There was a potentially serious incident in the parade ring at Towcester before the closing gg.com Tipzone Standard NH Flat race.

Caroline Bailey’s Qayak had been feisty in the preliminaries, having two handlers. Suddenly he bucked broke free of his handlers and careered around the parade ring, scattering assorted connections.

He then demolished a nine foot section of the parade ring rail. Running loose again a racegoer had to run as it looked as though he was going to jump the far rail in the ring.

Instead he turned, charged across the ring in the direction of the main enclosure , sending racegoers scattering in all directions. Fortunately he did not jump the rail but hid did damage another section.

As he headed towards the far end of the ring his lass bravely stood in his way and luckily he stopped and was caught.

Denman defied to weight to win the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Coming to the last it looked as though stablemate What A Friend would make a race of it but Denman cleared the fence with ease whilst What A Friend did not jump it cleanly.

Johnny Murtagh has become Ireland’s Champion Jockey for the fourth time when his only rival, Pat Smullen, failed to make up the five winner deficit at Dundalk on Friday evening.

North Yorkshire police have charged a 37-year-old man in connection with the deaths of two jockeys in a fire at Malton last September.

Peter Brown will appear before Scarborough magistrates accused of the murders of jockeys Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson who died in the fire.
 
A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "A 37-year-old man who was arrested yesterday has now been charged with two counts of murder.''

Two other jockeys were injured as they escaped the fire in a block of flats just off Norton's main street.

Update

Peter William Brown was remanded in custody until Friday, 4th December where he will appear at Leeds Crown Court. Brown spoke only to confirm his name and address, he has yet to enter a plea.

A Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has overturned a decision of the Wolverhampton Stewards to find Seb Sanders, the rider of Harris Tweed, trained by Sir Mark Prescott in breach of Rule (B)59.2 of the Rules of Racing on 6th November.

The BHA, after studying the video evidence of the race, were satisfied that Sanders had not intentionally failed to ensure that the horse was run on its merits and therefore asked the Disciplinary Panel to quash the finding. The BHA were also satisfied that Sanders had taken reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race.

The racecourse enquiry focused on two areas of concern.  Firstly Sanders’ decision, having broken well, to take a pull which resulted in Harris Tweed dropping to the back of the field. 

Analysis of the raceday videos demonstrated a good reason why Sanders was forced to take a pull.  Moobeyn (drawn 3), was pushed along by George Baker at the start, plainly with the intention of securing a place on the rails, and at the head of affairs.  As he did so, Baker caused Paul Hanagan, the rider of Layla’s Lad (drawn 1) to take a pull shortly before the bend, causing Layla’s Lad to slow.  Sanders, who was sitting just behind and outside Layla’s Lad, was deemed to have reacted reasonably by taking a pull on Harris Tweed.

The second area of concern was that Sanders did not make a “substantial” effort in the straight.  Sanders had been instructed by the trainer not to use his whip as it was only the second time out for the 2 year old colt.  There was no obligation under the Rules for Sanders to use his whip.  The Panel looked at Sanders’ use of his left arm and concluded that both arms were pushing, albeit that the drive was a right handed one rather than an even handed one.  This ride displayed, in the circumstances, an adequate effort.

Three times King George and double Gold Cup winner Kauto Star won the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park - but only just.

There was a long delay as racing fans across the land held their breath awaiting the result of the photograph between Paul Nicholls star and Nigel Twiston-Davies Imperial Commander.

Eventually the verdict was given to Kauto Star by a nose.

The pair were well ahead of their rivals crossing the final fence but Imperial Commander battled bravely and the verdict was on the not with may observers thinking the Twistin-Davies runner may have prevailed.

Paul Nicholls said afterwards, "I couldn't go to a King George without having a run and the ground wasn't the issue as much as him getting a bit tired in it.

"That run will sharpen him enormously and put him right for Kempton.

"He hadn't run since March, so jumping 18 fences in a race will bring him on mentally and physically.”

Twiston-Davies was still surprised at the defeat of his runner, "From every angle I saw he had got it, but there you are. I am sure the camera doesn't lie and he has run a hell of a race.

"We have to think whether we go back to the King George as he obviously prefers going left-handed. There aren't many options so we will probably have to go there.

"If this had been three miles and two furlongs then he would have won easily - bring on the Gold Cup."

Albertas Run, once a good horse but one who had seemed to hit the doldrums recently, turned back the clock at Ascot to take the Amlin 1965 Chase with some ease under AP McCoy.

Always to the fore he kept Monet’s Garden company in front until the grey tired five from home, leaving McCoy alone in front.

Gwanako emerged as the challenger at this stage but was, once again, let down by his jumping, unseating Christian Williams two out.

This left Planet Of Sound, the favourite, in second place and although he mounted a spirited challenge he never looked like troubling Albertas Run.

Voy Por Ustedes is known for making the odd mistake in his jumping but on the whole he is a reliable jumper. Today was a complete reversal, he made far too many mistakes – there were certainly more poor jumps than clean ones and that undoubtedly took away any chance he may have had.

Sea The Stars has recoded one final victory in 2009 by taking theCartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Colt titles at the 2009 Cartier Racing Awards.

Sea The Stars won each of his six races in 2009, all in Group One company. The first two of those victories were in Classic races becoming the first horse in 20 years to win both the stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs.
 
After clinching the Derby, Sea The Stars dropped down to 10 furlongs for his next three starts and emphasised his dominance against the best in Europe with triumphs in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, the Juddmonte International at York and the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The colt then emulated his dam Urban Sea with victory in Europe’s top middle distance race, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over 12 furlongs at Longchamp.

He is the first horse to take the 2000 Guineas, Derby, Arc treble.

In a very strong year the other finalists for Horse of the Year were the two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile heroine Goldikova, dual Breeders’ Cup Turf victor Conduit, Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mastercraftsman and the 1,000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati. Between them, the five nominees gained 16 Group One races in 2009.

A raceday at Plumpton has raised £170,000 for the Army and Afghan Appeal.

The funds were raised from a combination of auctions, sponsorship and donations.

The most unusual auction item was a eight day tour of Afghanistan with veteran ITN reporter and newscaster Sandy Gall, which went for an incredible £10,000 (including insurance).

The money will be shared between the Army Benevolent Fund and Sandy Gall's Afghan charity which helps civillian victims of the war.

In a race set up for his benefit the 2009 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, Master Minded, only managed to come home in third place in the Connaught Chase at Cheltenham.

Master Minded looked beaten as they came down the hill, whilst David Pipe’s Well Chief looked happy turning for home, after a 249 day absence.

Well Chief took the race comfortably, even though Mahogany Blaze was bearing down on him up the run-in.

Cheltenham Racecourse are counting the cost after they offered a refund to any customers who booked full price advance tickets for the Premier Enclosure if an Irish runner took the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase.

The Irish have not won the contest for 29 years and the trainer being struck off the Cheltenham Christmas Card list is Edward O’Grady, as his Tranquil Sea never looked in any danger after hitting the front approaching two out.

Paul Nicholls Poquelin came with a late run but it was too little too late and he never troubled the winner, although he did deny Hold Em the runners-up berth.

One sad note is Fredy Murphy's Three Mirrors had to be put down after breaking down.

Wednesday's scheduled meeting at Hexham has been Cancelled due to parts of the track being waterlogged.

The meeting was called off by Clerk Of The Course James Armstrong following a 7:30 inspection.

He said, ""We have had an inch of rain now and there's large areas of waterlogging and some patches of false ground.

"We were forecast half an inch but we've had double that and we could get another 10 to 12 millimetres this morning."

A maximum field of 20 look set to line up for Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Top of the weights is the 2005 Our Vic, now an 11 year old and trained by David Pipe.

All three of Paul Nicholls runners Tatenen, Poquelin and Chapoturgeon stand their ground, whilst Nigel Twiston-Davies runs Knowhere and Ballyfitz.

Tom George’s Tartak also runs, in the hope he can put his dreadful Aintree run behind him.

It is almost 30 years since the Irish won the contest and Cheltenham have offered to refund the admission of those who booked and paid full price in advance, should there be an Irish trained winner.

The team from across the Irish Sea have two representatives in the shape of Edward O’Gradey’s  well backed Tranquil Sea and Tony Martin’s Northern Alliance, winner of the Kerry National.

One withdrawal at the 48 hour stage was Howard Johnson's Akilak, allowing Hold Em to sneak into the line-up.

There are two reserves should any further runners defect before the final declaration stage.

The sponsors bet: 6-1 Tranquil Sea, 7 Chapoturgeon, 8 Poquelin, Tatenen, 9 Tarotino, 10 Ballyfitz, My Petra, Northern Alliance, 16 According To Pete, Tartak, 20 Bible Lord, From Dawn To Dusk, Im So Lucky, Watch My Back, 33 Hold Em, Knowhere, Leslingtaylor, Our Vic, Pop, 40 Il Duce, Three Mirrors, 66 Island Life

Fiveforthree will not race this season after failing to impress his trainer Willie Mullins.

The seven-year-old has not fully recovered from a setback at the end of last season. Mullins said the injury had recovered well but the gelding had not made sufficient progress to be campaigned this season.

Fiveforthree was third favourite for the 2010 Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Paul Carberry has been banned from riding in Ireland for 30 racing days and fined €5,000 after failing  a breath test for alcohol at Naas on October 31.

The ban, which commences on November 25 and lasts until the meeting at Thurles on January 28.

The ban only applies to days when there is racing in Ireland which means Carberry will be allowed to ride in Britain on the days when there is no racing in Ireland.

This is the second time Carberry has failed a racecourse breath test.

Commentator and Channel 4 presenter Derek Thompson is should to be released from hospital in the next few days after tests for viral meningitis proved to be negative.

Thompson was admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge on Saturday night with  severe headaches, he is undergoing further tests to discover the cause.

His wife has said, "I have just spoken to the consultant and he told me that they have ruled out anything major which is great news."

Commentator and Channel Four presenter Derek Thompson is in hospital in Cambridge undergoing test for suspected viral meningitis.

He was admitted to hospital on Saturday evening, complaining of an “unbearable headache”.

Zenyatta took her record to 14 races, 14 wins in becoming the first filly to win the Breeders Cup Classic.

The John Shirreff trained five-year-old put in a devastating last to first charge to take the $5m contest, to make US Turf Champion Gio Ponti look flat footed.

Henry Cecil’s Twice Over was not disgraced back in third.

The supposed  main European challenge in the race turned into a damp squib as Ballydoyle’s Rip Van Winkle was never a threat at any point, eventually finishing tenth of 12.

Elsewhere at the self proclaimed World Championships of Racing Europe fared very well, with Sir Michael Stoute’s Conduit taking the Breeders Cup Turf for the second year running. Ryan Moore and Conduit had to be at their best to reel in the front running Presious Passion. The filly Dar Re Mi came home third.

In another European double, the French trained Goldikova followed in the illustrious hooves of her compatriot Miesque in taking the Breeders Cup Mile for the second time. The other connection being Miesque was ridden by Freddie Head and Goldikova is trained by him, thus setting up a unique achievement.  She did well to win from what is known as the “coffin box” draw and turning for home she was still well behind the leaders. Then in the closing stages she had to avoid the drifting Courageous Cat but rider Olivier Peslier kept his cool to get the filly home.

Other European victories came from Pounced in the Juvenile Turf and Godolphin’s Vale Of York was a shock 25/1 winner of the Juvenile Dirt.    

Jockey Darryll Holland has been freed from custody without charge in Northern Cyprus and is free to return home.

He was released from the police station where he had been detained since early last week without having to appear in court.

Holland was detained in the town of Kyrenia, along with another Briton named as John Tabor, over an incident involving counterfeit money. Holland had denied any wrongdoing from the outset.

After being in the news for all the wrong reasons jockey Barry Geraghty has now hit the headlines for the right reasons.

On Saturday Geraghty picked up a 12 day ban for taking the wrong course at Wetherby.

On Monday he recorded his 1,000th UK & Ireland career win when riding Duc De Regniere to victory in the Kempton.co.uk Graduation Chase.

Both of Sunday's Irish fixtures, at Leopardstown and Cork, have been Cancelled due to waterlogging.

The meeting at Cork was already under threat and the heavy overnight rain led to the inevitable cancellation.

Leopardstown, where the November Handicap was scheduled to be run, was more of a surprise and the advance going was soft to yielding. However 23mm of overnight rain left standing water and officials were left with little choice.