David Nicholls has warned that totesport Ayr Gold Cup leading fancy Continent may not run in the event of fast ground.

Robert Pratt

David Nicholls is responsible for five of the 28 runners in the Vodafone Stewards’ Cup and the Thirsk trainer elected to go for high numbers at today’s draw ceremony for the big handicap at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday.

Smokin Beau did the bookmakers a good turn for the second Saturday running when romping home in the the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Stakes at Ripon today.

Arcalis left the statisticians scratching their heads as he foiled a popular gamble on the Queen’s Promotion to take the 45th running of the John Smith’s Cup at York today.

Three Spanish men have been formally charged in connection with the theft of a collection of Flemish, Japanese and Spanish paintings worth millions of euro from a Spanish billionaire.