Air Force One flew home under Noel Fehily at Ludlow to earn a 33-1 quote with Stan James for the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in six weeks’ time.

Golden Bay landed the feature Yorkshire Bank Mares’ Only Handicap Hurdle race at Cheltenham to give trainer Suzy Smith her first taste of success at Prestbury Park.

SWEET WAKE is a short-priced favourite to give trainer Noel Meade a second victory in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Nicky Richards is well on course to beat his best seasonal total of 51 after a double at Ayr with Harmony Brig and Camden Bella put him on 36 winners for the campaign.

Cerium was trimmed to 8-1 with Coral for the Arkle Trophy after the high-class hurdler made a smooth transition to fences under Paddy Brennan at Warwick.

Conditional rider Tom Halliday died yesterday from injuries sustained in a fall at Market Rasen during the afternoon.

Timmy Murphy had an up-and-down day at Taunton today, reaching the 99-winner mark for the season before missing a winner later on the card after a bad fall.

Seamus Mullins has his string in top form and the Salisbury-based trainer is keeping his fingers crossed that tomorrow’s meeting at Sandown beats the weather after his big-race hopes were given a boost by Kentford Fern’s success at wintry Southwell.