Horses possessing an official BHB rating of less than 130 will no longer be allowed to take part in any of the four non-novice championship events at the Cheltenham Festival.

Deep Impact is to be retired to stud at the end of the year in a syndication deal worth almost €34m.

Carte Diamond’s bid for the Melbourne Cup is once again in doubt after Brian Ellison’s five-year-old suffered another injury.

Distinction has been ruled out of the ABN AMRO Goodwood Cup on August 3.

King In Waiting, as low as 25-1 with William Hill for the Vodafone Derby, has been ruled out of Sunday’s Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

Aidan O’Brien, who is still refusing to panic about the form of his string, has confirmed that Derby favourite Horatio Nelson will take his chance in the Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.

Mick Kinane will renew his association with Group One Cheveley Park Stakes winner Donna Blini in Sunday’s Stan James 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Newmill, the runaway winner of last week’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, is likely to miss a clash with Brave Inca at the Punchestown Festival and instead line up in the Kerrygold Champion Chase.

Ginger McCain, trainer of the late Red Rum, has splashed out 110,000 guineas on former Paul Nicholls inmate Inca Trail, bringing his number of runners in the John Smith’s Grand National on April 8 to three.

Ruby Walsh will take the ride on Equus Maximus in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham tomorrow, with Johnny Murtagh getting the leg up on Ballytrim.

Harry Dunlop, son of trainer John and brother of Ed, will be the third family member to join the training ranks in 2007 when taking over the reins at Windsor House Stables in Lambourn.