Hallingdal got favourite-backers off to a good start at Newcastle when opening her account at the first attempt in the Weatherbys Bank/EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes in the hands of Royston French today.

Relentless rain got Ascot's big three-day meeting off to a miserable start, but those who backed 20-1 winner King Charles in the opening EBF Ratcliffes Syndication Classified Stakes will not be complaining.

Robert Winston said he would “take it on the chin” after being handed a 28-day ban for dropping his hands at Carlisle.

Eddie Ahern reached 100 winners in a season for the first time when he made all the running on Rydal to land the Weatherbys European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes at Musselburgh on Wednesday.

Newmarket trainer Alec Stewart has snapped up champion jockey Kieren Fallon for Selective in the Freephone Stanley Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday.