L’Ami Serge sailed through the desperately wet conditions at Plumpton yesterday to make an impressive debut over fences in the At The Races App On iPhone Novices’ Chase before waterlogging caused the card to be abandoned after the third race.

Phillip Makin was the star of the show on the first day of the Ayr Gold Cup meeting yesterday with a 78-1 treble.

George Baker is an infrequent visitor to Newcastle but the rider left Tyneside on Saturday with the two biggest races of the track’s year in the bag, including the final John Smith’s Northumberland Plate to be run on turf with Quest For More.

Hans Holbein leapt into the picture for the Investec Derby when giving trainer Aidan O’Brien a welcome turn of fortunes with an all-the-way success in the MBNA Chester Vase on the Roodee yesterday.

Jonjo O’Neill feels Shutthefrontdoor has the right credentials to give AP McCoy an unforgettable final ride in the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

Bookmakers are fearing a final day plunge on Tony McCoy’s last Cheltenham Festival rides after the retiring champion got off the mark on day three of the meeting.

The New One’s Stan James Champion Hurdle preparations neared completion yesterday with a satisfactory schooling session.

The prospect of Tony McCoy retiring in a blaze of glory with victory in the Crabbie’s Grand National was at the forefront of bookmakers’ minds when they priced up the market after the publication of the weights for the world’s greatest steeplechase.

The Tony Martin-trained Quick Jack has been cut to 6-1 favourite (from 7) with the sponsors for Saturday’s Betfred Cesarewitch after standing his ground yesterday for the marathon handicap.

Andrea Atzeni showed why he has been signed up by Qatar Racing with a good ride to get Cappella Sansevero home in the Nestle Supporting Irish Autism Action Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

Aidan O’Brien’s domination of the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes continued as Dick Whittington caused a minor upset in the Curragh feature.

Four-year-old Indian Icon, winner of his maiden hurdle in Killarney last month, captured the featured Carmel Fay Memorial Handicap Hurdle in Kilbeggan last night under a well-judged ride by Mark Enright.

Bookmakers finally clawed back some of the losses from what had a been a punter-friendly Royal Ascot as the six races on day four of the showpiece meeting failed to produce a single winning favourite.

Bookmakers were left reeling after day one of Royal Ascot as brilliant milers Toronado (pictured) and Kingman led the way for punters.

Frankie Dettori can look towards the Guineas weekend with a positive feeling about at least one Classic ride after the courageous performance of Sandiva in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.

As the market intensifies ahead of Saturday’s Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree, Michael Scudamore’s Monbeg Dude was the one most punters were interested in on Tuesday.

Bracelet appears the latest likely Classic candidate off the Ballydoyle production line after making a winning return in the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial yesterday.

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1m Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1m (€1.2m) Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

Ruby Walsh has admitted he would not have ridden Big Buck’s any differently in last Saturday’s Cleeve Hurdle.

Charles Byrnes has ruled out bringing Solwhit back in the spring and is looking forward to next season with his champion staying hurdler.

Big Buck’s is as short as 6-4 favourite to regain his Ladbrokes World Hurdle crown after the current champion Solwhit was ruled out of the race with injury.

John Smith’s Grand National handicapper Phil Smith has defended his decision to allot leading contender Seabass a burden of 11st 2lb in the Aintree showpiece.

Kauto Star has now been reduced to a ceremonial role in the William Hill King George VI Chase, but his first appearance at Kempton in retirement yesterday coincided with the most gripping finish since the era before the five-timer winner as his old foe Long Run claimed a dramatic second victory.

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

Alan McCabe continues to be peeved by Caspar Netscher's underdog status, but the Nottinghamshire trainer can have another attempt at confounding the experts in the Qipco 2000 Guineas after the colt came out on top in Newbury's Aon Greenham Stakes this afternoon.

Wouldn’t you love if the press left Aidan O’Brien alone until he was in a position to finally reveal whether the latest Ballydoyle talking-horse, Camelot, will/won’t take his chance in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket?

Tony McCoy was the bookmakers’ unlikely saviour as the layers were for once pleased to see the 16-times champion jockey win a big race.

The Cheltenham Festival can literally make or break a bookies’ year.

Kauto Star continues to make strides in his race to be primed for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week.

LEADING Irish hope Boston Bob was yesterday cut for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle - but trainer Willie Mullins remained tight-lipped about which race he would contest at Cheltenham next week.

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.

Connections of Sprinter Sacre’s Arkle Trophy rivals are likely to be quaking in their boots after the giant gelding produced a devastating performance in the Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury yesterday.

Zarkandar further enhanced his Champion Hurdle prospects with an amazing victory in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

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

Quel Esprit booked his Cheltenham ticket when making virtually all the running to give Willie Mullins an eighth victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

SIZING EUROPE continued to shorten up as favourite for Saturday’s Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase after major rival Finian’s Rainbow was ruled out yesterday.

TWO of the most exciting talents of last year’s hurdling division combined for a thriller over fences at Newbury as Bobs Worth passed Cue Card by a short-head in the Fuller’s London Pride Novices’ Chase.

Ladbrokes St Leger winner Masked Marvel could be supplemented for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at tomorrow’s supplementary stage.

DREAM AHEAD is the new favourite for Saturday’s Betfred Sprint Cup after Deacon Blues was deemed an “unlikely” runner in the Haydock contest.

Mark Johnston’s Fox Hunt has been allotted top weight for the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket on October 8.

KEVIN Ryan expects conditions to suit both his runners in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon today.

Winners from Fran Berry and Colm O’Donoghue inspired Ireland to a late comeback in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot.