Sue Smith became only the third female in history to train the winner of the John Smith’s Grand National as 66-1 outsider Auroras Encore claimed the Aintree spectacular.

Barclays plans to raise more than £6.5bn (€8.2bn) of extra capital from investors as part of moves to strengthen its balance sheet.

Germany became the latest country to act over the financial meltdown, with a new rescue plan for its second biggest commercial property lender and a 100% guarantee on private bank accounts.

The London market soared past the 6500 level today, maintaining its six-and-a-half-year high amid further merger and acquisition activity.

The FTSE 100 Index finished deep in negative territory today as results from a host of blue-chip firms failed to inspire the London market.

Dominic Elsworth has high hopes of a return to the saddle in time for the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock on Thursday.

Today: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) will release figures on external trade statistics and retail figures for December today.

Racing was united in mourning yesterday after the death of conditional rider Tom Halliday following a fall at Market Rasen on Sunday.

SUE SMITH is making a three-pronged assault on the Sky Bet Chase today in a bid to keep the Doncaster prize in Yorkshire.

Monkerhostin is so well in on his form over hurdles that he has to be backed to defy his inexperience with victory in the £110,000 (€157,300) Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Six new cases of foot-and-mouth have been confirmed as the latest surge of the outbreak continues.