Leading RSA Chase contender More Of That is to sidestep the Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Saturday with regular rider Barry Geraghty on duty in Ireland.

Jim Culloty blamed the ground for Lord Windermere’s below-par run in the Lexus Chase over Christmas and all roads still lead to a defence of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13, for which 35 entries have been revealed.

Parlour Games strengthened his claims for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with a performance of sheer class in the Betfred Goals Galore Challow Hurdle at Newbury yesterday.

Grands Crus, one of the best staying hurdlers and novice chasers of his generation, has been retired.

Wheelie bin cleaner Craig Brazier yesterday met the horse that won him £1,342,559 on the Scoop6 as he visited trainer Alan King’s Barbury Castle stables in Wiltshire.

Last Instalmen headed to England yesterday as trainer Philip Fenton delayed a decision on his participation in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup until the middle of the week.

Bookmakers were battered on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival as punters piled into another feature-race winner.

Betfred boss Fred Done has risked facing the wrath of his fellow Manchester United supporters by again paying out early on the Red Devils to win the Barclays Premier League title this season.

The Oliver McKiernan-trained Spot The Boss is the sole Irish entry in Saturday’s Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick, for which 24 horses have been entered.

Betfred has extended its backing of the Cheltenham Gold Cup for a further three years.

Giles Cross may be odds-against to turn up in the Grand National itself but he left his connections thrilled after claiming a deserved big-race victory in the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock.

A succession of short-priced winners meant that a record totejackpot pool was shared out at Newmarket.

BRITAIN’S fourth-biggest bookmaker Betfred has won an auction to buy state-owned betting group, the Tote, for £265 million (€302.5m), disappointing the influential horseracing lobby.

Bookmakers Betfred won the auction to buy the Tote today after the Government backed a takeover deal worth around £265m (€298m).

LONG RUN’S marvellous victory in the totesport Gold Cup ensured the punters were in front at the end of a marathon four-day stint at the Cheltenham Festival.

PADDY Power has distanced itself from fresh speculation that it is in the running to acquire the Tote betting network in Britain, which the government there is looking to sell in the coming months.

Wigan: It seems that the Tote in Britain will not come under Irish ownership, once it becomes privatised.

Celebrity Manchester United fan Fred Done has backed the Red Knights’ takeover bid – but insists he is not part of the consortium aiming to oust the Glazer family from Old Trafford.

IMPERIAL Commander’s Cheltenham Gold Cup win sealed a benefit for the bookmakers at the Cheltenham Festival.

Bookmakers are already running scared of Royal County Star as Tony Martin’s hope is set to carry just 10st 4lb in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National on Monday.

Bookmaker William Hill took a £26m (€34.5m) profits hit today after it ditched a major upgrade of its internet betting operation.

A trio of the UK’s biggest bookmakers are in detailed talks with more than 20 racecourses over replacing the £90m (€123m) betting levy which funds the horseracing industry, it was reported today.

Scottish Grand National hero Hot Weld is likely to bid for a rapid high-profile double in the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

Joes Edge, one of three co-favourites in the John Smith's Grand National, is recovering well after pulling up lame in the big race yesterday.

Strong Flow, winner of the 2003 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, could return to big-race action in the Betfred Gold Cup.

Connections of Aztec Warrior are contemplating a run at the Cheltenham Festival with the six-year-old after his comfortable victory in the Betfred “The Bonus King” Novices’ Chase at Wincanton.

Investors in Britain placed their bets on the success of gaming software designer Playtech today as its shares rose strongly following a £548m (€794.4m) flotation.

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger warned that two bookmakers are “taking a big risk” by paying out on Chelsea winning the Barclays Premiership title race after just seven games.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger warned that two bookmakers are “taking a big risk” by paying out on Chelsea winning on the Barclays Premiership title race after just seven games.

HEDGEHUNTER received a rapturous welcome at Leopardstown yesterday afternoon following his heroics in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Howard Johnson’s powerful string has suffered a few reverses in recent days but Deja Vu got the County Durham trainer back in the winning groove at Sedgefield today.

Irish trainer Willie Mullins will delay making a decision on the participation of Rule Supreme and Alexander Banquet in the Betfred Gold Cup until later in the week.

IRISH bookmakers cannot agree about the chances of Xenophon in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, with Paddy Power installing him 5-1 favourite and Cashmans going 14-1.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy’s observation after he had virtually lifted Control Man over the line in the European Breeders Fund ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier at Fontwell today said it all.