Seamus Mullins expects to be three-handed in the £50,000 (€73,000) John Smith’s/EBF Mares’ Only ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle Final at Newbury on Saturday.

Tom Malone, conditional jockey for champion trainer Martin Pipe, received a seven-day suspension when found in breach of the running and riding rules at Exeter.

MULTIPLE chase winner Heros Collonges is an interesting runner in the Gregory Distribution Novices’ Hurdle at Exeter today.

Paul Nicholls, who created racing history at the last Wincanton meeting by sending out six winners, continued the good work with a short-priced treble at his local track courtesy of Gungadu, Cerium and Kicks For Free.

Up-and-coming jockey Andrew Glassonbury once again advertised his skills when he gave Bannow Strand a canny front-running ride to win the 32Red Online Casino Novices’ Chase at Haydock Park.