ONE cannot help but feel that Jane Housham is a fan of Kate Summerscale’s best selling The Suspicions of Mr Wicher, in which Summerscale takes a mid-Victorian murder and attempts to create a fictionalised murder mystery story. 

Minstrels Gallery could finish only fifth at Lingfield on his reappearance but better is expected in the Download TitanBet Sports App Handicap Hurdle back at the Surrey track today.

And so, on a routine Sandown Saturday it all came to an end and AP McCoy’s last competitive ride, Box Office will enjoy an historic legacy way above his ability as a racehorse.

In a marquee at Sandown Park at the conclusion of one of the most beautiful, emotional tear-stained goodbyes any great sportsman can ever wished to have been accorded came the dreaded, nagging question. What the hell will A.P McCoy do now?

Scotland would now be in “economic trauma” if it had voted for independence in the referendum, former British prime minister Tony Blair has claimed.

Tony Blair has said he would have accepted the post of president of the European Council, but it is “not on the agenda now”.

There will be no jumps racing in Britain for the second day running after Market Rasen and Sedgefield both fell victim to the current cold snap.

This afternoon’s meeting at Sedgefield goes ahead as planned after the track passed an 8.30am inspection.

Pineau De Re will not run over fences again before he defends his crown in the Crabbie’s Grand National next April.

Drama at Sedgefield saw the Compare Bookies Odds At bookies.com Handicap Chase declared void due to an incorrect flag being deployed, with all the riders in the race handed 10-day bans.

Prize Exhibit can land the upgraded Country Gentleman’s Association Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury today. She has two victories to her name already, both by nine lengths, but her most recent success was far more eyecatching than her win on the all-weather.

Pádraig Harrington is in unfamiliar territory having lost full membership of the PGA Tour after missing the halfway cut in the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.

American Brandt Snedeker believes a switch to renowned coach Butch Harmon has got his game back on track as he prepares to defend his RBC Canadian Open title.

Whether or not Gary Neville has any interest in horses, his influence will be felt around the Cotswolds next week.

Kolonel Kirkup was no mug on the level and must have a decent chance of taking top honours at Catterick.

Officials at Ayr will hold a further inspection of the track at 11.30am to determine whether racing can go ahead this afternoon.

This afternoon's meeting at Sedgefield has been abandoned due to snow.

Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford sees no need to call an inspection ahead of the William Hill King George VI Chase meeting on St Stephen's Day.

Tuesday's jumps meeting at Sedgefield is subject to a precautionary inspection at 8am.

Racing is praying for a respite from the wet weather ahead of a big weekend at Newbury and Newcastle.

The recent heavy rain has hit racing at two tracks in the UK.

Tuesday’s meetings at Sedgefield and Lingfield are subject to inspections due to the recent bad weather.

Selected tips from courses in the UK and Ireland.

With the Grand National itself now less than a fortnight away, Donald McCain and Jason Maguire warmed up for the world’s most famous steeplechase as Chamirey landed the Sean Magee’s Full Set Durham National at Sedgefield.

Selected tips from courses in the UK and Ireland.

Roc De Guye may emerge the luminary on a rather low-key afternoon at Hereford.

Jockey Keith Mercer faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a fall at Kelso yesterday.

Freezing temperatures are continuing to hit National Hunt racing in Britain ahead of one of the most crucial weekends of the season so far.

Ayr appear to have emerged the white knight for British jumps racing following a four-day enforced hiatus due to the cold snap.

Tuesday’s meeting at Sedgefield is subject to a 12.30pm inspection tomorrow.

This afternoon’s jumps meeting at Sedgefield has been abandoned due to a frozen track.

This afternoon’s meeting at Sedgefield must pass a third course inspection at 11am.

This afternoon's meeting at Sedgefield goes ahead following a 12pm course inspection.

A fairly ordinary card at Fontwell today could be lit up by the Debbie McCurry Memorial Beginners’ Chase, in which Brackloon High could prove most exciting.

BRIDLINGTONBYGONES can exploit a lenient-looking mark in the Racing UK Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh today. The Karen McLintock-trained six-year-old is winless from six previous tries over hurdles, but has shown enough promise to warrant support in Scotland.

Horse racing tips for selected courses in Ireland and the UK.

Samizdat picked just the right moment to take advantage of the handicapper's leniency as he struck at Catterick today.

TIM Vaughan had other options for the EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Market Rasen today so it is hopefully significant he has sided with Bottman.

Tony McCoy has doubts whether Synchronised is a good enough jumper to provide him with a second Aintree Grand National but the stayer has done enough for the champion’s career already by providing him with a first success in the Chepstow version.

Sunday's meeting at Sedgefield has been abandoned due to frost.

Tomorrow’s Coral Welsh National meeting at Chepstow looks set to go ahead as scheduled after the track missed the snow and frost that hit other parts of Britain on Thursday night.

Chepstow’s Coral Welsh National meeting on Monday has been postponed until Saturday, January 8.