Envoi Allen maintained his unbeaten record with a stylish display in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle yesterday.

Cheltenham Gold Cup victor Al Boum Photo oozed class in making a winning reappearance in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore.

Visitors can get up close and personal with Meghan Markle’s wedding dress as a new exhibition opens at Windsor Castle. Rachel Marie Walsh meets the curator.

Victoria Pendleton faces the crucial moment in her Cheltenham Festival quest today as a decision on whether she will ride in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase will be announced at a press conference in London.

Shares traded in Ladbrokes changed little in London yesterday, suggesting that an 11th-hour intervention by stakeholder Dermot Desmond calling for it to scupper plans to buy rival bookie Gala Coral will continue to fall on deaf ears.

The prospect of Tony McCoy retiring in a blaze of glory with victory in the Crabbie’s Grand National was at the forefront of bookmakers’ minds when they priced up the market after the publication of the weights for the world’s greatest steeplechase.

Online gambling company Betfair reported strong growth in quarterly profit yesterday, thanks to the World Cup, and defended its accounting policies after an error relating to past dividend payments.

This is a big weekend for Ballydoyle and not just with Australia.

So England are playing Italy tonight. But you already knew that. Question is - who are you supporting?

Jockey Eddie O’Connell is to appeal the findings of the Referrals Committee which earlier this week saw him banned for four years by the Turf Club.

It was a redemptive day at Aintree yesterday as Silviniaco Conti, The New One and Guitar Pete – all of whom were denied at Cheltenham last month – made amends on the opening day of the Grand National meeting.

Silviniaco Conti will try to improve on his Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth in next week’s Betfred Bowl at Aintree.

Jockey Eddie O’Connell and trainer Jim Lambe’s bid to stop the Turf Club from making any adverse findings against them in respect of allegations they were involved in irregular betting has opened before the High Court.

Sam Twiston-Davies insists he will treat the ride on Big Buck’s no differently to any other as the record-breaking staying hurdler makes his return from more than a year’s absence at Cheltenham today.

Aidan O’Brien is definitely the most self-deprecating trainer in the country and, when knocking himself, something he does quite often, most take it with the proverbial pinch of salt.

Trainer Paul Nicholls was last evening dealt a huge double injury blow by the news Big Buck’s and Al Ferof are set to miss the rest of the season.

Grands Crus’ part-owner Roger Stanley maintains no hasty decisions will be taken over whether the grey participates in the William Hill King George VI Chase.

I thought it was gas as bookmakers’ representatives, literally, fell over themselves attempting to better each other with reaction to Hurricane Fly’s success in last Sunday’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

Now that the dust has well and truly settled on Galway, and we have had time to analyse what went on, the one conclusion that has to be drawn is the drop in bookmakers’ turnover was alarming to say the least.

Beware of hype, especially when it’s coming from those whose only desire is the selling of newspapers.

Harry Redknapp has revealed he tried to sign Mario Balotelli while he was Tottenham manager and has predicted a great future for the Italian.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised is becoming increasingly likely to take his chance in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

YOU could only describe it as the herd mentality.

Haydock and Betfair have announced plans for a statue of Kauto Star to celebrate his achievements at the Merseyside track.

X FACTOR bosses are to donate profits from the phone vote to replace shamed Frankie Cocozza to charity.

Paul Nicholls could have three leading contenders in the JCB Triumph Hurdle after Zarkandar added his name to the trainer’s hopes for the juvenile championship with an eyecatching debut win at Kempton.

Colin Firth is hot favourite to be the big winner at tonight's Golden Globes.

The 'X Factor' field of finalists will be reduced to just three tonight as the competition enters its final weekend.

HAVE a glance at this e-mail that I, along with many others, received from William Hill some days ago.

Ann Widdecombe is planning to wear her raunchiest dress to date for tomorrow's 'Strictly Come Dancing' show - exposing her ankles.

Football fans would have pocketed over €4,000 if they had backed Paul the psychic octopus’ World Cup predictions, online bookmaker Betfair has claimed today.

Owner Harry Findlay has been charged by the British Horseracing Authority in connection with laying his own horse, Gullible Gordon, on two occasions.

RAIN is jeopardising the showdown between Sea The Stars and Fame And Glory in Saturday’s Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Rain is jeopardising the showdown between Sea The Stars and Fame And Glory in Saturday's Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

An online bookmaker confirmed today it has alerted tennis authorities about unusual patterns of betting on a match at Wimbledon yesterday.

Tennis chiefs will meet security experts from British horseracing as part of their investigation into suspicious betting patterns in the sport.

IRISH superstar jockey Kieren Fallon was charged yesterday following a London police investigation into allegations of corruption in racing.

Champion jockey Kieren Fallon was one of 11 people charged today in relation to the City of London police investigation into allegations of corruption in racing.

Betfair have held “formative talks” with the Football Association with regard to betting patterns prior to the appointment of Harry Redknapp as Portsmouth boss.

SPECULATION was rife about Roy Keane’s next career move yesterday as clubs queued up to sign him and odds shortened on him becoming Ireland’s new soccer manager.

PAUL McGINLEY’s loyal and shrewdest fans were rewarded yesterday after the Dubliner claimed his Valderrama victory.

Racehorse owner Darren Mercer faces the disciplinary panel of the Jockey Club tomorrow charged with laying his own horse, Joss Naylor, to lose on a betting exchange.

FORMER Platinum Racing Club director Miles Rodgers was disqualified from British racing for two years by the Jockey Club yesterday.

LEADING trainer Ferdy Murphy was yesterday fined £4,000 by the Jockey Club for comments made on the BBC programme ‘Kenyon Confronts’ earlier this year.