Verasi is unlikely to be seen in racecourse action for a while as connections give the gelding time to get over a minor problem.

Paul Nicholls ended a relative lean spell when saddling his first winners for 15 days as New Little Bric and Taranis provided him with a short-priced double at Sandown.

Gary Moore just bested Nicky Henderson as Verasi landed the first running of the new-look intercasino.co.uk Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton.

Michael Halford’s Tipperary All Star will have to shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb in tomorrow’s Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot, where he will face 19 rivals.

ADRIAN MCGUINNESS is hoping Timmy Murphy can work the oracle on Victram in a fiercely-competitive renewal of the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Adrian McGuinness is hoping Timmy Murphy can work the oracle on Victram in a fiercely-competitive renewal of the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

TIMMY MURPHY has landed the plum ride on ante-post favourite Victram in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

LENNON can strike for the powerful Howard Johnson and Graham Wylie combination in the Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Corporate Treasury Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown today.

Not Left Yet is vying for favouritism with Afrad in tomorrow’s Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle after Timmy Murphy elected to take the ride.

Gary Moore has expressed his concern that Verasi may be in the handicapper’s grip ahead of the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Sandown tomorrow.