Champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa has been handed an 18-day suspension by the British Horseracing Authority over his use of the whip, six of which have been deferred.

A field of 16 is set to go to post for tomorrow’s Investec Derby at Epsom.

Perhaps not with a bang, but the Flat was back in Britain this weekend and it was Godolphin who were smiling at Doncaster as Secret Brief claimed the Betway Lincoln.

Here’s a tip for the remaining few weeks of the flat campaign: Keep Aidan O’Brien very much on your side.

Ralph Beckett had a smile back on his face yesterday after a “miserable 11 days” ended with Simple Verse being reinstated as the winner of this year’s Ladbrokes St Leger.

No sooner had the Leger at Doncaster on Saturday finished than a pal of mine rang to ask what I thought would happen at the subsequent stewards’ inquiry.

Luca Cumani may have had an “inkling” earlier in the year that a parting of the ways could come with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, owner of King George winner and leading Arc contender Postponed.

Richard Hughes might be retiring at the end of Glorious Goodwood but that thought could not be further away from Frankie Dettori’s mind as he racked up another Group-race success in the Qatar Vintage Stakes on Galileo Gold.

Forty years since that epic duel with Grundy and Bustino, Ascot racegoers were treated to another genuinely spectacular finish to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.

Letters Of Note, trained by Michael O’Callaghan for Pearl Bloodstock, proved a narrow winner of the listed Yeomanstown Stud Dark Angel Stakes in Naas last night.

Andrea Atzeni is set to ride Postponed in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Greyscape will be strongly fancied to get off the mark at his third attempt in today’s opener in Cork, the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Auction Maiden.

Gordon Lord Byron is unlikely to take up his engagement at Dundalk on Friday, with a flight to Hong Kong booked for midweek.

Jockey Jamie Spencer has abandoned plans to retire from the saddle and will continue next year as a freelance.

Jamie Spencer was told in the summer his contract with powerful owners Qatar Racing would not be renewed next year.

Andrew Balding is in bullish mood as Elm Park bids to provide the trainer with a first domestic Group One victory in over a decade in this afternoon’s Racing Post Trophy (3.50 Doncaster).

Teenage rider Donnacha O’Brien hit the headlines at the Curragh yesterday with a landmark success on El Salvador in the Irish Cesarewitch.

Trainer Tom Dascombe was full of praise for jockey Richard Kingscote after an enterprising ride aboard Brown Panther gave the pair their first taste of Group One success in the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger at the Curragh yesterday.

Kiyoshi proved her considerable talents remain very much intact with a brilliant victory under the soon-to-retire Jamie Spencer in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster yesterday.

St Leger favourite Kingston Hill puts his Classic credentials on the line in the Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes at York today.

Farraaj is set to try his hand in Group company after defying the steadier of 9st 11lb in the 55th John Smith's Cup at York.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday could hardly have got off to a worse start.

Australia will emulate his parents if he manages to follow up his win at Epsom in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh today.

French star-in-waiting Prince Gibraltar stands in front of The Grey Gatsby as Kevin Ryan’s colt pitches for Classic glory in tomorrow’s Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Charismatic owner Dr Marwan Koukash states every year that the StanJames.com Chester Cup is his ‘Derby’ and he knew from some way out he would be adding to his collection as Suegioo swooped late to deny Angel Gabrial on the Roodee.

Jamie Spencer continued his fine of form as he drove Castilo Del Diablo to victory in the BetVictor.com Conditions Stakes at Kempton.

Roger Varian has revealed Neil Callan will no longer be retained as his stable jockey for the forthcoming Flat season.

Peter Chapple-Hyam continued his unbeaten start to July as Palus San Marco earned a hard-fought victory over Kampai in the Catering Services International Ltd Maiden Stakes at Brighton yesterday.

Bryan Smart and Phillip Makin have struck up a fruitful partnership in the absence of Tom Eaves and the trainer-jockey combination followed up Friday's Southwell hat-trick as Snow Bay struck at the Nottinghamshire track.

Eddie Ahern brushed off a dangerous skid on the icy roads around Lingfield to arrive in time for victory in the betdaq.co.uk Conditions Stakes today.

David Simcock can now start thinking of next year’s Ascot Gold Cup after the hugely progressive Darley Sun pulled five lengths clear of the field in the totesport.com Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Darley Sun defied statistics to run away with the totesport.com Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Connections of Sweetheart are keeping their fingers crossed she makes the cut for next week's Ascot Stakes following victory in the Betdaq The Betting Exchange Handicap at Folkestone.

Irish horses are forecast to dominate the finish of Saturday's Investec Derby and a happy party from Co Tipperary started the invasion early by making off with a double at Lingfield today.