Deep Purple won a thrilling finish to take the bet365.com Charlie Hall Chase, giving Welsh handler Evan Williams consecutive victories in the race.

He managed to get the better of course specialist Ollie Magern and Tamarinbleu.

Olliw Magern jumped teh last in front but on the run-in he began to tire and it seemed Tamarinbleu was going to grab the spoils but Deep Purple ran on best of all to record a head victory.

Barry Geraghty was banned for 12 days after taking the wrong course on My Petra at Wetherby this afternoon.

Nicky Henderson's runner, who had won the race last year, was the 4-1 joint-favourite to follow up in the Listed event.

Leading turning for home Geraghty took the chase course, leaving Santia and Lady Hillingdon to fight out the finish, with the former taking the contest.

Geraghty’s ban starts on November 14 - Paddy Power Gold Cup day at Cheltenham.

Geraghty said, "Nobody is as disappointed as I am. Twelve days is harsh, there'll be people who say I deserve every bit of it but to lose a race like that with it being on Channel 4, that's enough punishment. It's a bitter blow."

Jockey Paul Carberry was barred from riding at Nass this afternoon after failing a pre-racing breath test.

The matter has been referred to the Turf Club.

Jockey Darren Williams has had his application for a riding licence turned down.

The jockey served a three month suspension after admitting passing information for reward and associating with a disqualified person at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing in June. The reasons for the committee declining the application will be revealed in seven days.

Paul Struthers, Media Relations Manager for the British Horseracing Authority said, “Until we receive the written reasons we do not know on what grounds the Committee has reached it decision. 

“However, I can confirm the three grounds for the Authority’s decision to oppose Darren Williams’ licence application. 

“Firstly, Darren Williams’ assertions to the Licensing Committee (when applying for his licence following the collapse of the criminal trial) that his extensive contact with Miles Rodgers, whilst Rodgers was disqualified, was not in connection with racing when he subsequently admitted to the Disciplinary Panel that it was.

“Secondly, his failure to comply with an Order of the Disciplinary Panel that he disclose his Defence Case statement from the criminal trial, having persistently failed to disclose this document throughout the investigation.  Finally, that Darren Williams had failed to accept his wrongdoing or show any sign of remorse for it.

“We consider it fundamental to the integrity of the sport that those who seek to corrupt racing no longer assume that they can simply return as a licensed individual once they have served a period of disqualification.  They must establish that they are cogniscent of the seriousness of the offences they have committed, that they no longer pose an ongoing threat to the integrity of the sport and that they are a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence. That is why we have suitability criteria and why anybody returning from a suspension or disqualification for serious offences can in future expect a similar level of scrutiny.  

“We plan to introduce enhanced suitability criteria for all licensed and registered persons and, through the annual Penalties Review process, to significantly increase the penalties for serious breaches of the Rules of Racing, both of which should be in place in early 2010.”

Cheltenham Racecourse have announced that the luxury shirt brand Thomas Pink are to sponsor the awards for the top jockey and trainer at both The Open Meeting in November and The Festival in March.

The Thomas Pink Leading Rider Award and Thomas Pink Leading Trainer Award will be presented at Cheltenham’s biggest meetings to the jockey and trainer who win the most races, with the number of second, third and fourth places being taken into account if necessary.

Fakenham racecourse have announced an annual membership scheme for 18- to 24-year-olds.

The scheme will offer annual membership for £45, covering admission, a special bar facility and a £10 Tote betting voucher.

Application forms are available by email at info@fakenhamracecourse.co.uk.

The course has also raied the upper age limit for free admission, meaning 17 year olds can now get free admission to teh Norfolk course.

Sunday did not prove to be a good day for three riders who ended up in hospital in separate incidents.

The most bizarre incident involved conditional rider Campbell Gillies at Aintree.

Riding Lie Forrit in the Liverpool Volkswagen Handicap Hurdle his saddle slipped he came off. He got up quickly and walked across towards the rails but Risk Runner, who was behind the other runners crashed into Gillies and was brought down himself.

Gillies was taken to hospital with broken ribs and concussion.

Later on Denis O’Regan was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured shoulder or collarbone after falling off Astarador in the Radio City 97.6 Handicap Chase.

Meanwhile at Towcester James Halliday was taken to hospital for a check-up following a three horse pile-up in the GG.com Novices’ Handicap Chase.

The Aidan O’Brien trained St Nicholas Abbey demolished a high class field to win the  Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

Held up in rear Johnny Murtagh brought colt from almost last to win easily by 3¾ lengths.

His trainer was effusive,  "That was very special, he's just an unbelievably special horse.

"He's just one of those unique horses with loads of speed and class. Trip doesn't bother him and Johnny was super-cool on him, he was very confident.”

St Nicholas Abbey was cut to 5-2 favourite from 8-1 for the Derby with Paddy Power while Sky Bet are 3-1 for both the 2000 Guineas and Derby.

Middleham trainer Mark Johnston topped a great season when Corsica won the opener at Ayr on Friday.

The win was Johnston's 200th domestic winner of the season, making him the first trainer to reach the landmark.

Johnston became the most successful trainer in a domestic season on 5th October when Comedy Hall won at Warwick taking his total to 190, beating the record previously set by Richard Hannon in 2008.

Ghanaati, winner of the 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes has been retired.

The Barry Hills trained filly will be retired to Sheikh Hamdan's Beech House Stud in Newmarket.

Twice Over went one better than last year in taking the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

Once again a Ballydoyle pacemaker was ignored by the remainder of the field after Set Sail once again shot off far too fast.

Tom Quealy hit the front on the Henry Cecil trained Twice Over two furlongs from home. The main contender was Mawatheeq who came within half a length at the line with Sariska a length back in third.

There was something of a shock in the Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes as the Aidan O'Brien third string, 33/1 shot Beethoven, took the spoils under an inspired Ryan Moore ride. In an exciting finish he had stablemate Fencing Master a neck back in second with Xtension a nose back in third. The Ballydoyle first string Steinbeck was back in fourth place.

The marathon 2m 2f totesport.com Cesarewitch went the way of red hot favourite Darley Sun who ended the terrible record of three-year-olds in the competitive contest. After finding trouble halfway his rider, Andrea Atenzi, weaved his way through the field to hit the front a furlong out, running on well in the final stages. Mamlook made late progress in the final furlong after hitting a flat spot two out, but only came within five lengths of the winner. Barney Curley's Sereth was half-a-length further back in third with Davia fourth.

Three times World Hurdle winner Iglis Drever has had to be put to sleep following a fatal bout of colic.

The ten-year-old, owned by Graham Wylie and trained by Howard Johnson was retired from racing in January this year after failing to fully recover from an injury sustained at Newbury lasy November.

The horse had been spending his retirement at Wylie's Chesters Stud at Humshaugh, Hexham.

Johnson said on Friday, "They took him away yesterday and from what I can understand they couldn't do anything with him.

"Graham called me yesterday morning to say he was thrashing on the ground so they got the vets up there to look at him and they rushed him straight in for surgery.

"They put him on a drip overnight and they rang Mr Wylie back this morning to say his heart rate was over 70 and it should 33, so they have had to put him down on humane grounds.

"Without a doubt he'd be number one when it comes to horses I've trained.

Regular jockey Denis O'Regan was shocked by the news, "It's shocking news. I won the World Hurdle on him and the Long Distance Hurdle as well," he said.

"He was a lovely horse and it's a shame.

"He was a top-class hurdler and it's a shame he's died so young, but he's a horse that will stick in the memory for a long time.He's the best horse I've ridden and will probably be the best horse I'll ever ride.

"He's brought my career to the fore and it's a sad ending to a great career for that horse."

The official going description is Good ahead of Newmarket's two-day Champions’ Meeting which begins tomorrow.

Michael Prosser, Director of Racing at Newmarket said, “The GoingStick reading is 7.9 for the strip we will use on Champions’ Day and the reading is 8.3 for our Friday ground. Therefore, the official going description remains good. No irrigation has been undertaken.

“The forecast is unchanged. We could have light rain between 3.00am and 7.00am into Friday morning and that weak front is expected to clear ahead of sunny spells in a dry afternoon.

“Saturday also promises to be dry but possibly more overcast. Temperatures are expected to reach 14 degrees Celsius on both days.”

Henry de Bromhead’s Sizing Europe maintained his 100% steeplechase record when winning the Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The performance has led to layers being quick to cut his odds for The Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival. Skybet have halved his price from 16’s into 8’s the shortest price available, although some layers were still offering 12’s immediately after the race.

The odds-on favourite came home seventeen lengths clear of the classy hurdler Harchibald, who did nothing wrong on his chase debut but was totally outclassed.   

The BHA are to carry out a full investigation following Wednesday's meeting at Wetherby, during which four horses died.

The meeting was the first since £50,000 was spent on remedial ground works over the summer.

BHA spokesman Paul Struthers said, "We have already requested reports from our Racecourse Inspectorate, veterinary team and stewards, who were all in attendance yesterday. We will await receipt of the reports and our other findings and will then liaise closely with the racecourse, trainers, jockeys and the RSPCA."

Sea The Stars, winner of the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Arc has been retired.

The six-time Group One winner had been talked about as a possible Breeders' Cup contender.

In a statement the stars trainer John Oxx said: "It has been decided after discussions with Mr Christopher Tsui that Sea The Stars will not take part in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on November 7.

"He's had a long season and has been in regular fast work from March 3, with his final workout on October 2. He's been in intensive training for seven months with only a three-week break after the Eclipse Stakes at the beginning of July.

"We feel it is unfair to keep him going any further given his unprecedented record of achievement in the last six months.

"He's come out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in his usual good form. He is fit and healthy and has been cantering since the race.

"He is now retiring from racing, but I have no information on stud career details and an announcement will be made at a much later date when plans have been finalised."

The British Horseracing Authority has announced that from 2nd November 2009 the remounting of horses after the start will be banned. 

The ban does not apply to unseatings at or on the way to the start where the attending doctor and veterinary officer are able to confirm that no injury has been sustained by horse or rider.

The issue of remounting was last considered in 2005 by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority. This followed on from the high profile incident of Kauto Star being remounted in a Novices’ Chase at Exeter, after which he was found to be injured.  At the time the HRA did not introduce an outright ban on remounting but strengthened the existing Rules relating to it.

Since then, the instances of remounting have reduced significantly, dropping from 40 in 2004 to just nine in 2008.  Of those nine that were remounted in 2008, five won prize money totalling just over £7,000.

Paul Struthers, Media Relations Manager for the Authority, said, “This rule change is the result of a recommendation from our Welfare and Training Group, which was approved by our Board, because of the indisputable risk to both horse and jockey. 

 “It seemed perverse that a jockey who had fallen in a race needed to be cleared by the Racecourse Medical Officer before riding again that day but could remount a horse having fallen without being given the same clearance.

 “Of course there are possible consequences to racing if no result is returned in a high profile race, coupled with the potential loss of prize money earnings.  However, the risks of allowing remounting to continue far outweigh the possible downsides, particularly given that all bets are void if there are no finishers in a race and that there are few instances of remounting anyway.”

Senior northern jockey Dale Gibson has announced he plans to retire from race riding at York's meeting on Saturday.

Gibson hopes to find another role in racing in the New Year.

Asked by the Racing Post why he is quitting this weekend he replied, "It feels right to do it this way. It started for me at York in September 1985, so I thought it would be fitting for me to end at York.

"It's my local track, it's a course that has been lucky for me down the years, and, having helped out there on various issues and projects in recent years, largely in a consultancy capacity, I have great respect for William Derby and his whole team."

Salisbury Racecourse's final meeting of the season, on Monday 12th October, will have free admission for anyone who wishes to attend.

The meeting, sponsored by Bathwick Tyres, currently has a 2.10pm start time and there are currently six races, but there is a possibility of an extra race which could mean a first race time of 1.40pm, but this will not be known until 48 hours before racing. 

Gates will open at midday and there will be just one enclosure. 

There will be no official dress code, although it is suggested that racegoers dress casually and comfortably. This will be a ticketless race meeting and members of the public just need to turn up to gain access.  Car parking is also free.

There is a selection of bars and catering outlets, and betting with tote and bookmakers will all be at the course as normal.  There will be a giant TV screen opposite the Stands as is the norm at all Salisbury fixtures.   

A "Losing Betting Ticket Competition" will be taking place with prizes including a magnum of Champagne, and three prizes of a one night stay for two at a 4 star hotel near Cheltenham.

Salisbury Clerk of the Course and Manager, Jeremy Martin: 'We decided that this event should be a free admission raceday over a year ago.  We have been actively promoting the day and we hope therefore to see a good crowd enjoying the racing at our final race meeting of 2009. 

“A free admission day will be particularly useful to anyone who has never been racing before - they can just come up on the day and experience it.  We would also like to thank everyone who has been racing with us at Salisbury this year.”

In something of a shock "wonder filly" Goldikova has been beaten in the Prix De La Foret by Varenar.

Goldikova looked like winning the race when taking up the runing in the home straight.

However she seemed unable to pull away of her rivals and, first of all, Sweet Hearth mounted achallenge, before the Aga Khan's Varenar came with a strong run under Stephane Pasquier to grab victory on the line.

Sea The Stars has been drawn in stall 6 for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday afternoon, the same stall allocated to two of the last five winners of the mile and a half contest.

Main ruvals Fame And Glory and Conduit are in stalls 10 and 12 respectively.

Nineteeen runners are due to face the starter at around 3:15 UK time on Sunday, with Johann Zoffany the only withdrawal at the final declaration stage.

Final Declarations