On the day the number of Cancelled jumps fixtures hit 30, the BHA have announced an additional seven jumps fixtures, to be staged between 6th February and 8th March.

A BHA spokesman said, "The programs for these fixtures will be aimed primarily at novice and bumper horses as we have somewhat of a backlog of young horses trying to get onto the track.

"It also becomes extremely important at this time of year for those trainers worrying about getting three runs into a novice horse so that it can be qualified for the Cheltenham handicaps by the qualification date of February 22nd. 

"This is because all of the Cheltenham Festival handicaps are Class 1 or Class 2 and horses need to have run at least three times before they can run in such races."

The additional fixtures will be held on February 6, February 13, February 15, February 20, February 27, March 1 and March 8. The venues for the first three will be announces this Friday with the remainder later in February

Trainer Ferdy Murphy has been fined £9,500 by the BHA and jockey Ewan Whillans suspended for 42 days over the performance of Mansonn Leda at Catterick on December 3.

The horse, who finished fifth, has been suspended from racing for 40 days until March 10.

The panel ruled that Whillans had carried out "air shots" to give the misleading impression he was making an effort. "The BHA submitted that although Whillans made out to hit the mare three times, the final two attempts were “air shots”; there was no real intention to make contact with the mare. Whillans was merely trying to appear as though he was riding to achieve the best possible placing".

Murphy's fine was originally set at £7,500 but was increased because, "...... the Panel deplores the manner in which a conditional jockey, in the employ of a trainer, was asked to ride a horse so as to breach the Rules of Racing. Moreover, for the trainer then to distance himself from the rider before the Stewards, does racing no credit."

Slim Picking, twice placed in the Grand National, has had to be put down after breaking a leg in a training accident at home.

Trainer Tom Taffe told the Racing Post, "Sadly Slim Pickings had to be put down. He broke a hind-leg pastern doing a routine canter on the gallops at the weekend. It is the sad side of racing, especially when you consider all the fences he jumped during his career.

"I couldn't say anything until today as I had to contact all his owners. I'm very sorry for them and for my staff. We only had the horse for two seasons but he gave us all a couple of great days at Aintree."

11-year-old Brave Inca rolled back the years and won the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Colm Murphy's gelding came home to a rapturous welcome from the packed crowd.

He held off a strong challenge from Muirhead, holding on by 3/4 length, with River Laine a further seven lengths back in third.

The favorite, Sublimity, was a further ten lengths back in fourth. He later returned a bad scope which showed an infection.

Following the race Brave Inca's Champion Hurdle odds have been cut to 16/1 from 33/1, whilst Sublimity has gone out from 9/1 to 14/1.

Saturday afternoon's Cleeve Hurdle saw the betting for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle thrown into disarray when the ante-post favourite Punchestowns was beaten by the well backed Big Buck’s.

As a result Punchestown’s price drifted on the result and there are generally three co-favourites in Punchestowns, Big Bucks and Kasbah Bliss.

Saturday’s action from Cheltenham as it happened click here

Jockeys Dominic Elsworth and Joe Fanning both missed their planned rides today but for totally contrasting reasons.

Elsworth had five booked rides at Doncaster but missed them when taken to hospital before racing. He felt unwell after spending time in the weighing-room sauna and was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary for further examination.

Clerk of the course David Williams said: "He went in the sauna and wasn't feeling well afterwards.

"They have taken him to A&E to give him further checks.''

Fanning, on the other hand, failed a random breath test for alcohol before racing at Lingfield. He was stood down and lost the two scheduled rides he had.

The stipendiary steward on duty at Lingfield, Terence Brennan, said: "The breathalyser people were here today and Fanning failed his first test.

"He was then given a second test which he also failed.

"He was stood down for the day. The matter has been referred to the BHA."

Administrators sorting out the affairs of Great Leighs, who went into administration last week, are hopeful of selling the course as a going concern.

Speaking to the Racing Post the administrator said he hoped any sale would be completed in four to five weeks time.

Bookmakers make Arena Leisure the favourites to take over the Braintree course which opened in May 2008, some 18 months behind schedule.

Of the two other main course owning groups Northern are considered to be an outside possibility, although they are known to be keen to add an all-weather course to their portfolio.

Jockey Club racecourses, who own Kempton Park have indicated they are not interested.

There have also been suggestions that Ladbrokes may be interested in taking over the course.

After weeks of uncertainty the decision has been taken to retire three times World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever.

The ten-year-old suffered what turned out to be a career ending injury ar Newbury in November.

He returned to light training last week but was disappointing in training last Saturday.

Owner Graham Wylie said: "We decided on Saturday that he wasn't really interested in his racing any more.

"We always knew that he would tell us when he wanted to be retired.

"That day has now come."

Racegoers in the South West can enjoy racing at Exeter on the 28th and Wincanton the following day for £20, a saving of 25%. Tickets can be booked on 0844 5793005 or 01392 832599.

Administrators bought in to run Great Leighs following its move into administration last week are expected to meet with the BHA later this week. It is expected the granting of a temporary licence to race will be on the agenda.

Paul Struthers from the BHA said, "I can confirm that the administrators have contacted us today to discuss the licensing process and discussions will continue."

Gold Cup winner Denman is amongst the 19 entries for the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on 8th February.

His preferred entry is in the Aon Cup at Newbury the previous day, however he has been double entered just in case the meeting at Newbury is lost to the weather.

Master Minded confirmed his position at the head of the Champion Chase betting with a facile victory in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot. His effort could best be described as a schooling run and most of the firms clipped his odds for the Festival race in March.

Earlier on Lough Derg won the 2 mile 3 furlong hurdle in his usual front running style, taking the contest for the second year running.

For all Saturday's action from Ascot as it happened click here

It has been a day of surprising developments which began with the BHA withdrawing Great Leighs licence to operate as a racecourse and culminated in the company which owns the course going into administration.

This puts the future of the course in serious doubt as it will be difficult to find a buyer in the current climate.

In the short term the administrators will be applying for a temporary licence to continue racing.

A spokesman for the administrators, Deloitte, said, "We will be in discussions in respect of securing the course’s racing licence and ability to continue to trade as a going concern, while we investigate the opportunity of a sale.”

Great Leighs planned fixture for next Thursday has been transferred to Kempton Park.

British commentator Mark Johnson has been appointed the new race caller at America's prestigious Churchill Downs racecourse, home of the Kentucky Derby. more

Reigning Gold Cup champion Denman has resumed full training following treatment for an irregular heartbeat.

Regular partner Ruby Walsh flew over from Ireland to join in the schooling session and afterwards trainer Paul Nicholls said he was pleased with the work.

Denman is expected to return to action in the Aon Chase at Newbury on 7th February.

On the day Gold Cup winner resumed full training it was announced another Cheltenham hero, Inglis Drever - three time World Hurdle winner - has resumed light training.

The gelding injured a hock at Newbury in November but an x-ray examination has confirmed the injury has healed.

There will be no rush to decide if he is to return to racing. Trainer Howard Johnson said the main concern is to ensure he is sound when he eventually retires.

Speaking on Channel 4’s The Morning Line, the trainer of three times World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever, Howard Johnson, has said it is likely the horse will be retired.

Inglis Drever injured a hock at Newbury in November, is due to undergo a scan and x-ray on Monday.

Johnson said, "He'll be x-rayed and scanned next week and I'll either pull stumps and retire him or put him on the roads for a fortnight or three weeks but I think we will maybe pull stumps to be honest.

"He's done us proud and I don't want to get him back to Cheltenham and have him come down the hill and be pulled up and get booed off Cheltenham racecourse.

“We'll give him a go but it's 60-40 against to be honest."

The planned x-ray examination has been delayed due to problems with the equipment

The final race at Great Leighs on Thursday had to be Cancelled due to fog.

The afternoon's racing had been run in misty conditions but as the light faded visibility decreased and there were concerns regarding safety.

The meeting had originally been scheduled as an evening meeting but was bought forward because of the abandonment of turf racing. Had the meeting not been bought forward it would invariably have been lost.

Following her reaching the 100 winner in a calendar year at Wolverhampton last week, Hayley Turner began her 2009 campaign at Kempton on Wednesday.

She flew to victory on board Aeroplane in the feature race of the afternoon and almost had a double when pipped on the line in the last race.

Wednesday’s action at Kempton as it happened click here