FORMER Champion Hurdle runner-up Celestial Halo was denied the perfect start to his career over fences as he fell four from home in a dramatic conclusion to the Best Mate Beginners’ Chase at Exeter yesterday.

THE lack of match-practice on clay took a costly toll on the Ireland Fed Cup team yesterday in the sweltering heat and high humidity in Cairo.

I suppose you could best describe my weekend as the storm before the calm!

EXACTLY four weeks after Pride Of Dulcote sent me spinning to the turf at Cheltenham, I return to Prestbury Park this afternoon and the hope, obviously, is to get out of the place in one piece.

Nicky Henderson believes the Betfair Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday is the ideal starting point for Champion Hurdle favourite Binocular.

Binocular lost his unbeaten record at the Cheltenham Festival, but lessons were learned and he regained winning ways in impressive fashion in the John Smith’s 250th Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices Hurdle at Aintree.

Marigold has won the Guinness Extra Stout Handicap at the Galway Races today.