Triple World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever may have run his last race after being pulled up in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

The horse was running well until being pulled up quickly after jumping the fourth last fence.

Initial examinations suggest damage to a tendon in his hock and if that diagnosis is confirmed then he will be retired.

For the second week running Sam Thomas was unseated in the big race when, arguably, in  a race winning position.

The Hennessy Gold Cup proved to be an exciting renewal.

Island Flyer, off bottom weight, led for most of the contest before fading once in the home straight.

This left the race to be a battle between Madison Du Berlais and Air Force One, with Big Bucks, under Sam Thomas, making eye catching progress.

However as happened with Kauto Star last week, the Velcro failed to hold Sam Thomas in place when Big Bucks blundered at the final fence.

In a good battle to the line last years fourth Madison Du Berlais got the better of Air Force One giving trainer David Pipe his first victory in the race.   

Last week's Betfair Chase winner Snoopy Loopy came home in third.

The 2006 Champion Hurdle winner Brave Inca is set to return to action at Fairyhouse on Sunday, following a 19 month absence.

The Colm Murphy trained gelding injured a tendon at the 2007 Punchestown Festival.

It was almost a winning performance as he put in a brave front running performance with fellow veteran Hardy Eustace, before the latter tired after the second last.

However the 7/4 favourite Catch Me was lurking and wore down the old timer to claim a 1 1/2 length victory. However it was a good performance after a 584 day break and trainer Colm Murphy was pleased with the performance.

He said, "He did all we could have asked of him. He travelled and jumped and it is hard to believe that was his first run back."

The BHA are in discussions to reschedule the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, which was lost when Newcastle succumbed to frost on Saturday.

A final decision is expected to be made early next week. Next Saturday looks most likely with meetings scheduled for Sandown, Wetherby and Chepstow, with the first two having scheduled Channel Four coverage.

Seventeen runners stand their ground at the final declaration stage for Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Knowhere heads the weights but at the other end the well fancied Island Flyer just managed to miss the cut, much to the delight of trainer Tom George.

The declared runners are Knowhere (11-12), Snoopy Loopy (11-12), Monkerhostin (11-9), Albertas Run (11-9), My Will (11-8), Air Force One (11-7), Big Bucks (11-7), Dear Villez (11-6), Madison Du Berlais (11-4), Slim Pickings (11-1), Always Waining (11-1), Oedipe (11-0), Verasi (10-9), High Chimes (10-9), Royal County Star (10-8), Character Building (10-6) & Island Flyer (10-0)

Eight winning tickets have shared the record breaking Scoop6.

Each winning ticket picks up just over £437,000, plus they have the opportunity to go for the bonus fund, which stands at just over £1.5m, next week.

Kauto Star's luck with his jumping finally ran out in the Betfair Chase when he made a mistake too far and unshipped Sam Thomas at the last after buckling on landing.

Victory went to Snoopy Loopy 33/1 shot who rallied to overhaul the long time leader Tamarinbleu just before the line.

Joint champion apprentice David Probert has been given a 25 day ban, three suspended, following his final ride of the turf flat season aboard Cornus. The rider pleaded guilty to the offence but was referred to the BHA under the totting up process.

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In a busy day at Shaftesbury Avenue Robert Winston received a 15 day ban, three suspended, for breaching the whip rules. Like Probert he was appearing under the totting up process.

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Young Spartacus, winner of the 2001 Racing Post Chase and the 2003 Mildmay Of Flete at the Cheltenham Festival, has died at the age of 15.

The 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Kicking King, has been retired.

After recovering from a serious tendon injury he came back last seaon. However in his last four runs he has failed to sparkle and connections have decided it is time for him to go out to grass.

Twice winner of the King George, bookmakers Stan James have said they will refund any bets placed on Kicking King for this years renewal.

Following the decision to postpone their major redevelopment The Curragh have been re-allocated seven fixtures which had been transferred elsewhere.

Horseracing Ireland director of racing Jason Morris said, "We would like to put on record our gratitude for the tremendous co-operation received from Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Naas and Navan in response to the Curragh's understandable request for the return of their traditional meetings."

Ruber Walsh has undergone emergency surgery at Cheltenham Hospital after rupturing his spleen at Cheltenham on Saturday.

He took a heavy fall and was subsequently kicked during the penultimate race.

Paddy Brennan gave Imperial Commander a perfect ride to defy a 337 day break to win the Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham.

Three out Imperial Commander was in the lead but faced challenges from the royal runner Barbers Shop and the well backed favourite Silverburn. The favourite blundered two out losing any chance and Barbers Shop, who finished second, could not offer a serious challenge.

Private Be overcame an early mistake to finish third.

1st 16 Imperial Commander 13/2
2nd 14 Barbers Shop 5/1
3rd 18 Private Be 25/1
4th 6 Il Duce 40/1
19 Ran NR 7
Distances 2 3/4 , 11 & 4
Fav Silverburn 11/4 (6th)
Tote
Win £7.50
Place £2.10 £1.90 £5.80 £11.00
Exacta £41.90
CSF £37.54
Tricast 797.37

There was a controversial conclusion to Cheltenham’s opener on Friday as the winning jockey Jason McKeown dropped his whip then took the whip of rival jockey Donal Devereux.

Connections of the runner-up objected but the stewards did not reverse the placings.

McKeown was given a two day ban and he could consider himself lucky as Lester Piggot picked up a 20 day ban when he did the same.

Trainer Paul Blockley has lodged an appeal against the two and a half year ban imposed by the BHA following an enquiry earlier this month.

Jockey Dean McKeown is expected to lodge an appeal against his four year ban on Thursday morning after the BHA extended the deadline after the jockey failed to meet the original Wednesday evening deadline.

The first four meetings scheduled for Worcester in 2009 have been transferred to Southwell.

The meetings involved are on 5th, 22nd and 29th April and 10th May.

The final three meetings in 2008 were also transferred to Southwell.

For the second Saturday running the planned all weather evening meeting has been Cancelled.

Last week Great Leighs was lost to waterlogging and this Saturday evening's meeting at Wolverhampton has been Cancelled to to a floodlight failure.

As the jockeys were coming out for the first race the lights in the back straight failed and, despite efforts by electricians to by-pass the problem, the meeting had to be Cancelled as the fault could not be resolved.

Two tickets went into the final leg of Saturday's massive Scoop 6 rollover, however the victory of 33/1 shot Invincible Force in the final leg put pay to any hopes of victory.

As a result next weeks win fund will open with a rollover of £1,303,036 and the bonus pool will start with £589,644 in the pool.

Next weeks pool will be the biggest in UK pool betting history and winning will again be tricky with Cheltenham's Paddy Power Gold Cup meeting taking centre stage.

In complete contrast to last years thrilling climax where the title was decided on the final day of the season, Ryan Moore has been formally crowned champion jockey for the second time.

In a contest that was effectively over weeks ago Moore, with 186 winners, finished 59 ahead of Richard Hughes.

20/1 Shot Tropical Straight, trained by David Arbuthnot, beat the 9/2 favourite The Betchworth Kid in the last big handicap of the flat turf season. The pair were engaged in a dour battle from the two furlong pole but the favourite was out battled in a driving finish.

The well touted Electrolyser only managed to finish 16th in the 21 runner field.

Full result:

1st 11 Tropical Straight 20/1
2nd 20 The Betchworth Kid 9/2 fav
3rd10 Tastahil 10/1
4th 13 Dunaskin 40/1
Distances 1/2l & 2l
Favourite Second
Tote
Win £31.00
Places £6.50 £1.90 £2.70 £8.60
Exacta £388.10
CSF £102.59
Tricast £1,002.71

Reigning Champion Hurdler Katchit only managed to finish in third place behind Chomba Womba and Takeroc in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday.

Conceding wieght to both his rivals Katchit was never a threat despite running on towards the end.

Chomba Womba took up the running two out and hi lead was never threatened, beating the favourite by three and a quarter lengths, with Katchit a further six lengths behind.

1st 3 Chomba Womba 11/4
2nd 4 Takeroc 13/1 fav
Distances 3 1/4l
Favourite Second
Tote
Win £3.90
Places £2.10 £1.40
Exacta £9.10
CSF £8.09

David Probert and William Buick will share the 2008 Apprentice Jockey Title after Probert only managed second place on his only ride of the day at Doncaster.

Both finish the season on 50 winners.

Probert's achievement is something of a minor miracle in that he had only ridden one winner prior to this season.

Buick will spend the winter in Dubai and Probert in Australia.

Plans for a substantial redevelopment of The Curragh have been put on hold due to the recession.

The plans will be put on hold and reactivated once economic conditions improve.

A number of The Curragh fixtures for the latter part of 2009 have been transferred elsewhere on the basis the course was to be closed. Negotiations are now going ahead to return the fixtures.

For the full announcement click here

Jockey Dean McKeown, who was recently warned off for four years following a race fixing investigation by the BHA, has once again been referred to the BHA by stewards at Southwell.

McKeown and trainer Richard Whitaker have been found guilty under Rule 157 - the non-triers rule, in relation to the running of Rascal In The Mix in a six furlong race on Tuesday.

Following today's developments the BHA have announced that McKeown's licence to ride has been revoked with immediate effect.

In what was something of a surprise result ten year old Ashley Brook took the William Hill Gold Cup at Exeter, with the well backed Mahogany Blaze seven lengths behind in second and Natal a further seven lengths behind in third.

Favourite Twist Magic was in a position tracking the leaders turning for home but than faded badly to finish fourth.

1st 4 Ashley Brook 8/1
2nd 6 Mahogany Blaze 5/2
3rd 2 Natal 15/2
Distances 7l & 7l
Favourite 1 Twist Magic 9/4 (4th)
Tote
Win £9.40
Places £4.00 £1.02 £3.90
Exacta £28.80
CSF £29,67
Tricast £159.28

The Melbourne Cup stayed at home as the 25/1 shot Viewed held off a late charge from Luca Cumani's Baure to win the race by a short head.

The win gave trainer Bart Cummings his 12th Cup victory.

C'est La Guerre took third place.

Of the fancied European challengers Cumani's first string and second favourite Mad Rush finished seventh and favourite Septimus finished 18th.

Racing at Limerick on Monday has been Cancelled.

An Irish Turf Club press officiak said, "They have had a lot of rain, with some hefty showers.

"The track is saturated and unfit for racing. Rather than go back again in the morning and find the same thing they have decided to cancel the meeting now.

"There would be no more improvement overnight, and with more rain forecast there is no prospect of racing."

Reigning Champion Hurdler Katchit is set to make an unexpected appearance at Wincanton on Saturday.

Unexpectedly defeated in his seasonal bow at Kempton Alan King's star was expected to re-appear at Cheltenham in December.

Saturday evening's meeting at Great Leighs was Cancelled due to torrential rain.

Heavy rain throughout the afternoon resulted in a build-up of water in the infield, which was in danger of overflowing onto the track.

Racing was put back 30 minutes but a delegation of jockeys, trainers and stewards inspected the track and decided conditions were unsafe.

There were also issues with access from the horsebox park to the saddling area. The tunnel normally used was knee deep in water and the alternative route involved a long walk in the open, resulting in handlers getting soaked.

Kauto - Puts in a Royal Performance

Kauto Star recorded a facile 11 length victory in his seasonal debut at Down Royal on Saturday. In a race where it is difficult to judge any form line, Paul Nicholls charge was settled mid-division before making a challenge two out.

Main challenger, on paper, The Listener ran a poor race and any remote chance of victory was lost with a mistake four out.

Front running Knight Legend tired in the final stages and outsider Light On the Broom ran on to take second place.

Kauto Star's next outing will be at Haydock in three weeks time.

In a thrilling Charlie Hall chase at wetherby it was no surprise that Ollie Magern set the pace, but by halfway the six runners were all in with a chance.

First to crack was Hard Act To Follow, who was tailed off when falling five out. Turning for home it was still Ollie Magern who was leading, with Snoopy Loopy the challenger.

Snoopy Loopy hit the third last leaving Ollie Magern in front. Coming to the last Ollie Magern was still in the lead but the favourite State Of Play, getting tne pounds from the front runner, was closing in on the leader.

On the run-in State Of Play wore the leader down as weight difference took its toll and State Of Play wore down the long time leader to take victory in the final strides.

A brilliant race with the first two putting in career best runs.

Third placed Snoopy Loopy also did well, especially considering the jumping mistakes. Without those mistakes it could well have been a three way go for the spoils.

Yellowstone has been withdrawn from Tuesday's Melbourne Cup after failing to recover from a hip injury.

The horse had been due to face vets but trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam pre-empted the decision by withdrawing her runner.

She commented, "It is very disappointing Yellowstone won't be running.

"We've come a long way but the horse's welfare is the most important."

The participation of the favourite Septimus will not be decided until the morning of the race. There are some lingering concers the going may be too lively for the Ballydoyle contender.

Lee Vickers has been taken to hospital with a suspected broken cheekbone after taking a kick, following a fall from Orpen Wide at Ascot on Saturday afternoon.

He has been taken to Wexham Park Hospital near Slough. There has been no official announcement as to his condition.

A full field of 24 has been declared for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup, including eight European contenders.

Amongst the European contenders is Yellowstone, who passed an examination from Jockey Club Vets on Saturday morning. Aiden O'Brien saddles three runners (Septimus, Honolulu and Alessandro Volta) and Luca Cumani two (Mad Rush and Bauer).

Profound Beauty (Dermot Weld) and Varevees (Richard Gibson) make up the European challenge.

Trainer Mouse Morris has pulled his star chaser, War Of Attrition out of Saturday's Charlie Hall Chase on the basis the basis the ground will not be suitable.

His seasonal re-apppearance is now likely to be at Thurles.

Claiming jockey Lucy Horner is recovering at home after being released from hospital in Liverpool.

It had been feared the 7lb claimer may have fractured her leg after taking a heavy fall from Tom's Toybox at Aintree on Sunday but x-rays revealed she was only bruised.