The Horseracing Forensic Laboratory has reported that the analysis of the urine taken from Curtains, trained by Simon Dow, which finished first in the European Breeders' Fund Maiden Stakes at Brighton on 7th June 2009, has confirmed the presence of dexamethasone which is a prohibited substance.  This finding has been confirmed by DSK, Germany, who performed the counter analysis.

An enquiry will be held by the British Horseracing Authority's Disciplinary Panel on 8th October 2009

Yeats has been taken out of Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the latest forfeit stage, one of five runners to be taken out. Yeats will now go for the Prix du Cadran on the same card.

Aidan O'Brien also took out Hail Caesar from the 1½ mile contest.

Sir Michael Stoute has taken Spanish Moon out whilst the other defectors are Grand Couturier and Board Meeting.

19 runners remain in the contest but Cavalryman and Stacelita are expected to be supplemented on Thursday.

Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars is amongst the 24 remaining potential runners in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

Fame And Glory leads the Aidan O’Brien challenge and the Ballydoyle trainer holds six entries, including four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner, Yeats.

Sir Michael Stoute still has Spanish Moon and Conduit entered, whilst the filly Dar Re Mi, controversially disqualified last time out at Longchamp, also remains in the race.

Youmzain and Steele Tango are the other UK contenders, whilst Vision D'Etat and Getaway head the home challenge.

There is a forfeit stage on Wednesday at which point additional runners man be supplemented at a cost of €100,000.

Epsom have been forced to abandon the two sprint races scheduled for Saturday afternoon. An attack by chafer grubs has made the ground just after the 5f start unsafe.

The races will be replaced with a 10f handicap and a 7f nursery.

Although only four faced the starter the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot boasted a high class field, with Rip Van Winkle, Delegator, Aqlaam and Zacinto.

Aqlaam surprisingly set the pace but paid the price two out allowing Rip Van Winkle to hit the front. Delegator looked like making a challenge but it came to nothing and Rip Van Winkle took the race as he pleased, giving Aidan O'Brien another Group One victory.

Winning the race gives Rip Van Winkle an automatic Breeders Cup entry.

Two other Ascot winners on Saturday have also booked Breeders Cup places, Hibaayeb, winner of the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile, now has an automatic place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, while today’s Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes winner Joshua Tree, also trained by Aidan O’Brien, qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita

The Tattersalls Committee has published a consultation document giving stakeholders and interested parties the opportunity to contribute to a review of the Tattersalls Rules on Betting.  The Rules were first laid down in February 1886 and were last revised in October 2007.

The Gambling Commission requires all on-course bookmakers to adhere to the Rules on Betting, which gives them an important place in the current regulatory environment.

Anthony Speelman, chairman of Tattersalls Committee, explained the reasons behind the review.  “Since the implementation of the Gambling Act, it has become increasingly clear that the Rules need updating. 

“We’ve made a few proposals in the paper such as a new rule for obvious errors, and the recognition of unorthodox betting.  However, we’re keeping an open mind at this stage and would like to invite views both from within the industry and from members of the public who think they may be able to add constructively to the process”.

The consultation period will last 12 weeks, closing in mid-December.  A consultation document (available online at www.tattersallscommittee.co.uk/consultation) contains an outline of how the process will be carried out and a template for responses.  It allows everyone the chance to see what is being done, and offers them the opportunity to contribute.

Further details can be received by emailing info@tattersallscommittee.co.uk

Italian rider Frankie Dettori finally broke his Ayr Gold Cup hoodoo by bringing Clive Cox's Jimmy Styles home with a well timed run.

The last runner to be allocated a stall for the contest last Thursday, he set off from stall 15 but soon managed to tack over to the favoured far rail.

The action was all on the far side with Knot In Wood, Evens And Odd and Barney McGrew all battling it out for the lead a furlong from home.

Only Barney McGrew held on as Dettori launched his late challenge and the pair crossed the line locked together.

Knot In Wood took third spot with the favourite, Evens And Odds taking fourth.

Newbury's Arc trial on Friday was of more interest to domestic followers than having any serious impact on the big race itself.

Doctor Freemantle, in all probability Sir Michael Stoute's third choice contender, beat Look Here, who has disappointed this season, although the winning distance was only a nose.

Look Here's trainer Ralph Beckett, admits he is struggling to know where to go next with his enigmatic runner who, like the winner. holds an Arc entry.

Campanologist, who set the pace, came home third.

There was a controversial finish to racing at Listowel on Thursday when jockey Mr B Connell failed to dismount his seriously injured horse, Tripolovitch, in the closing bumper.

For a full report on Thursday afternoons action at Listowel click here

Ruby Walsh maintained his stranglehold on the Kerry National, when winning the feature contest of the Listowel festival for the fourth time in six years.

Walsh rode a waiting race on Tony Martin's Northern Alliance until making a move as the field turned for home.

Approaching the last it looked as though the race would be a duel between Northern Alliance and the other Martin runner Royal County, however the latter stumbled at the last - effectively handing the contest to his stablemate.

Church Island, who had dominated for most of the contest, rallied in the closing stages and took the runners-up spot.

Goldikova will compete in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp before returning to Santa Anita to defend her Breeders Cup Mile crown.

The filly did hold entries in the Queen Elizabeth II and Sun Chariot Stakes but trainer Freddie head ha sconfirmed she will stay in France for her next race.

Head said, "Goldikova will be running in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp and then, providing she runs well, she will be heading to Santa Anita.

 "She is very well at the moment and I am very pleased with her. We decided that the best way to target her at the Breeders' Cup would be to run her at Longchamp rather than going to Newmarket or Ascot.

 "She could still return to Britain next season if all goes well on her next two starts."

Godolphin claimed their first British Classic in five years, as they took the first two places in the Ladbrokes sponsored St Leger at Doncaster.

Although they took the first two spots they did not come home in the manner expected as the apparent second string Mastery, ridden by Ted Durcan, who overhauled the favourite Kite Wood in the closing stages.

The two jockeys killed in the fire at Norton neat Malton have been named as Jamie Kyne (18) and Jan Wilson (19).

Jamie Kyne was apprenticed at trainer John Quinn's yard had ridden in 454 races, winning 38 and was being hailed as the "apprentice find of the season."

Jan Wilson was attached to David Barron's yard and had turned professional this year. She had only ridden 19 times in public, having ridden three winners. All three wins came on horses owned by her parents.

David Barron said, “We are absolutely devastated. She had been on a night out with friends in Malton and gone back with them to the flats.

“It wasn’t until she didn’t turn up this morning that we found out what had happened. You only have to look out into the stable yard to see shock on people’s faces. It’s terrible.

“The fact she was a woman doing well in a male-dominated sport showed she had what it takes.

“She had been with us for about a year and was very popular.”

The Police have not been officially confirmed the names of the jockeys, however family members of both jockeys have confirmed the information.

Police have  arrested a man following a fire that broke out in a block of flats at Norton, near Malton in the early hours of Saturday, which killed two people understood to be apprentice jockeys.

Two other men, in their early 20s, were taken hospital and are being treated for smoke inhalation and burns. One has since been released and the injuries of the other are not thought to be life-threatening, police said.

The victims have yet to be named, with the next of kin still to be informed. more

Sea The Stars made it five wins out of five for the season when taking the Tattersalls Million Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Settled towards the rear by Mick Kinane he made progress half a mile from home.

It was his main rival, Fame And Glory, who hit the front first and, for a brief moment it seemed as though the Star was going to be eclipsed.

Along with Mastercraftsman the front three in the betting were soon clear of their rivals.

Without pushing Sea The Stars too hard Kinane made relentless progress, hitting the front just inside the final furlong and the winner of the Epsom Derby came home the 2½ length victor.

Victory in this race gives Sea The Stars an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup.

Winning trainer John Oxx said, "We'll have to consider the Arc now and he's also in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket but all his plans depend on the ground."

"The Breeders' Cup is still a long way away and it might be too much of an ask for a horse that was trained for the 2,000 Guineas. It was an easy decision to run in the end even though the ground was easier than he wanted."

1st  8 Sea The Stars  4/6 fav
2nd 3 Fame And Glory 9/4
3rd 6 Mastercraftsman 6/1

Kirklees took totesport.com September Stakes at Kempton in impressive style.

Hitting the front a furlong from home the Godolphin trained colt, under Frankie Dettori, dispelled any stamina worries.

All The Aces was three-quarters of a length behind, putting up a brave but vain battle to reel in the winner.

Outsider Indian Days took third spot, four-and-a-half lengths behind the front pair.

Rainbow View, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Jimmy Fortune, has won the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

The 5/4 favourite came home two lengths clear of fellow UK raider Heaven Sent.