William Buick has lodged an appeal against the 30-day suspension he was given by the Chantilly stewards after an incident in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly last weekend.

Big Orange teed himself up for a crack at the Melbourne Cup as he continued his improvement with a gutsy win in a three-way finish to a thrilling Qatar Goodwood Cup yesterday.

Queen Catrine, who was just touched off in the Sandringham Handicap a Royal Ascot last summer, ended a two-year losing streak in the At The Races Sky 415 Fillies’ Conditions Stakes at Leicester yesterday.

EVERY two years the Design and Craft Council of Ireland, in consultation with an advisory panel drawn from the design world, compiles a publication called PORTFOLIO: Critical Selection in which they feature Irish designers and craft makers they deem to have made the most significant impact internationally in the previous 24 months.

Jamie Spencer’s announcement that he is to shelve plans to retire from the saddle and instead ride as a freelance next season has been widely welcomed by the racing world.

Jockey Jamie Spencer has abandoned plans to retire from the saddle and will continue next year as a freelance.

Trainer Michael Bell has spoken of his “distress” at the images on the front page of today’s Daily Mirror which show his stable star Wigmore Hall being euthanized.

Aidan O’Brien and Frankie Dettori were among those to pay tribute to Johnny Murtagh after the multiple Group One-winning jockey announced his retirement from the saddle yesterday to concentrate on his training career.

American raider No Nay Never stretched his 100% record to three with a classy performance in the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville yesterday.

Toronado and Dawn Approach are two of the headline names in a star-studded entry for Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on October 19.

Michael Bell fears Wigmore Hall made need the outing when he returns to action in the Princess of Wales’s boylesports.com Stakes at Newmarket today.

Joanna Morgan believes her Britainnia Stakes hero Roca Tumu will handle a step back up in trip following his Royal Ascot success.

Hot favourite Animal Kingdom will face a maximum of 14 rivals in Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes, the opening event of Royal Ascot.

As the ITGWU/SIPTU Head of Research from 1971 to 2010, future Labour TDs among my work colleagues included, successively, Michael Bell, Eamon Gilmore and Colm Keaveney.

Aidan O’Brien’s Imperial Monarch reappears in the Canadian International at Woodbine tomorrow.

The once-powerful association of Henry Cecil and the Wildenstein family is revived this weekend as Andromeda Galaxy makes her debut for the trainer at Gowran Park on Sunday.

Trainer Michael Halford is convinced Massiyn has a bright future after he was just touched off in the Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Saturday.

The John Smith's Silver Cup (2.25 York) is a typically strong 15-runner handicap in which a case can be made for a number of the runners, but perhaps the most compelling of all can be built around the progressive Suraj, who sits neatly at the very bottom of the racecard.

Donald McCain believes Lexi’s Boy has plenty going for him as the improving four-year-old steps up in class for the bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock today.

The Lancashire Oaks (2.55) at Haydock has attracted a really good field of fillies and odds of 4-1 field highlight the openness of the race.

So You Think has been retired to stand at stud in Australia after lameness ruled him out of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown tomorrow.

The beautifully bred Kailani looks way overpriced at 10-1 for this afternoon’s Ribblesdale Stakes (3.05) at Royal Ascot, making huge each-way appeal in an open renewal of the Group 2 contest.

Henry Cecil’s incredible colt Frankel stepped up his recovery from injury with a piece of work in Newmarket yesterday morning.

Brian Meehan’s highly-touted Most Improved carries “maximum stable confidence” on his seasonal reappearance in tomorrow’s Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

Dirar is likely to be in action at the Punchestown Festival next month following his victory over hurdles at Downpatrick on Sunday.

Aidan O'Brien's Await The Dawn has been drawn close to the inside in stall two in the Group One Dubai Duty Free over nine furlongs at Meydan on Saturday.

Dubai World Cup hopes get one last chance to stake their claims for the March 31 feature as they line up in the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan.

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.

MENORAH’S brief chasing career continued with its fair share of incident as last season’s Champion Hurdle fifth survived a scary moment over the final fence at Taunton yesterday.

Whatever riches await David Lanigan, he will forever be indebted to Meeznah.

THE vital role of the food and drink industry on an all-Ireland basis has been underlined by figures in the North showing it is thriving despite the impact of the global recession, and now accounts for 27.4% of the North’s employment.

HAYLEY TURNER faces an uncertain spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken ankle in a fall at Bath yesterday.

BRIAN Ellison is oozing with confidence ahead of Saptapadi’s run in the Betfred Ebor at York today.

HAYLEY Turner reinforced her position as one of the leading riders in the land after Margot Did swooped to conquer in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.

Jamie Spencer paid tribute to owner Dr Jim Hay after riding Cape Blanco to a comfortable victory in the Arlington Million.

Watar swooped late and fast to land the Prix Maurice De Nieuil at Longchamp today.

Michael Bell is hoping Tactician’s liking of the track will stand The Queen’s horse in good stead in the John Smith’s Silver Cup at York tomorrow.

ANTE-POST favourite Delegator will face 16 rivals in pursuit of victory in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket tomorrow.

Hayley Turner walked away unscathed after a freak accident in Newmarket this morning in which the unraced filly Jessica Ennis suffered serious injuries.

Michael Bell feels it is difficult to choose between his two runners in Saturday’s John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.