Cheltenham Festival 2010: Big Buck's and Ruby Walsh canter to World Hurdle win

Big Buck's won back-to-back renewals of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle with an effortless victory under Ruby Walsh.

Walsh's mount was hard on the bridle throughout and try as Time For Rupert might, he could never put the 5-6 favourite under enough pressure.

War Of Attrition made most of the running but Time For Rupert took over turning into the straight, although Walsh could be seen travelling ominously well.

The Cheltenham Festival's winning-most jockey had a leisurely look around for dangers but they were non existent and after a slightly scrappy jump at the last. Big Buck's was pushed out with hands and heels for a three-and-a-quarter-length win.

Powerstation was back in third, the same position he filled 12 months ago.

Walsh said: "He's a special horse. He's absolutely bolted in.

"He's a horse that doesn't want to be in front too long. I knew the ones I fancied, like Karabak, would follow me though.

"He's got a terrific engine and that was a good round of jumping, he jumped better today than he ever has done."

Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: "He's a hugely talented horse. It's unbelievable. I worked the horses on Saturday morning - Poquelin, Master Minded, Kauto Star, the lot. They all worked well but he worked like a hairy goat.

"That's just him and I lost confidence a bit and I was sweating beforehand.

"He never hit a flat spot today. We were keen to get him fresh and you have to get into his head a bit more than anything. He's very good."

Richard Hills first to visit winner's enclosure at Meydan

Richard Hills made history as the first winning jockey at a relatively low key opening of the lavish £1 billion Meydan racecourse on Thursday evening.

There was little fanfare, just relief among officials that the gigantic grandstand had passed this first test without any major glitches.

Hills partnered the Arabian-bred No Risk Al Maury, trained by British-born Gill Duffield and owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al-Maktoum, one of the ruling family who have backed this colossal project. "It's meant to be lucky, winning the first race," he said after registering his 450th winner in Dubai. "I'm happy Sheikh Hamdan came here tonight, and the horse read the script right, as well," Hills added. Duffield summed it up: "It's a fabulous thing to win the first race. It's history."

Around 4,000 spectators turned out for the first night, which featured eight races, stretched out over an extended five-hour period. Extra time between races had been factored in to account for the long distances that must be covered by runners, riders and lads, as they are brought from the stables to the saddling boxes and then taken to the paddock.

Chaos reigned in the gigantic car parks as spectators tried to find their way to the right entrances. There was sand in corners and bits of rubble in parts of the grandstand, which was only partially open. Great progress had been made, even in past 24 hours, but there is much work still to do.

Without question, however, when the grandstand, hotel and other complexes are completed, this will be a stunning racecourse. We saw glimpses of what it may become and it is impressive, by anybody's standards.

Mike De Kock won the first thoroughbred race, the UAE 1,000 Guineas Trial, with Raihana, and then sent out a 1-2 in the following race with Lizard's Desire and King Of Rome. Kieren Fallon and Luca Cumani also tasted success, winning with Drunken Sailor.

Fittingly, Frankie Dettori landed a winner for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin stable, driving home Whispering Gallery in the Mustanfar Handicap. Andrew Flintoff was present to watch Red Rock Canyon, which he owns in partnership, finish out of the first three.

Timmy Murphy reaches 1,000-winner milestone

Timmy Murphy declared himself immensely proud that he had joined the elite band of jump jockeys to have ridden 1,000 winners. "When I first came into racing, my ambition was to win the Grand National and to be champion jockey. But this is something special. I feel honoured," he said on Thursday night.

Murphy gained the two winners he needed for a four-figure British total at Taunton on Thursday, aboard the promising novice hurdler Ghizao and the well-backed Wizard of Edge in the staying handicap chase.

Life has changed dramatically for the Irish jockey, who several years ago found himself in Wormwood Scrubs following a drunken episode on a flight to Japan. To his great credit, Murphy reformed, came back to take up a good job as retained jockey to owner David Johnson and to ride a Grand National winner for him.

To have reached a milestone that only truly outstanding jockeys achieve, this must have been one of his proudest moments in racing. Having achieved one of his early ambitions, winning the National on Comply Or Die at Aintree, he concedes he is unlikely to pull off the second, taking the jockeys’ crown from Tony McCoy.

“But I have no plans to retire,” he told me. “While I’m riding horses such as Diamond Harry, Well Chief and Starluck, I’ll keep going,” he pointed out.

It is timely that mention of the first two horses should come this week, as Murphy misses the mount on Diamond Harry at Haydock Park because he is required to partner Well Chief for owner Johnson in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

Barry Geraghty takes over aboard Diamond Harry for the gelding’s chasing debut, but Murphy expects to be back in the saddle the next time that budding star races.”I’d hope so,” he said. “We’ve been together a long time now, and a lot of work has gone into him so far.”

Gary Moore said it was no certainty that Fix The Rib would take his chance in the Victor Chandler. His worry is soft, testing ground, he explained last night. “Whether he runs depends really on which weather forecast you believe.

“I’d like to run him because I’m keen to put that last run behind him (fell at Kempton when beaten). His blood’s good, he looks well and he schooled well. The physio is happy with him. But it’s just the weather and the ground that worry me,” he said.

500 Greatest Gambles and Gamblers

It is traditional at this time of year for belts to be tightened, leftovers consumed and optional financial outgoings rigorously restricted.

So for those in need of vicarious splurging we are happy to recommend the tale of some of the most risky bets in the history of our notoriously wager-happy nation.

It is traditional at this time of year for belts to be tightened, leftovers consumed and optional financial outgoings rigorously restricted. So for those in need of vicarious splurging we are happy to recommend the tale of some of the most risky bets in the history of our notoriously wager-happy nation.

The author of 500 Greatest Gambles and Gamblers (Highdown, £12.99), Graham Sharpe, has plenty of previous in the area of sports books. He has written a number of such tomes, but also, as head of media relations at William Hill, co-created the nation's most illustrious sports book award, named after his company and commonly known as the "Bookie Prize".

Sharpe is also notorious for his ability to frame odds for practically any eventuality, provided that there will be (a) a limited likelihood of a substantial payout, and (b) a chunk of publicity for his firm.

He might even be prepared to offer 500-1 on his latest volume winning the Bookie Prize next year, and while it has to be said that you would have to be pretty dim to take even those odds, it is still an amusing read for anyone who has ever been inclined to a punt.

By definition the stock of anecdotes is vast, although 500 might be pushing it a bit. The cast is equally comprehensive, from the late Queen Mother sneaking out between banquet courses to have a speculative tickle to the giant (in every sense) Australian gambler, Kerry Packer, terrorising the tables of casinos all over the world.

Other recent punters such as the audacious, naffly-coiffured Hertfordshire stockbroker, Terry Ramsden, strike bets that would make your hair stand on end, but Sharpe provides ample evidence that the compulsion to chance your wallet is not just a modern phenomenon.

The 18th century squires who were happy to lay their estates on the ability of their horses to run from one church to another (a "steeplechase") have given way to those who conspire to make greyhounds drunk before racing, those (including the late, lamented Jeff Bernard) who ameliorate the winter freeze with cat racing, and those who try to recoup their losses by suing bookmakers for not discouraging them from gambling.

The author tends to favour tales of winning gamblers, but since he has been a bookmaker's public relations executive for more than 30 years, that is hardly surprising. As he acknowledges, you do not attract much new custom by publicising news of losers.

Inevitably the book concentrates harder on hefty punters than those of us who tremblingly hand over a pound each way (and rarely get anything back), but it is heartening to learn that J P McManus, the National Hunt owner who these days can hold entire money markets in thrall, had his first bet on the 1962 Cesarewitch – one shilling (5p) each way on Orchardist. And it is oddly gratifying to learn that the horse won, at odds of 25-1, but was subsequently disqualified and placed second.

McManus is a highly intelligent individual who has realised that it is much easier to make money betting on currencies than it is betting on horses, and it is a humanising characteristic that he spends so much of the money he earns on National Hunt racing, a pastime in which the pleasure accrued is likely to be far in excess of the profits acquired.

An owner, and gambler, who doubtless appreciated both these aspects was Dorothy Paget, the owner of the multiple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Golden Miller, who slept through most days at her Buckinghamshire mansion and then rang through bets to her bookmaker in the evening – on races which had already been run.

In Miss Paget's pre-War prime bookmakers were kindly, credulous types, and trusted that Miss P would not have been on the telephone to a pal to clue her up on the afternoon's results. Happy times.

'Racing Post 500 Greatest Gambles & Gamblers' by Graham Sharpe, published by Highdown, is available from Telegraph Books for £11.99 plus £1.25 p&p (RRP £12.99). Call 0844 871 1515 or visit www.books.telegraph.co.uk

Top-selling sports books

• 1. Open: An Autobiography, by Andre Agassi (HarperCollins)
• 2. Lion Man: The Autobiography, by Ian McGeechan (Simon & Schuster).
• 3. My Comeback: Up Close and Personal, by Lance Armstrong (Yellow Jersey)
• 4. Lucky Break, by Paul Nicholls (Orion)
• 5. Harold Larwood, by Duncan Hamilton (Quercus)
• 6. Ten Years of talkSPORT, by Gershon Portnoi (talkSPORT)

Kauto Star wins fourth successive King George VI Chase

Kauto Star created history by becoming the first horse to win the William Hill King George VI Chase for the fourth year in succession.

Paul Nicholls' superstar came home in splendid isolation and Ruby Walsh never suffered an anxious moment throughout the whole three miles, officially winning by a distance from Madison Du Berlais.

Sent off the 8-13 favourite, Kauto Star bettered Desert Orchid's record in the race, with the famous old grey having won the Boxing Day spectacular four times but not consecutively.

Tom George's gallant Nacarat set a ferocious early pace up front under Sam Thomas, along with old timer Ollie Magern.

The betting suggested Imperial Commander was the main threat to Kauto Star, but a terrible blunder at the second fence put paid to his chance and he struggled to get competitive after that.

Walsh loomed up alongside Nacarat with fully half a mile to run and the rest of his rivals were dropping away quickly - Deep Purple and Racing Demon having long since been pulled up.

Madison Du Berlais battled gamely to take second a mile back with Barbers Shop third, and in truth there was only ever one horse in it.

Walsh said: "For any horse to come back for the same race four years on the trot is some ask, but to win it is incredible.

"Paul and Clifford (Baker, head lad) have done a smashing job at home with him and to do it four years on the bounce is amazing, it is an absolute privilege (to ride him).

"I'd say that was the best King George I've ridden in as regards pace, they went a really good gallop and I couldn't believe the way he jumped the fourth-last.

"I was still on the bridle when I got to Nacarat, and Barbers Shop was the only other horse still in view.

"It reminded me of the King George that Kicking King won the gallop they went.

"Paul was right - he said he'd never had him better and that performance shows it. He's an amazing horse."

Marcus Tregoning seeks fifth victory

If trainer Marcus Tregoning wins the Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes at Newbury, a race that has given us Henbit, Shergar, Rainbow Quest, Shahrastani and Authorized in the past, too many more times, the directors might have to consider making him a partner in the wine firm rather than just giving him a case.

Having won the contest four times, including with one of his yard's first flagship horses Nayef in 2000 and with Taameer last year, he is clearly a man to follow in the race, Today he is double-handed, with Shaayeq and the unraced Tahseen.

"Shaayeq won a moderate maiden at Epsom easily," he said yesterday, "and we are putting a visor on him for the first time. I think you will see a different horse. I don't think he's been doing very much and I think he will be quite a bit better. Tahseen doesn't go too badly [at home], but his dam got a mile and three quarters well, so I expect him to be doing his best work at the finish."

Explaining his success-rate in the race, he added: "We often seem to have the sort of horse that fits the race, the slow maturing type that is just coming to hand at this time of year."

Tregoning has turned around a dreadful start to the season and his horses now appear to be flying. His patience has been rewarded by 20 winners at a healthy strike-rate of 17 per cent.

"We're still having to be very careful with it," he pointed out. "More careful than we normally would be. We had a bug and it just hung around a long time, a lot longer than usual. There's no point in pulling your hair out, I leave that to other people. The man steering the ship has to keep a steady head. Even now, we've still got a few horses which are not right."

If the runners in the Haynes, Hanson and Clark are potential Classic horses of the future then in Look Here, Newbury boasts a Classic winner of the past.

Last season's Oaks winner runs in the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial and how she runs will determine the rest of her season, although the Arc de Triomphe is not thought to be high on her list of possible targets.

Regular rider Seb Sanders is at Newmarket, so trainer Ralph Becket has booked jockey Jim Crowley, who said yesterday: I've sat on her at home, I'm very grateful for the ride and I'm looking forward to it."

This looks a decent field with Doctor Fremantle and Campanologist sure to provide testing opposition.

Watching Brief by Marlborough

Entry Point: The fact that Hanson'D (1.50 Ayr) was the only horse trainer Kevin Ryan thought good enough to enter for the season's top juvenile race, the Dewhurst Stakes, suggests he had been showing plenty at home. After a highly-promising debut he should be ready to score.

Take Credit: Audacity of Hope (3.05 Newmarket) deserves extra credit for his victory at Doncaster last week. Held up off a muddling gallop, he then had to be switched out of trouble before producing a telling burst of speed to settle the race. He is clearly in great heart.

Tough Choice: Cosmea (5.05 Newbury) is tough and consistent, which are qualities lacking in most of her rivals. A successful spell of hurdling last winter has done nothing to blunt her speed and, after a career-best display at Goodwood last time, she deserves to get her head in front.

Rising Star: Bermondsey Girl (6.50 Wolverhampton) makes her all-weather debut, However, the surface will hardly being new to her for she is trained at Newmarket, which boasts a Polytrack gallop. The form of her Lingfield win 55 days ago has been boosted on many occasions and her career is on an upward path.

BET OF THE DAY: Mister Mananan (3.30 Ayr) has coped well in some speedy and exalted company amd should enjoy this lower grade.

Dar Re Mi disqualified in French farce

French punters are notoriously hostile when things don't go their way.

However, there were astonishing scenes at Longchamp when an English filly was thrown out by the stewards after winning the Prix Vermeille on merit. Terraces around the paddock erupted in anger after it was announced that Dar Re Mi had been disqualified and placed fifth.

Cat-calls, whistles, and prolonged booing broke out as joint-owner Martin Schwartz stepped on to the podium to accept the trophy that his filly Stacelita, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, had effectively snatched.

Dar Re Mi, runner-up to champion Zarkava in the same race a year earlier, had caused minimal interference to fifth-placed Soberania a furlong and a half out as she angled to follow Stacelita through on the inside of the latter's pacemaker. Soberania jinked slightly to her right, but jockey Johan Victoire never stopped riding.

When the claxon sounded, most thought it was to signal an inquiry into pacemaker Volver's manoeuvre off the rail in the straight, allowing Stacelita to dash through. So when the result of the stewards' investigation was eventually known, there was a public reaction like no other I have seen here in France or anywhere else.

Dar Re Mi's owners, Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber, had welcomed their filly and jockey Jimmy Fortune back into the winner's enclosure with enthusiastic talk of a crack at the Arc, but joy soon turned to anger. Lord Lloyd Webber stormed into the weighing room to lodge an appeal, while his wife said: "We love racing in France, but when we come here, we hope the best horse is the winner on the day. It is a great shame for this filly's record and the rest of her career."

Initially, Lady Lloyd Webber had said that she and her husband would never race in France again, but she later toned down the comments: "Of course we'll race here again, we come here in good faith. But that's the way I feel. I'm fed up."

Even loyal French punters acknowledged this was one of the most unjust results of recent years, and one knowledgable turfiste confided: "They'll have an excellent chance of getting the race back on appeal. The stewards may have panicked."

Fortune ended up with a two-day ban, but the saddest feature was that such a brilliant filly was deprived of a victory she truly deserved. Stacelita was eased to 10-1 (from 5-1), but still looks a valid Arc contender.

That said, trainer John Oxx will not lose sleep over the strength of opposition taking shape to challenge Sea The Stars. His only concern will be the weather forecast.

Corals trimmed Sea The Stars to 6-4 (from 15-8), while Totesport went 4-5 (from Evens) about the Irish superstar.

Cavalryman continued Godolphin's successful run – they had won their first British Classic for five years with Mastery in the St Leger and seen Poet's Voice stake a 2,000 Guineas claim in the Champagne Stakes on the same card – when taking the Prix Niel snugly by half-a-length from Beheshtam, who has returned to form but will need soft ground for the Arc.

Frankie Dettori said of Cavalryman: "Andre [Fabre] told me this is not Arc day, and the race became a two-furlong sprint. There is plenty there to work on."

Spanish Moon was clipped to 16-1 following a pleasing victory over the well-credentialed Vision D'Etat in the Prix Foy, but his trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, has yet to finalise his Arc line-up. It seems that Conduit, an 8-1 chance, is Stoute's only certain runner at this stage.

Watching Brief by Marlborough

Keep The Faith: Despite having finished second on her last two starts Filwa (2.30 Leicester) is worth another chance. She did well at Windsor two starts back, racing on the slowest ground and last time she was no match for a very well backed newcomer. This looks easier.

Upward Curve: Watch Chain (2.40 Redcar) is on a winning mark. Although only third in a three-runner race recently, the time and previous form of the first two suggests this was an improved effort from the colt. He had previously shown a good attittude to win over this trip at Southwell. Although numerically strong, there is not much depth to this race.

Right Mark: Harcas (3.20 Musselburgh) was revitalised by the fitting of a visor for the first time over this course and distance last month, winning a race that has worked out really well. He remains favourably treated.

BET OF THE DAY: Grandad Bill (5.20 Musselburgh) escapes a penalty for winning last time and goes well on this track

Sea The Stars shines in Irish Champion Stakes

Sea The Stars continued his relentless march through racing's Group One catalogue when winning Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown with something up his sleeve.

Aidan O'Brien put up five opponents in an attempt to beat the John Oxx-trained colt but all were found wanting.

"This is a great horse, he's capable of anything," said jockey Mick Kinane in high praise of his winning mount, who is now 6-4 favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Ladbrokes, and 2-1 favourite for the Breeders' Cup Classic with William Hill.

For several days, Oxx had feared he would have to bypass the Irish Champion, particularly as heavy rain lashed the course early in the week. But a second check of the course on Friday night gave the trainer great encouragement and he finally flicked on the green light following a dry morning on the big day.

"He was in great form for this, and we would have been disappointed if he had missed the race," Oxx said. "In the end, it was an easy decision. We couldn't pull him out, the ground had improved so much. The ground was fine and he was in great form.

"Also, we're in the autumn now, and we could face a similar decision before the Arc or the Champion Stakes at Newmarket. We just have to find out what are his limits. The horse is going forward all the time, he's just a great horse," Oxx said.

Sea The Stars made this look an extraordinarily easy task, but his rivals did everything within the rules to beat him. If there had been a weakness, they would have found it yesterday. A hectic pace continued up front all the way, but the crucial move was made by Johnny Murtagh on Fame And Glory when he dashed around the outside three furlongs out.

If Murtagh was trying to lure Kinane into moving forward prematurely, the tactic failed. Kinane said: "It didn't surprise me that Johnny went off around the outside, but I wasn't ready to go at that stage. I was travelling really well."

Kinane then sat on the heels of Fame And Glory, and to the roars of the crowd at the furlong pole, he launched the colt with his final surge for home. Sea The Stars raced past Fame And Glory and galloped away to win by two and a half lengths, with a similar gap to Mastercraftsman in third and Grand Ducal fourth.

It was Sea The Stars's fifth consecutive Group One victory this year.

Delegator to give Godolphin cause for celebration

Delegator, runner-up to Sea The Stars in the 2,000 Guineas and a genuine Group One performer, can kick-start a good weekend for Godolphin by winning the Totesport.com Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

After advertising his Classic claims in the Spring with a smooth win in the Craven Stakes for Brian Meehan, Delegator chased home the world's best horse, Sea The Stars, in the first Classic and, after disappointing on the heavy in Ireland, returned to his best when a neck second to Mastercraftsman in the St James's Palace at Royal Ascot.

At that point, Sheikh Mohammed stepped in for him and he joined Godolphin, who have freshened him up after a tough start to the season.

We should not read too much into the disappointing run of Evasive in the Hungerford earlier this month, when he had his first start for Godolphin – on the whole their horses have been running well of late.

This Group Two contest looks an ideal confidence booster for Delegator.

His biggest danger appears to be Zacinto, who proved a couple of decent efforts at two were no flash in the pan when – after a hold-up in the spring which kept him out of the Guineas – he won a Listed mile race at Glorious Goodwood. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he is in the right hands to keep progressing and the fact that connections are already looking at the QEII suggests we have yet to see the best of him. Mac Love, who likes Goodwood and is in good form, should also give a good account of himself.

One of the features of recent seasons has been the lack of competition put up to Ballydoyle by Godolphin, but tomorrow the fightback can begin with another of the Sheikh's recent purchases, Long Lashes, in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She won the Sweet Solera at Newmarket in a fast time with a bit in hand and can beat Aidan O'Brien's Lillie Langtry, 7-1 favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas.

Watching Brief by Marlborough

2.05 Goodwood: Pearly Wey returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs and now that he has slipped back to a winning mark makes plenty of appeal. Mujood is another that enjoys running here while Rash Judgement goes well fresh, so the 91-day absence is not a concern. Golden Desert is better over 7f and may find these rivals travelling a shade too quickly.

2.20 Newmarket: The inexperience of Russian Jar was apparent when he finished second here a fortnight ago. With the run behind him, he looks the type to progress. Audemar showed a good attitude at Kempton and is another on an upward curve. Any give in the ground would increase the chances of Eliptical, who returned a career-best last time.

2.35 Goodwood: Oasis Knight is one of the few here with a progressive profile. The combination of a visor first time and a stiffer test of stamina brought about significant improvement at Newbury earlier this month. Well regarded by his in-form trainer he is worth a chance at this level. Mourilyan and Victoria Montoya are thorough stayers and unlikely to have the race run to suit. Free Agent has proved disappointing this year and King of Wands, trained by John Dunlop who does well with his stayers, is rated a bigger threat. Urban Poet has something to prove.

2.50 Newmarket: Azizi returned a decent time when comfortably landing a Newcastle nursery and although this represents a stiffer examination, he has plenty of scope for progress. The Hannon camp has such a strong team of juveniles that their representatives are always a factor - Giulietta Da Vinca may prove their best. Damietta showed a good turn of foot at Kempton and comes into the reckoning.

BET OF THE DAY: Zacinto (3.10 Goodwood)is an exciting prospect and has done well since winning here last time

Cartier Awards: Sea The Stars has long lead

Sea The Stars may have been ousted as favourite for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown by Betfair customers, but it seems it will take an exceptionally successful autumn from one of his rivals to stop him from becoming Cartier Horse of the Year.

John Oxx's colt was displaced as favourite for the Leopardstown race by Fame And Glory, but that is more a reflection of what people think the weather will do rather than how they think the two horses will compare if they both turn up. Clearly, they believe that the ground will be too soft for Sea The Stars and that Oxx will have to find an alternative engagement.

However, the latest Cartier points shown here reveal that Sea The Stars has, by winning the Guineas, Derby, Eclipse and most recently the Juddmonte International, at York amassed 176 points. This gives him a handsome lead of 56 points over his nearest rival Mastercraftsman in both the Cartier Horse of the Year category and the Three-Year-Old Colt award.

After a slow start, Freddie Head's Goldikova, who has had a good month at Deauville winning both the Prix Rothschild and Prix Jacques Le Marois, heads up the older horses. The way she won her latest start, in which she pulverised the opposition to score by six lengths and earn the accolade "better than Miesque" from her trainer, you would not want to bet against her winning this category. That victory enabled her to overtake Vision D'Etat, the long time leader of this category.

Ghanaati still leads the Three-Year-Old Fillies, but the dual Oaks winner Sariska ate into her lead, even though she was only second to Dar Re Mi, in the Yorkshire Oaks last week. Had Sariska won, she would now be leading what is turning out to be one of the tightest categories.

It is still early days as far as the two-year-old awards go. Criquette Head's Papin winner Special Duty scored more points when narrowly beaten by Arcano in the Morny on Sunday and she has a small lead over Lillie Langtry, Lady of The Desert and Misheer. Alfred Nobel and Arcano share top spot in the colts' division.

That there is no one outstanding sprinter is evident from the tightness of their group, which is still headed by Fleeting Spirit. The filly, runner-up in the King's Stand and winner of the July Cup, has been installed as favourite for the Haydock Sprint a week on Saturday. Other Group One winners Art Connoisseur, Borderlescott, King's Apostle and Scenic Blast are hot on her heels and if any one of them can secure a second Group One, they will surely go very close to securing the 2009 title.

LATEST CARTIER STANDINGS

2YO FILLY

• SPECIAL DUTY 32
• LILLY LANGTRY 28
• LADY OF THE DESERT 24
• MISHEER 24

2YO COLT

• ALFRED NOBEL 48
• ARCANO 48
• CANFORD CLIFFS 24
• CAPE BLANCO 24
• RADIOHEAD 24
• XTENSION 24

3YO FILLY

• GHANAATI 104
• SARISKA 97
• ELUSIVE WAVE 78
• STACELITA 64
• MIDDAY 62

3YO COLT

• SEA THE STARS 176
• MASTERCRAFTSMAN 120
• FAME AND GLORY 88
• LE HAVRE 72
• RIP VAN WINKLE 60

OLDER HORSE

• GOLDIKOVA 96
• VISION DETAT 84
• PACO BOY 74
• ALPINE ROSE 64
• FLEETING SPIRIT 64

STAYER

• YEATS 48
• PATKAI 40
• SCHIAPARELLI 32 GEORDIELAND 28
• POINTILLISTE 18

SPRINTER

• FLEETING SPIRIT 64
• ART CONNOISSEUR 48
• BORDERLESCOTT 43
• KING'S APOSTLE 40
• SCENIC BLAST 32

HORSE OF THE YEAR

• SEA THE STARS 176
• MASTERCRAFTSMAN 120
• GHANAATI 104
• SARISKA 97
• GOLDIKOVA 96

Watching Brief by Marlborough

Taking The Drop: Mamlakati (3.30 Warwick) has paid the price in terms of a high Handicap mark for her juvenile form. Consequently, she has found life difficult this year against less exposed rivals. Connections have also struggled to find her most effective trip. The drop to selling company could be just what she needs to regain confidence and in big fields high drawn horses often fare well over this trip.

Soft Touch: Boy Blue (3.40 Ayr) has a liking for this galloping track, having won on both of his previous visits, including over this course and distance. Significantly, he has also displayed an ability to show his form on soft ground. On such going, low numbers enjoy an advantage – 15 winners of the 22 races run on soft or heavy ground in the past five years have been drawn in stalls 1 to 5. Thus, beginning from stall 1 today, he is ideally berthed.

Same Again: Now that he has discovered the winning habit it should pay to stay with Addison de Witt (4.50 Catterick). He added a battling Newcastle victory to his Perth win over hurdles and this contest appears no more demanding. His rider's claim can hardly hinder the cause.

BET OF THE DAY: Marine Spirit (2.30 Warwick), from a stable with a good record in this type of race, won in a fast time at Folkestone

Clive Cox rates Shergar Cup a winner

Critics have had their knives out for the Shergar Cup at Ascot, ignoring the fact that 28,000 people marched through the front gates and thoroughly enjoyed a day at the races.

Surely, it is now time for the 'bad-mouthing' to stop.

Racing's parish is broad, a fact that is accepted even within the sport itself, and there is ample room for the once-a-year racegoer to dabble in those aspects of the experience they prefer, whether it be drinking, eating, watching horses, betting, or listening to music.

From a purely racing angle, the most scepticism about the invitational jockeys' concept usually comes from owners and trainers, who in a perfect world would prefer to have their choice of rider in the saddle. Then again, they don't have to enter their horse and elsewhere are unlikely to be racing for the same level of prize money – £35,000 per race on Saturday.

Trainer Clive Cox saddled the handicap 'good thing', Polly's Mark, the first of Richard Hughes's three winners that steered the Irish team of jockeys to victory. They wracked up 101 points, almost twice as many as their nearest rivals, Great Britain, who scored 56.

Cox has nothing but praise for the concept he believes has done him a lot of good. "It's a great and unique day, " he told me yesterday. "It is good prize money, which is why we are there. The visiting jockeys may not have the experience of racing here, but they are talented," he said.

Obviously, having Hughes aboard Polly's Mark was a major plus as he had on his side a tremendous jockey, who knows just about every blade of grass on the course.

In last year's Shergar Cup, Cox saddled Perfect Star, who won for Frenchman Gerald Mosse. "It was a great opportunity to meet him and I was then able to book him for Beacon Lodge, who won a Group Three at Chantilly this year. Obviously, you have your favourite jockeys, but there is nothing wrong in meeting new faces. In fact, that is what Shergar Cup is really all about – attracting new faces to racing," said Cox.

In Chicago on Saturday, the Christophe Clement-trained Gio Ponti beat Just As Well in the Arlington Million, with the Walter Swinburn-trained Stotsfold an honourable third and Luca Cumani's Cima De Triomphe fourth.

Adam Kirby, Stotsfold's jockey, said: "Turning into the straight, I still had a very big chance. I actually thought I might nearly win."

Watching Brief by Marlborough

Second Chance: Ottoman Empire (2.15 Southwell) can be forgiven a poor effort last time as the ground was much too fast for him, and he was not given a hard time. He is better judged on a good second at Pontefract before that and this surface should suit.

Draw Score: Silver Grey (5.50 Windsor) caught the eye when finishing strongly in a decent Newmarket nursery and had previously looked a useful sort when scooting home at Epsom. As usual, the stands rails proved an advantage here yesterday and she is drawn to take advantage.

On The Upgrade: Spiders Star (8.00 Thirsk) has gone from strength to strength since joining Sheena West and her turn of foot at Beverley last time was impressive for a stayer. She is still improving.

BET OF THE DAY: Gene Autry (6.20 Windsor) ran very well in a hot Ascot maiden last time and this task looks easier.

Richard Hughes steers Ireland to Shergar Cup romp at Ascot

If any of the crowd of 28,000 who flocked to Ascot on Saturday for the eighth Shergar Cup, were unsure of the words of 'the Irish Rover' before the meeting, they had ample opportunity to learn them by the time the sixth race arrived.

Strains of the winning team anthem for the Irish jockeys blasted from speakers around all enclosures no less than four times throughout the day.

This meant that Richard Hughes, Neil Callan and Seamie Heffernan lifted the teams' trophy long before the finale to this novel jockeys' competition had been decided. Ireland ended on an incredible 101 points, 45 ahead of runners-up Great Britain.

Hughes, the winning team captain, and the recipient of another Silver Saddle, the trophy for individual honours, after his personal haul of 49 points, knew exactly where he was required.

Following the official presentations, he bolted through Ascot's front gate, into a waiting car, and dashed off to Lingfield Park for six rides. All part of a day's work for the 5ft 9in 'giant' of the weighing room.

The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is racing's attempt at reaching out to those on the fringes of the sport. Traditionally, it had been the football crowd that they were trying to entice through the gates, but these days racing is focusing on families.

Not surprisingly, the purists have been turning their noses up at cheerleaders, winning team anthems, colour-coded caps for team identification, and other innovations dismissed as useless gimmicks. But Saturday's attendance figure would have been applauded had it been any of the mid-summer feature races run on a 'normal' Saturday.

Europe's Fredrik Johansson was the first to strike gold when firing in Group Therapy in the opening Shergar Cup Dash, chased home by Rest of the World's Buachaill Dona, whose partner, the prolific Hiroyuki Uchida, from Japan, came swooping a little too late to trouble the winner.

Then started the Irish domination, with Hughes landing the money on the day's 'good thing,' the Clive Cox-trained Polly's Mark in the Shergar Cup Classic, and following up just over half-an-hour later with the Michael Jarvis-trained We'll Come in the Les Ambassadeurs Club Shergar Cup Mile. The green caps of Ireland were everywhere on the horizon.

In a muddling-run Shergar Cup Stayers' Handicap, Callan came with a fine finishing flourish on Aaim To Prosper to touch off Ahmed Ajtebi aboard Yes Mr President, which acted as a prelude to Hughes's third winner, Press The Button, which completed a 377-1 treble for the captain in the Shergar Cup Challenge. The Irish team had won the contest with a race to spare.

"It makes me proud to win for Ireland," Hughes said. "We did really terrible last year, so it's nice to win here and to have a treble.

"I'm a very lucky boy. I love riding horses. I can't wait to go to Lingfield tonight. I keep telling my agent I don't mind going anywhere as long as it isn't too long a drive. "I'd rather ride than sit in the weighing room."

And that sums up Hughes, the jockey, who is riding in the best form of his career.

Ahmed Ajtebi, Malesh Narredu and Hiroyuki Uchida out to set world on fire

Rarely have there been three international jockeys with such varied backgrounds in one team at a Shergar Cup.

This year's Rest of the World line-up features a Dubaian, who is closely associated with Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin stable, an Indian who has ridden 57 Classic winners in his native country, and a Japanese, who recently chalked up more than 500 winners in a season.

At lunch at the Ritz in London on Thursday, the trio seemed to have little in common, but all were determined to emerge victorious from a team competition that is more popular with the 'non-racing' audience than aficionados. And each jockey individually expressed his excitement at the prospect of riding at Ascot.

All three jockeys, the captain Ahmed Ajtebi, Malesh Narredu, and Hiroyuki Uchida, have ridden their share of bad horses over the years, but they expect quite the opposite experience in their six races tomorrow. Good jockeys always adapt, but as Ajtebi pointed out, British tracks are less straightforward, and most are demanding.

While there will be no Frankie Dettori – he is required to ride for Godolphin elsewhere – once-a-year punters will be pleased to learn that 39-year-old Uchida regularly performs a back-flip (from a standing position) when visiting the winner's enclosure. He might have the chance to perform his party trick after the Clive Brittain-trained Mahadee has run in Les Ambassadeurs Club Mile (Race Three), which appears his best ride.

Mahadee is owned by Saeed Manana, who happens to be Ajtebi's uncle, so there will be no shortage of advice from the captain on how to ride the capable four-year-old.

Narredu, 41, an engaging character, has ridden in various countries, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and Qatar. He has studied the styles of top jockeys from Britain and Ireland who have visited India and feels he is familiar with their approach.

Narredu attended St Patrick's school in Pune, which was situated directly opposite the Royal Western India Turf Club course in the city. The excitement of racing had a marked effect on many pupils at the Christian Brothers school, as Narredu happily recalled.

"There were 40 boys from my class at school, who applied to become apprentices when they came to leave. Five of them, including me, were accepted and became jockeys," he said.

Since the Shergar Cup began, there have been four Rest of The World teams successful in the competition. The three jockeys carrying the hopes of this year's international visitors have some good chances and will go close to winning the teams' contest. And they look good value at 4-1 with Ladbrokes.

Watching Brief by Marlborough

Bold Chance: Crazy Bold (5.00 Brighton), successful three times on the Flat in Germany, was slow to acclimatise when brought over to this country last summer. However, this year he has taken on a new lease of life over hurdles for new trainer Tony Carroll and could be dangerous off a plater's rating of 45 today.

Dual Purpose: Ameeq (8.30 Haydock) ran a cracking race when joint second in a Listed hurdle at Market Rasen three weeks ago, form which was boosted when Picot De Say (4th) won on the Flat at Chepstow on Tuesday. Ameeq may also stage a successful return to the level.

Bet of The Day: Tot Of The Knar (3.50 Worcester) acts well on this course, loves the mud and is also favoured by race conditions.

Dream result for Rip Van Winkle

Rip Van Winkle brushed aside fitness doubts with a resounding victory in the BGC Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Annoyingly for punters, the colt was still not a certain runner even when cantering to post.

The problem was a quarter-crack to his near-hind, discovered only the night before. Joint-owner Michael Tabor explained: "The reason why Aidan [O'Brien] went to the start was to decide if 'Rip' was able to run. We'd been waiting all week for him, and then heard about the quarter-crack."

Asked if he had still backed Rip Van Winkle for a substantial amount, Tabor replied: "I had to. Old habits die hard. And, if he didn't run, I'd get my money back."

Rip Van Winkle was faced with the obstacle of a wide draw, but was soon on the heels of his pacemaking stablemate Malibu Bay, who had been involved in his own drama on the way to post, colliding with a running rail.

Three furlongs out, Johnny Murtagh could wait no longer on Rip Van Winkle and went on, forcing principal rival, Ghanaati, to leave the comfort of third place and commence her final move. If the hoof injury had caused any concern, it was all history as 'Rip' drew clear to win by two-and-a-half lengths.

Paco Boy ran on determinedly for second, with a gap of four lengths to Ghanaati, who finished a very tame third. Forgotten Voice again showed promise, battling on for a solid fourth.

O'Brien, visibly relieved after Rip Van Winkle's long-awaited triumph at this Group One level, said: "He's an amazing horse. He was 10 out of 10 lame yesterday evening, so this is unbelievable. He didn't have a trot until he was leaving the parade ring.

"We watched him trotting off and then went down to the start, and if Johnny wasn't happy, then it wasn't going to happen," he said. O'Brien was full of praise for the colt, saying: "The Eclipse [when second to Sea The Stars] was the first half-clear run he got in a race."

Rip Van Winkle is almost certain to follow the route taken by last year's Sussex winner Henrythenavigator, running in Ascot's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes prior to the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The disappointing feature for Ballydoyle is that whatever their colt achieves, it pays a massive compliment to Sea The Stars, who has beaten him three times this year.

GOODWOOD SELECTIONS: 2.10 Mirrored' 2.45 Total Gallery' 3.25 Schiaparelli; 4.00 Suailce (nap); 4.35 Brae Hill; 5.10 Water Biscuit; 5.45 Rocker.

Michael Stoute's master plan proves a winner

First, the bad news from the epic King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Tartan Bearer, the gallant runner-up, was struck into behind, an injury that required attention. Other than that, the aftermath to this unforgettable contest was a joyous one in Newmarket's twinned yards of Freemason Lodge and Beech Hurst.

In sending out the 1-2-3, Sir Michael Stoute as good as sealed this year's Flat trainers' title at a single stroke with a feat that equals Michael Dickinson's first five home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Certainly, in terms of achievement they are comparable, even if numerically they don't precisely match up.

Dominating any Group One race is extraordinary – Aidan O'Brien, with Ballydoyle's awesome firepower, has done it more than once – but to pull it off in one of the biggest races in the calendar with two four-year-olds and a six-year-old is bordering on incredible. It signifies great training skill, meticulous planning, patience and understanding, with a bit of luck thrown in.

Last week, Stoute admitted that he loved training older horses because if they remained in the yard long enough, a trainer could learn more about them, their quirks and habits, their likes and dislikes. He clearly admires horses with strong minds.

Stoute's revelation that running Shergar in the 1981 St Leger had been the biggest mistake of his training career was a hint of the depths of professional self-examination that have taken place. "He was winning his races by too far," he said. "But Walter [Swinburn] was only 19..." he added in quick mitigation. "If Shergar had come along a few years later [in Stoute's career], he would never have been beaten," he concluded.

Stoute has enjoyed many highlights during that glittering 37-year training career and Conduit's victory on Saturday will be up there with the biggest. "It's rare to have a race in which everything goes according to plan, but this was one," Stoute told me.

Perhaps, Ryan Moore's careless manoeuvre in crowding Mick Kinane and Tartan Bearer in the final strides, which cost Moore a three-day ban, wasn't on the blueprint, but almost everything else was. Conduit beat Tartan Bearer by a length and threequarters, with Ask a head away.

Stoute agreed that chalking up a Group One for Tartan Bearer had now become a priority. Conduit has won three Group/Grade Ones, as well as collecting an Eclipse award for best male turf performer in North America, but Tartan Bearer has yet to open his account at the top level, and deserves to. Remarkably, the very day that Tartan Bearer finished second to New Approach in the Derby 14 months ago, Conduit won a mile-and-a-quarter handicap under Moore off a mark of 85, sweeping from last to first. "The thinking cap will go on in the next few days to work out a programme for all three horses," Stoute said.

"What we decide now is important. Tartan Bearer has run admirably twice over a mile and a quarter, but I feel he's best at a mile and a half," he added. Whichever path is taken, either Conduit or Tartan Bearer will line up, all being well, in the Arc in October, a race that the Weinstock family and their highly-successful Ballymacoll Stud have long wanted to win.

Pat Fahy, the owner of Ask, is sporting by nature, and if playing third fiddle to the Ballymacoll 'twins' was causing any discomfort, it wasn't showing. Fahy is also looking to the Arc, and the easier ground that is usually to be found at Longchamp. And so he should. More encouragement was gained, perhaps, by a text he received straight after the race. It read: "I can still ride Ask in the Arc, K Fallon...'

Watching Brief by Marlborough

Right Track: Swinbrook (3.15 Southwell) did not run badly at Newcastle when held up in a race where those that travelled up with the pace fared best. His stable had six winners over the weekend and is in great heart, plus this track suits him – three wins and two seconds from six outings here.

On The Way Back: Oh So Saucy (4.00 Yarmouth) indicated that a return to winning form is near when a staying on sixth in a fair contest at Doncaster last time. That was only her second outing of the season and, twice a course and distance winner, she can enjoy being reunited with a jockey who has won on her twice.

Sweet Success: Chocolate Cookie (7.10 Windsor) caught the eye when not beaten far by stablemate Monsieur Chevalier in Newbury's Super Sprint. This maiden looks much easier.

BET OF THE DAY: Wing Play (6.40 Windsor) comes here in great heart after a career-best display at Chester.

Karl Burke banned for a year

Trainer Karl Burke has been disqualified for 12 months after admitting he had supplied inside information for reward to Miles Rodgers, a disqualified person, for all the six races alleged against him, which took place in May and June 2004.

Burke's ban – which means he cannot set foot on a racecourse or training establishment – comes into effect a week today. Burke has the right to appeal within the next seven days.

Burke trains 90 horses from Spigot Lodge in North Yorks. Only recently, he sent out Lord Shanakill to win the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly and he has sent out 34 British winners this year.

The Disciplinary Panel heard that Burke could legitimately have made contact with Rodgers on matters unrelated to racing, but their conclusion was that "the sheer volume of traffic [208 phone calls in 20 weeks] and the concentration of this around the time of the suspect races provided clear evidence of the breaches belatedly admitted by Burke."

The report continued: "The panel was particularly struck by the fact that Burke went to the trouble of getting a new mobile phone number, which he began to use in early June 2004 to conduct his exchanges with Rodgers. "This was not disclosed to the Jockey Club. Its purpose was to try to conceal the contacts from any later investigation, an attempt which Burke continued to make right up until the day of the Inquiry.

Burke declined to make a comment after the hearing until he had spoken to his legal advisers.

Watching Brief by Marlborough

On The Mark: Trainer Michael Scudamore has quickly made a mark with dual purpose horses and Ambrose Princess (5.00 Ffos Las), twice a winner over hurdles and much improved since joining the yard, can race off her old Flat rating and should add to his tally.

Fast Show: Silver Prelude (5.15 Yarmouth) made the most of an advantageous turf rating over this course and distance a week ago. This tough sprinter is still well treated, despite carrying a penalty, and can follow up.

Richard Hannon wins Super Sprint title at Newbury for seventh time

Richard Hannon has been sending out winners likes he has been shelling peas lately and Richard Hughes, his son-in-law, is probably the best rider of a two-year-old in the country at the moment.

So there was a certain inevitability about the end result yesterday as the pair combined for the cosy success of the 2-1 favourite Monsieur Chevalier in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury. However at halfway, the jackpot £98,000 first prize looked anything but in the bag as Hughes had just a couple of the 20 runners behind him.

"I gave up on him three out," said the trainer, winning the race for a seventh time since its inception in 1991. "But Richard said that's the way he wanted to ride him. He said he was too much on the pace at Ascot."

A furlong out, Hughes still had three lengths to make up on the runner-up, Shamandar, but with superb timing he put his colt's head in front 50 yards out and went on to win by half a length.

Riding his first winner of the Super Sprint, Hughes professed he had been happy at all stages of the race.

"When they go that fast it usually opens up and from halfway they started dropping away," he said. "The ground wasn't too bad in the end, it was the headwind slowing us down. Richard's winners of this race have usually had 7st 12lbs – that's why I haven't won it before."

The Super Sprint, the brainchild of Lord Carnarvon, was designed to attract the smaller owner, with the horses handicapped according to what they cost as a yearling. It might have been tailor-made with Hannon in mind because so many of his horses are bought for less than £50,000. This particular colt, one of five he had in the race, cost 17,000 gns.

"I've been very lucky with this race," he said. "It's like they say, if you throw enough muck at the wall some of it will stick! We buy the type of horse that'll get in the race."

Hannon also took the opportunity to fire a broadside at racing's rulers. "We'll all be skint this time next year with the £6 million cut in the Levy," he said. "That's just what you want to hear at the start of the sales season – that's some promotion. Why don't we get someone to run racing properly? Every year something like this crops up just as the sales start. A lot of people are taking money out of racing and not putting it back. I'll leave you to guess who that is."

While Monsieur Chevalier looks a two year-old through and through, High Standing, now unbeaten in four starts this season after yesterday's Shadwell Stakes, is a later developing type and it is possible we have not seen the best of the four year-old yet.

The gelding, winner of the Wokingham Stakes at Ascot, continues to channel his energies into his racing, although his trainer, William Haggas, admitted it was a very fine line as to whether he did that or put it into misbehaving.

"It's a great team effort of which I'm a very small part," said Haggas. "He goes out on his own with a pony every morning at 5.30am. He's not straightforward. He's going in the right direction and due a step up in grade now and he'll be entered in the Haydock Sprint."

High Standing is owned by Margaret Findlay, mother of Harry, who almost achieved the impossible when she extracted a grin from winning jockey Ryan Moore. "Are you going to give me a smile?" she asked loud enough for those gathered around the winner's enclosure to hear.

You can see where Harry, part-owner of Denman, gets it from.

Sariska cruises to spectacular Irish Oaks victory

Sometimes in racing, you hear the best tales after the race has been run and won.

Another irritating example surfaced on Sunday when the Michael Bell-trained filly Sariska absolutely trounced a field of quality fillies in the Darley Irish Oaks in heavy ground.

"I rode this filly in a piece of work [at Newmarket] on Wednesday," jockey Jamie Spencer said after weighing in. "She was very impressive, and when I came back, Michael looked at me and he said: 'It's not a matter of whether we win, it is a matter of how far we win by'. Normally, such a brazen display of confidence is viewed as tempting fate, which prompted Spencer to respond: "Don't you be saying that."

Superstition made no difference to Sariska, who became the 12th filly to complete the Anglo-Irish Oaks double, with the cheekiest of wins, by three and a half lengths, and still on the bridle.

It is 11 years since Spencer recorded his first Classic victory, and these days he frequently finds himself defending the practice of dropping his mount out and then making ground late. He often stands accused of giving horses too much to do, but this was never going to be the case with Sariska, as she made steady progress after half-way but waited until the last furlong to pounce on her rivals.

"I blew the whistle five [furlongs] out," Spencer joked. "I knew at the top of the hill that it was all over. I'm good mates with Fran [Berry, who rode runner-up Roses For The Lady], and when I went past him, I gave him a little wave."

Spencer had been self-critical after he won the Oaks at Epsom last month, declaring that he had not given the filly a great ride. "It was a very messy race, and I wanted to put it to bed. I went too soon, and I had to give her a smack." .

Sariska won the Classic with such contemptuous ease that she must be considered a worthy contender in any major race she contests this season. She would be greatly respected against older opposition, particularly at a mile and a half. Her immediate target, the Yorkshire Oaks, is totally realistic.

Bookmakers William Hill put Sariska in at 12-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October, but connections are also looking at the Breeders' Cup Turf in California in November. "I'd also love to bring her back to a mile and a quarter," Bell said. Watching the post-race presentation was another outstanding female attatched to the Bell stable, Hayley Turner who is back riding after winning an appeal against a British Horseracing Association medical ruling on Thursday. It was quite a weekend for Bell.

Jeremy Noseda's Fleeting victory at Newmarket

Fleeting Spirit took her revenge on an impressive line-up of international stars, but almost caused an ugly scrimmage as she veered violently across the track in winning Friday's Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

In a dramatic finish, the Jeremy Noseda-trained filly first went left when hitting the front under Tom Queally, then shifted sharply right and came close to knocking down Main Aim, whose rider Ryan Moore was forced to take evasive action.

The incident, which drew gasps from the crowd when replayed on the big screen in front of the grandstand, also badly impeded the fifth King’s Apostle, a fast-finisher down the outside. J J The Jet Plane battled on for third, ahead of Paco Boy, fourth.

A protracted stewards inquiry followed, but the interference, seen by a global audience, was considered to be accidental and no action was taken. Sir Michael Stoute, Main Aim’s trainer, said: “He took a heck of a bump. He was badly interfered with.”

The Australian sprinter Scenic Blast, an 11-8 favourite, had been impressive in winning the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot but failed to fire this time. He looked beaten two furlongs out, with jockey Steve Arnold pointing out: “It was an out-of-character run.” He finished 10th of the 13 runners, while his compatriot, veteran sprinter Takeover Target, finished seventh and was later under veterinary supervision with a suspected fractured cannon bone.

Noseda has long been a critic of overseas visitors receiving financial incentives to run in Britain. “It’s good to send the Australians home packing,” said the trainer. “I am all for international runners in these big races but I don’t think they should be subsidised when they come over here. They should compete on equal terms,” he said.

“This is the sort of moment you do this job for,” he added. “The Nunthorpe Stakes (at York’s Ebor meeting next month) is likely to be her next target.” The filly is raced by a syndicate of City ‘faces,’ which include BHA Chairman Paul Roy and prominent jumps owner Andy Stewart.

Nicky Henderson banned for three months over doping of Queen's horse Moonlit Path

Trainer Nicky Henderson has been fined £40,000 and banned for three months after being found guilty by the British Horseracing Authority of deliberately administering a prohibited substance to enhance the performance of Moonlit Path, the horse owned by the Queen.

Henderson was found guilty of the offence by the BHA disciplinary committee last week but learned today of his punishment, which prevents him from making race entries for three months.

Moonlit Path, owned by the Queen, tested positive to a prohibited anti-bleeding drug at Huntingdon in February but the intiial hearing in front of the BHA’s disciplinary committee could not be concluded within the allotted time and was adjourned with the committee wanting more time to "consider a suitable penalty for what they considered a serious breach of the rules."

The case is one of the highest profile of its kind for some time given that Henderson is one of the most prominent and respected figures in National Hunt racing and it has been given extra prominence because the horse in question is owned by the Queen.

The mare tested positive to tranexamic acid after finishing a 25-length sixth in a mares’ hurdle on her debut in a race which was won by her stable companion Ravello Bay. Moonlit Path has run several times since without success. The drug is given to humans, under the name Cyklokapron, to treat or prevent bleeding and in some American states is a permitted raceday medication for bleeders much like Lasix.

Henderson admitted giving Moonlit Path a prohibited substance, giving it on the day of the race and not putting it in the horse’s medication records but he denied the most serious charge of breaking Rule 200, that he deliberately gave the drug in order to improve Moonlit Path’s racing performance. After much legal argument the committee found him guilty of breaching Rule 200.

Henderson has just enjoyed his best season with 115 jump winners, including the Champion Hurdle with Punjabi, and earned £2.12 million in prize-money for 2008-09, a figure bettered only by Paul Nicholls. The trainer was not present to see his first 2009 Royal Ascot winner when the 12-year-old Caracciola won the Queen Alexandra Stakes.

In the past the biggest fine given out for a similar breach was the £17,500 given to David Elsworth in 1988 after Cavvies Clown tested positive to a prohibitive substance. However, the last two trainers to be found in breach of Rule 200, Matt Gingell and David Flood, were both banned for two years.