FORMER owner Tony Shead paid tribute to Barry Hills after the legendary Lambourn trainer announced his retirement from the sport.

Legendary Lambourn trainer Barry Hills, 74, has retired and will hand over the licence to his son, Charlie.

MARCUS Tregoning made a welcome stroll to the winner’s enclosure to collect the totesport Mile.

Nicky Henderson is to face a British Horseracing Authority inquiry on June 23 after Heather Royal tested positive for a prohibited substance at Huntingdon in February.

Connections of Champagnelifestyle believe the filly has each-way claims in the Investec Oaks at Epsom on Friday.

Blazing Bailey may have earned himself a shot at the Coral Scottish Grand National after a belated maiden victory over fences at Leicester.

Johnny Murtagh believes the drop back to a mile will see Rip Van Winkle at his best in the BGC Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday.

Festoso is likely to bid for the first Pattern-race victory of her career in Wednesday’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse.

Lambourn trainer Oliver Sherwood enjoyed a day to remember at Hereford by saddling a near 109-1 treble.

AIR Force One has joined Big Buck’s at the head of the betting with Victor Chandler for tomorrow’s Hennessy Gold Cup at 5-1.

Paul Blockley was yesterday still stunned after being warned off for two and a half years following a hearing of British Horseracing Authority’s disciplinary panel.

Clive Cox has ruled Dunelight out of the totesport.com Celebration Mile at Goodwood on Saturday because of unsuitable conditions.

A trust fund in aid of the popular Dorset trainer Robert Alner will be launched on Monday.

Marcus Tregoning is “pretty certain” Aqaleem will miss the Ladbrokes St Leger.

Mobaasher is on course to run at Aintree next week before connections target the €110,000 Ballymore Properties Champion 4-Y-O Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s Trabolgan is set to make his seasonal debut in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury rather than the Betfair Chase at Haydock next & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and is a best-priced 12-1 for the prestigious staying handicap on November 26, in which he has been allotted 11st.

Mubtaker is unlikely to run again this season following his outing in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Nicky Henderson’s dual Grade One-winning hurdler Landing Light has been retired.

Damson goes in search of back-to-back successes at the Royal meeting when she attempts to justify ante-post favouritism in the Coronation Stakes at York tomorrow.

Paul Nicholls is keeping his options open for the skybet.com Castleford Chase, with four entries for the £50,000 (€72,000) contest at Wetherby on Monday.

Willie Muir has conceded that his Texas Gold faces an onerous task when lining up for the 20-runner Vodafone ‘Dash’ at Epsom tomorrow.

Hot Shots will have the services of Jim Culloty once again in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Connections of Kaieteur are considering a possible tilt at the Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month with the colt.

JOCKEY Richard Hills is in confident mood as favourite Nayef continues his quest for the Summer Triple Crown’s £1million bonus in today’s Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

JONJO O’NEILL looks certain to saddle the first two in the betting for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle as he bids to become the first since Fred Winter to train as well as ride a winner of the opening day feature of the Cheltenham Festival.

CHARLIE SWAN has been booked to partner Liss A Paoraigh in the Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.

NICKY HENDERSON is struggling to find a suitable race for Bacchanal’s reappearance, the Lambourn trainer revealed yesterday.

BALLYDOYLE’S immediate plans are in disarray following Aidan O’Brien’s confirmation yesterday that some of his juveniles are coughing.

Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Marlborough will miss the King George VI Chase at Kempton but reports that the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup is firmly on the agenda.