to get on terms previously at Royal Ascot, but this evening's contest looks much more his cup of tea.

Earlier on the card, Figaro Flyer (5.45) takes the eye. He has come back down to a mark from which he can win and might well have done so at this track last time out, but for meeting trouble in running.

Tipping competition, day four

This week's prize is the one goofs wants, he said yesterday morning, and then tipped two winners out of three. Frosted Grape (4-1) and Phluke (9-2) have taken him a bit closer to Ayr, though the real mover yesterday was millreef, who had Phluke and Mrs Mogg (8-1).

Today, we'd like your tips, please, for these races: 3.50 Salisbury, 4.35 Epsom, 4.50 Redcar.

This week's prize is a pair of tickets to the top enclosure on Ayr Gold Cup day, Saturday 18 September, generously offered by William Hill, who sponsor the great sprint handicap.

In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.

As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -9.

For terms and conditions click here.

Good luck!

Standings after day one

donlewis +12.50

londonpatrick +10.50

MauriceNL +8.50

JahLion +8.50

Woadboy +8

goofs +7

xwireman +6.50

TheVic +6.50

millreef +5.50

chrishol +3

chris1623 +3

DrSativa +3

tom1977 +2

Ellandback +1.50

BearRides +0

sangfroid +0

chiefhk -2.50

erifder -2.50

Copshaw -2.50

moidadembums -3.50

diegoisgod -3.50

coma88 -3.50

Rivercity -3.50

Mulldog -3.50

sandiuk -3.50

pops2 -3.50

WalthamstowLad -3.50

MrPositive -4

carl31 -4

melonk -4

titusisashambles -4.50

Ormrod76 -4.50

slackdad38 -4.50

JDK1 -9

23skidoo -9

Viejo -9

Cairo -9

leviticus67 -9

Onmeheadson -9

Shrewdette -9

15244 -9

snowy81 -9

suckzinclee -9

drupat -9

Rollneck -9

TL127 -9

peterpickum -9

MISTERCHESTER -9

Templegate -9

Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results.

Click here for today's latest odds.

And post your tips and racing-related comments below.

Starspangledbanner ready for Haydock after passing gallops test

• Chestnut declared likely runner by trainer Aidan O'Brien
• Fame And Glory misses Irish Champion in favour of Prix Foy

Starspangledbanner is likely to take his chance in Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock after pleasing his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, in a gallop yesterday morning. The chestnut's chances appeared to be improved by the news that Paco Boy will not be among his rivals this weekend.

A cautious O'Brien insisted his plans had not yet been finalised, but conditions will suit his runner and he is understandably keen to add to the two Group Ones the horse has already won in Britain this year. "At the moment, we're looking at coming," O'Brien said. "If everything's OK in the morning, he'll be there."

The trainer added that Rip Van Winkle, Cape Blanco and Beethoven are likely to represent him in the Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday. Fame And Glory is likely to be saved for the Prix Foy the following weekend.

Meanwhile, connections of Paco Boy have decided against tackling top-class sprinters at Haydock with a horse who normally races over a mile. "It now looks almost certain that we are going to give the Sprint Cup a miss and wait for the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday," said his trainer, Richard Hannon.

Hannon pointed out that the field for the Moulin will probably be limited to single figures and will not include the crack French miler Goldikova, who is being saved for next month's Prix de la Forêt. Makfi, who beat Paco Boy at Deauville last month, may line up but Hannon feels his horse could turn the form around on a sounder surface.

There was positive news of the Derby winner, Workforce, who has not raced since flopping in the King George in July. The colt, who has done little on the gallops since then, did a steady piece of work yesterday and there is now "a reasonable chance" that he will run again this year.

"It was nothing searching but he moved nicely and was stretching out well over the ground," said a spokesman for his owner, Khalid Abdulla. "If he were to go for the Arc, I would think he would have a racecourse gallop beforehand."

Ryan Moore, Workforce's regular rider, is finally expected to return to the saddle at Salisbury today, having been sidelined for three weeks by a badly bruised wrist.

There will be no repeat of the stunt by Irish bookmakers Paddy Power which saw a giant sign bearing their name dominate the Cheltenham skyline during the March Festival. The firm has agreed with the course not to do it again and has extended its sponsorship at the track's November meeting until 2012.

Amazing Hereford gamble on Am I Blue demands full investigation | Will Hayler

Officials must have a close look at the three woeful runs which preceded the horse's easy success

Those planning gambles such as today's success of Am I Blue (backed from 25-1 down to 5-1) might in future consider asking the successful connections of the winning horse to remain out of sight after the race.

After a similar gamble was landed in a Flat handicap on a minor track a few years ago I approached the young groom who was with the horse in the winner's enclosure and offered my congratulations, only to be met with the response: "I'm sorry but Sir Mark has told me not to say anything to anyone." That's the way to do it.

Delyth Thomas, the owner and trainer of Am I Blue, gave what can only be described as an unconvincing performance when interviewed on At The Races after today's race. "She's had a bad shoulder, so I had her shoulder done. She's such a lovely mare," said Thomas, having already denied any knowledge of or participation in the gamble.

That gamble had already taken the horse down to 8-1 when it was announced that Am I Blue would be ridden by Richard Johnson, rather than the much less experienced Dean Coleman, who had been booked but was said by Thomas to be unwell.

Interestingly Johnson had clearly done his homework on the horse, despite the late call-up, as Thomas reported: "Richard said she could be made more use of and it worked."

The late jockey change is obviously unsatisfactory, particularly if the racecourse commentator was correct in asserting that Coleman was in the paddock before the race. But it is of less importance than the dramatic improvement shown by Am I Blue in making all to win by 19 lengths.

In her three previous starts she had been beaten by 22 lengths, 75 lengths and 88 lengths. The form book comments for those races record her as having been "always in rear", "always struggling in rear" and "in rear throughout, tailed off".

Investigators at the British Horseracing Authority need to have a close look at those three runs since Am I Blue joined Mrs Thomas's Bridgend yard. Previously she was trained by Tim Vaughan – who, incidentally, is Coleman's boss and trains less than 10 miles from Thomas in Aberthin.

A BHA statement tonight promised an investigation but the omens are not favourable as the Hereford stewards failed even to call an official inquiry, instead only "noting the explanations" of the trainer that the filly had benefited from having had a course of "spinal therapy".

Should the BHA decide to investigate more thoroughly, a good starting point might be the race at Hexham last October in which Chapel Flowers, making its debut for Katie Stephens, finished second to Ballynure, having been the subject of considerable market support. Chapel Flowers, who was recorded as having been bought by Vaughan at the sales 10 months before that, was then switched back to the care of Vaughan for her next start and has run only for that trainer since.

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