Richard Fahey reports Red Lancer to be in fine fettle ahead of his bid in Saturday’s £85,000 (€122,400) Old Newton Cup at Haydock Park.

Trainer Shaun Keightley is planning to appeal against the three-year suspension imposed by the Jockey Club over the running and riding of Red Lancer at Wolverhampton in 2003.

BRUNEL landed a share of first prize in the Prix de la Porte Maillot at Longchamp yesterday after lightning knocked out the photo-finish equipment.

Promotion, owned by the Queen, is 9-2 favourite with Ladbrokes to make amends for an unlucky run at the Royal Ascot meeting in Saturday’s Bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock.

BRIGHTON-BASED punter John McCracken was warned off indefinitely by the Jockey Club yesterday at a hearing held in his absence.