Briareus overcame a near two-year absence to deny the Paul Nicholls-trained I’msingingtheblues in the kempton.co.uk Graduation Chase.

Andrew Balding has a small team of five jumpers to go to war with this winter and got his 2008 National Hunt season off to a great start as Show Winner collected at Kempton.

Barry Fenton missed a valuable winning ride as Noel Fehily deputised aboard the front-running Priors Dale in the Dick Reynolds Novices’ Handicap Chase at Wincanton.

England cricketer Andrew Flintoff may not be enjoying the time of his life in Australia but the horse named in his honour had better luck in the Racegoers Club ‘Best Small Racecourse In The North’ Beginners’ Chase at Wetherby.