Malcolm Jefferson’s Calatagan may have been the 14-1 outsider of the party in the £30,000 skybet.com Castleford Handicap Chase but he ran out a game winner of the two-mile test at Wetherby today.

Royal Rosa continued on the comeback trail with a convincing success in the One Man Novices’ Chase at Wetherby.

Connections were full of praise for jockey Paddy Merrigan after watching him bring Heraldry home in front in the Trust & Deal Locally at Benfield Ford Novices’ Hurdle at Wetherby.

Middleham trainer Pat Haslam sent out another winner in the famous silks of JP McManus when Monsieur won the totescoop6 Handicap Hurdle under an enterprising ride from Barry Keniry at Wetherby.

Dual Classic winner Alexandrova heads a list of 13 horses confirmed for Wednesday’s Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York.

Alexandrova, ante-post favourite for the Vodafone Oaks, will face just five rivals as she makes her long-awaited seasonal reappearance at York tomorrow.

GEORGE WASHINGTON overcame a stumble at the start to record a smooth victory in the Laing O’Rourke National Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

JOCKEY Andrew Thornton was referred to Portman Square by the Aintree stewards yesterday after being found guilty of using a mobile phone outside the designated area.

Iris’s Gift remains on course for a mouth-watering rematch with Baracouda after a promising seasonal reappearance at Haydock.

Edredon Bleu will be the star of the show at Wincanton on Thursday when the evergreen 12-year-old has what will probably be his last run of the season in the Betfair Chase.

Gunner Welburn, fourth in last season’s Martell Cognac Grand National, is on course for another crack at the Aintree marathon following his return to winning form in a dramatic skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby yesterday.