Jockey Joseph O’Brien is praying the rain stays away from Ascot to allow St Nicholas Abbey show his true brilliance in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Hillstar has, as expected, been supplemented for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Little is given away by the Coolmore camp but the hints were there that Magician could well be the superior of their two Chester Derby trial winners this week.

Gentildonna survived a stewards’ inquiry to see off Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Orfevre and win the Japan Cup at Tokyo racecourse yesterday.

A distinct lack of pace was blamed for the largely disappointing European showing in the Emirates Melbourne Cup yesterday, which was won by Green Moon.

A distinct lack of pace was blamed for the largely disappointing European showing in the Emirates Melbourne Cup, which was won by Green Moon.

Luca Cumani plans to start afresh with Afsare once he has recovered from the problem which ruled him out of last week’s Sportingbet Cox Plate.

Luca Cumani has confirmed Ryan Moore will partner ante-post favourite Mount Athos in the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 6.

The September Stakes at Kempton (2.30) catches the eye this afternoon and it provides a nice opportunity for last year’s winner, Modun, to return to winning ways.

It wouldn't take much inspection to find an easier punting opportunity than this afternoon's Betfred Mobile Sports Ladies' Day Handicap (3.40) at Newbury but amongst the declared field of 16 runners lies a horse that has caught my eye on more than one occasion and despite the obviously competitive nature of the race, this could be the ideal contest for the progressive Jacob Cats.

Paul Messara had another of the great summer festivals in mind when he decided to bring Ortensia over from Australia but the powerful mare still provided victory on an elegant stage in the Gordon’s King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood yesterday.

Kieren Fallon believes Mount Athos would have a live chance in the Melbourne Cup.

The John Smith's Silver Cup (2.25 York) is a typically strong 15-runner handicap in which a case can be made for a number of the runners, but perhaps the most compelling of all can be built around the progressive Suraj, who sits neatly at the very bottom of the racecard.

Luca Cumani is hoping a change of plan for Mount Athos pays dividends when the stayer lines up for the Coral Marathon at Sandown today.

Perfect People

Mark Johnston’s Fox Hunt has been allotted top weight for the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket on October 8.

YESTERDAY'S Nunthorpe success for Margot Did was a clear indicator that the rain had got into the ground at York and that makes the early moves for this afternoon's Betfred Ebor all the more puzzling.

BETFAIR has long played a major part in Irish racing and there is little doubt is often a useful tool when it comes to winner finding.

SENSE Of Purpose gets the vote to land a fascinating little six-runner Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown tonight.

Jessica Harrington is confident Bob Le Beau can continue his excellent run of form when he goes for Group Three glory in Thursday’s Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

Michael Bell is hoping Tactician’s liking of the track will stand The Queen’s horse in good stead in the John Smith’s Silver Cup at York tomorrow.

Australian jockey Hugh Bowman landed his most important success on his latest visit to Britain when guiding home Mick Channon's stable stalwart Halicarnassus in the bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock today.

Michael Bell feels it is difficult to choose between his two runners in Saturday’s John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

Michael Hills dominated proceedings at Haydock as he hit a hat-trick, including winners for his father and brother.

A court has convicted a rebel abbot and 13 of his monks of obstructing the functioning of their 1,000-year-old monastery by refusing orders to leave it.

Prince Charles is due to visit the monastic community of Mount Athos in Greece for three days this week, authorities said today.

A man wanted in the US for defrauding hospitals out of around £6m (€8.83m) has been arrested in a Greek monastery where he spent the past few years as a monk, police in Thessaloniki said today.

The Greek government forced its air force's chief to resign today, blaming him for authorities’ slow response to a military helicopter crash that killed 17 people, including a top Greek Orthodox cleric.

The Christian Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria was killed today when an army helicopter that was transporting him and his entourage to a monastic enclave in northern Greece crashed in the sea, government and church officials said.

AN American hospice nurse has been acquitted of charges of poisoning her husband to inherit his $15 million fortune.