An "urgent meeting" with Merseyside Police is needed, said the Mayor.

Ladbrokes is set to pay out £3m (€3.8m) to punters, if Leicester City win the English Premiership next month, and it has also attacked the conduct of rival betting firms, particularly as regards last month’s Cheltenham Festival.

On Saturday afternoon Leopardstown hosted an Irish Gold Cup meeting which threw many Cheltenham markets into complete disarray.

Ayumu Goramaru survived one Japanese earthquake four weeks before his international debut ten years ago and another four days afterwards. It taught him all about seismic shifts and the Richter Scale which measured the first at 6.6, the second at 5.8.

Nicky Henderson has pinpointed Silviniaco Conti and Last Instalment as dangers to Bobs Worth when his star bids to retain his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup crown next month.

So, everyone is happy with last Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree then, the BHA, RSPCA (fairly), press and, of course, Aintree itself.

Prince De Beauchene could not quite cap a red-letter day for record-breaking trainer Willie Mullins as he had to settle for second in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

Nacarat’s fifth successive appearance in the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton today might be his swansong on the racetrack.

Prince De Beauchene is fancied to emphasise that he is a major Aintree Grand National candidate by landing the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

If the Government is looking for economic advice, maybe it should consult the punter who has lifted €1.2m from Paddy Power in the past few months.

Kauto Star has regained his crown as the top-rated steeplechaser, in the annual Anglo-Irish Jumps Classifications, for the second time in his remarkable career.

The British Horseracing Authority’s review of the 2012 Grand National found the circumstances which led to the deaths of Synchronised and According To Pete could have been neither “foreseen nor prevented”.

Owner JP McManus has spoken of his “devastation” at the loss of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised in Saturday’s Grand National.

One of owner Graham Wylie’s two leading hopes for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National will be running in aid of the Children’s Heart Unit Fund.

Lexus Chase winner Synchronised has been allotted top weight of 11st 10lb for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

A BRITISH Horseracing Authority review into the Grand National has been completed, leading to the publication of 30 recommendations ‘designed to continue enhancing the safety and welfare’ of the Aintree showpiece.

Donald McCain’s versatile performer Overturn is set to bid for Royal Ascot glory in the Queen Alexandra Stakes on Saturday week.

ANIMAL welfare groups have called for an outright ban on the Grand National following the deaths of two horses in Saturday’s race.

KAUTO STAR didn’t just win yesterday’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cu p, he absolutely overwhelmed the opposition with a display of jumping and staying power which was simply breathtaking.

John Lewis said sales of televisions and computers rose sharply last week after the poor weather boosted interest in indoor products.

THE week after Cheltenham provides sufficient refuge for the needy and the greedy, with next Saturday seeing the start of the turf Flat season.

Two men who attempted an armed robbery of a bookmaker as he travelled back to his office from the Irish Grand National have been jailed for a total of 15 years by Judge Katherine Delahunt.

The British Horseracing Authority confirmed several changes to the start of this year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

MICHAEL O’LEARY, owner of the 2006 Horse of the Year award winner War of Attrition, would be “most surprised” if his Cheltenham Gold Cup winning horse would be able to repeat his exploit next March.

Gardaí in Dublin have arrested five people following an attempted robbery at the head office of a bookmakers' firm in the Deansgrange area of the city last night.

Our Ben, trained by Willie Mullins, heads 30 runners in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

AIDAN O’BRIEN and Kieren Fallon suffered a double reverse yesterday when Grand Central and Almighty were both well beaten at Leopardstown.

DERMOT WELD added to his gains earlier in the week with Queen Astrid when Akshar made a successful debut over jumps in the O’Dwyers’ Stillorgan Orchard Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

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.

Bookmakers are predicting a record-breaking £200m (€300m) will be bet on Saturday’s Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree.

Martell Cognac Grand National outsider Royal Atalza pleased connections this morning as the ex-French gelding completed his preparation for the big race at Aintree on Saturday.

Thieves stole prized trophies belonging to a former champion jockey Stan Mellor on Cheltenham Gold Cup day.

PRIZE money for this season’s Martell Cognac Grand National meeting will top £2m for the first time.

PUNTERS latched onto Chives yesterday for the Martell Cognac Grand National, with Coral forced to cut the eight-year-old’s odds to 9-1 third favourite from 11-1.

OWNERS of leading Martell Cognac Grand National fancy Davids Lad will today make a last-ditch attempt to have their horse cleared to run in the Aintree showpiece on Saturday week.

Niki Dee is set to head for the Martell Grand National without the benefit of a prep race, it was revealed today.

There are seven horses left in the Martell Grand National.

The Football Association is asking British Airways to lay on extra flights so fans could get to the all-London FA Cup semi-final in Manchester.

Organisers of the Aintree Grand National have pledged to arrange a new date this year if the race falls foul of foot-and-mouth.