Blue Bajan staked an early claim for top jumping honours next winter by showing a terrific turn of foot to win the totepool Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.

Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh followed up their double at Ayr on Friday by taking the opener with Poquelin on Coral Scottish Grand National day.

Philip Hobbs has admitted to being “amazed” at how well Fair Along has taken to fences ahead of his bid for Irish Independent Arkle Trophy glory.

PENZANCE is the horse the sponsors fear in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

Not content with dominating the National Hunt scene through the bleak winter months, Martin Pipe stole the show at Market Rasen’s summer showpiece meeting today with a 1,013-1 treble.

At least 21 people died when a passenger bus smashed into a house crowded with mourners attending a wake for a relative, police said today.