Hoh Viss may have been flattered by a staggering 50-length winning margin last time but he still looks a good bet to follow up at Leicester tomorrow.

CONNECTIONS of Royal Shakespeare and Monkerhostin will share the £200,000 top prize for the British Horseracing Board Order Of Merit after deciding against a Saturday showdown.

Royal Shakespeare is set to make his chasing debut at Sandown next Saturday in a last-ditch bid to secure the British Horseracing Board’s Order Of Merit competition.

Royal Shakespeare regained a narrow advantage in the race for the British Horseracing Board Order of Merit title with a sixth-place finish in the Grade Two Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

Monkerhostin will bid to get his season back on track, and also boost his Order of Merit chances, in the Faucets For Mira Showers Silver Trophy at Cheltenham tomorrow.

HARDY EUSTACE heads a quality field of 12 in the Scottish And Newcastle Aintree Hurdle tomorrow.

Hardy Eustace heads a quality field of 12 in the Scottish And Newcastle Aintree Hurdle on Saturday.

Royal Shakespeare (9-4) gained a deserved success in the Agfa Hurdle - but he was somewhat fortunate that German raider Fiepes Shuffle fell at the last when clear.

Royal Shakespeare will stay hurdling at the highest level before connections consider him for a possible chasing career.

Roman Ark was the subject of a massive gamble today with the sponsors for Saturday’s totesport Trophy and is now 7-1 from 11-1 for the Newbury showpiece.

IRISH raider Harchibald is an odds-on shot to make it two Grade Ones win on the bounce in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

Steve Gollings’ grand stable servant Springfield Scally has been retired.

Steve Gollings’ grand stable servant Springfield Scally has been retired.