Timmy Murphy endured an up-and-down afternoon at Huntingdon with the pain of a two-day ban eased by winning the feature race.

Keith Goldsworthy is looking forward to running Hold Em on Saturday, with the Grade Two Ballymore Properties Hurdle at Cheltenham the preferred option for connections.

Keith Goldsworthy’s stable star Hills Of Aran is likely to revert to novice company on Saturday.

Rayshan is set for a crack at the Borders National at Kelso on December 9 after giving Rose Davidson a famous scalp at Carlisle.

Character Building put up a superb display of jumping to notch a smooth success in the Visit Warwick Artsmarket Here Sunday 10th December Beginners’ Chase.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy’s observation after he had virtually lifted Control Man over the line in the European Breeders Fund ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier at Fontwell today said it all.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s attempt to indict Iraq over weapons of mass destruction and links to the terrorist group al-Qaida will comfort the converted, but may not persuade doubters that Washington has a cast-iron case for war.