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Dow receives fine for banned substance.

Although accepting trainer Simon Dow had not intentionally given a banned substance to enhance the performance of his filly Curtains before her win at Brighton in June, today's BHA Disciplinary Panel did find the trainer had raced the filly too soon after the substance was administered by a vet in May of this year, and for his accidental breach of the rules of racing, Dow was fined £750.

In view of the finding, Curtains was disqualified from her winning position in the Brighton Maiden, and all the race placings were therefore altered accordingly.

Age tells as Sizing Europe gets better of Harchibald.

Although former very smart hurdler Sizing Europwe vindicated his odds on position for this afternoon's Buckhouse Novice Chase at Punchestown, ten year old Harchibald gave it a go in his first ever chase, and he came in a gallant second.

Under an excellent ride from Andrew Lynch, Henry de Bromhead's Sizing Europe jumped for fun, and was soon well clear of his rivals. Runner up Harchibald also jumped well, but when he tried to reel in the leader in the home straight, the acceleration and stamina of his youth were missing, and he came in seventeen lengths behind the winner.

It is difficult to assess from two unbeaten races over fences how good Sizing Europe will be in this year's novice chasing ranks, but he certainly put down an impressive marker in today's Punchestown contest.

Some Present boosts Champion Bumper form.

2009 Champion Bumper runner up Some Present boosted the reputation of Dunguib when landing his Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon. Despite the odd edgy jump, Some Present had come alongside race leader Tango Foxtrot at the last obstacle, and when partner Davy Russell pressed the button after a satisfactory jump, Some Present accelarated away from his rival, scoring by three lengths.

If Dunguib can match his flat supremacy over Some Present when faced with hurdles, he could establish himself right from his first outing as one of the early season favourites for the Supreme Novices Hurdle next March.

Voler la Vadette keeps up impressive record.

A winner of a Grade 3 hurdle last term, Colm Murphy's Voler la Vadette scored her fifth win in seven races when easily landing this afternoon's Grabel Hurdle at Punchestown.

After the race, Murphy indicated his mare would now go for the second year novices hurdle at Down Royal later this month.

Sariska stays in Champion Stakes.

Despite the potential 'fast ground' reservations of trainer Michael Bell, dual Oaks winner Sariska remains amongst the fourteen horses declared at today's 48 hour stage for Saturday's Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

Fame and Glory hopes to put his slightly disappointing sixth in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe behind him, and he is joined by probable Ballydoyle pacemaker Set Sail.

Prince Khalid Abdullah will be hoping either Doctor Fremantle or Twice Over can keep their current sequence of victories intact in Saturday's ten furlong Group 1 contest. While John Gosden will be hoping Pipe Dreamer can follow up on his Longchamp Prix Dollar victory.

Possibly the most progressive horse in Saturday's race is the Marcus Tregonning trained Mawatheeq, and many pundits have picked the Cumberland Lodge winner out as one of the likely placed horses, but the french raiders of Never On Sunday and Alpine Rose are also lively contenders if recapturing their best form.

Camponoligist, Forgotten Voice, City Leader, Virtual and Barshiba complete the line-up after today's final decleration stage.

Chabal heads Dewhurst fifteen.

Jim Bolger will have mixed emotions if National Stakes runner up Chabal wins Saturday's Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, for although it will give him his fourth consecutive winner of the race, and his fifth victor in six years, he will know his charge will then be moving immediately to the Godolphin yard at Newmarket. However, knowing Bolger's prefessionalism, he will still be doing his best to land Saturday's important two year old contest.

At today's two day decleration stage, Chabal is joined in the final fifteen by stable mate Free Judgement, while Godolphin rely on recent Longchamp third Buzzword.

Aidan O'Brien has four entrants, including the well travelled Beethoven, and although he also runs Fencing Master and Lord High Admiral, his most interesting runner is undoubtedly the extremely well regarded Steinbeck, the latter almost certainly the mount of Johnnie Murtagh.

Amongst the British based runners, Clive Cox's Xtension, John Gosden's High Twelve, and John Ryan's Silver Grecian have all been supported in the pre race betting markets, while Richard Hannon's Dick Turpin is on a retrieval mission after losing his unbeaten record on his last outing.

Amongst the remaining entrants are; Manhattan Fox, Awesome Act, Maroon Machine and Timely Jazz.

No major defectors in Cesarewich field.

Nice to report, after today's 48 hour decleration stage, there are no major defectors from the Cesarewich field, with all the leading fancies still going to post.

Elliot books Soumillon as Murtagh chooses Sereth.

There might not have been any defectors amongst the horses due to run in the Totesport Cesarewich, but there has been a case of 'musical saddles' by jockey Johnnie Murtagh. Originally booked to ride Dira for trainer Gordon Elliot, Murtagh has defected to the Barney Curley trained Sereth, and the move explains some market moves for Sereth in overnight betting markets.

However, Gordon Elliot has wasted no time in snapping up the services of top french jockey Christophe Soumillon, with the latter now due to ride Dira in the Newmarket based second leg of the 'Autumn Double.'

Gitano Hernando stays in California ahead of possible Classic tilt.

Marco Botti has today confirmed Saturday's Goodwood Stakes winner Gitano Hernando will stay at Santa Anita for the next three weeks, and the Newmarket based trainer also revealed, if his three year old continues to show good form on the training gallops in California, there is a 60 to 70% chance he will be supplemented at a cost of $250,000 for the Breeders Cup Classic.

Connections are reported to have taken great heart from the way he handled the Santa Anita track last weekend, and they are reportedly keen to take on the likes of Rip Van Winkle in the Breeders Cup blue ribbon contest.

Betting suggests red letter day for British raiders.

If the british based bookmakers and betting exchanges are to be believed, this weekend, british horses could secure victories in three Group 1 races on two separate continents.

At Woodbine racecourse in Canada, the Mark Johnston trained Jukebox Jury will try to maintain his winning streak in the Pattinson Canadian International, and he is firm favourite to do so with virtually all the firms.

In the E P Taylor Stakes, also at Woodbine, the situation is even less ambiguous, with the two british fillies Rainbow view and Look Here occupying first and second places in the current betting market.

Meanwhile, in Australia, Godolphin's Kirklees and Luca Cumani's Cima de Triomphe have caught a lot of eyes with their pre race preparation for Saturday's Caulfield Cup, and the two are now the market leaders for the tough Australian race.

It would be very nice for respective british connections and punters if the bookies were proved right, but ignoring the form of domestic runners, particularly in Australia, can prove to be an expensive pastime.

Big Zeb to get Fortria come back.

Colm Murphy has today confirmed the talented but somewhat inconsistant Big Zeb will make his seasonal come back in the Fortria Chase at Navan on 08 November.

Last seen finishing a good second to Masterminded at the Punchestown Festival, the enigmatic chaser had fallen in his two previous outings, including a high profile tumble in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Speaking about the coming season, Murphy said,

"He is fine and raring to go, and if during this season he can overcome his habit of putting in the odd bad jump, I am convinced he could become a champion chaser. We will see how he goes in the Fortria before we plan the rest of his campaign, but it is likely he will compete in several of the major two mile chases."

Decision Day for Red Admiral.

Charlie Mann will today make a decision as to which race will become the next test for his currently unbeaten novice chaser Red Admiral. The former Godolphin horse made a good start over larger obstacles at Hereford in April, and after a summer recess, the seven year old looked impressive when landing his second novice chase at Huntingdon on 31 August.

Although Mann believes Red Admiral is progressive, he would prefer to bring him on in stages, and he is determined not to 'overface' him at this early stage of his chasing career. In these circumstances the handler will likely opt for an entry in tomorrow's less competitive two mile webx.com Novice Chase on the first day of Cheltenham's curtain raiser, rather than the more competitive two and a half mile Christmas Party Nights at Cheltenham Novice Chase on Saturday afternoon.

Arcarno to miss Dewhurst.

After consultation with owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, Brian Meehan has confirmed Arcarno is a non-runner in Saturday's Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Explaining his decision, Meehan said,

"Arcarno had worked well last week, but we have not been happy with him during this week's preparation for the Dewhurst, and after talks with Sheikh Hamdan, it was decided to put him away for the winter. I suspect he is growing again, and that always adversely effects the performance of a juvenile." Meehan added,

"He remains unbeaten, and come the start of next season I am confident we will have plenty to anticipate."

Copsiano victory no fluke.

The Mouse Morris trained Copsiano may have needed oxygen after his first run over fences, but in yesterday's Beginners Chase at Punchestown, it was his more illustrious rivals who needed revitalising after the race.

Always jumping well within himself, Copsiano roared down the Punchestown home straight, scoring by eleven lengths from former Galway Hurdle winner Indian Pace, with March's Cheltenham Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle victor Weapons Amnesty only managing third after a sketchy round of jumping.

Following yesterday's success, trainer Morris confessed he would have to rectify his plans for Copsiano,

"He certainly didn't run like a 20/1 shot today. Without getting carried away, I suppose we will have to rethink where we will go next, but if today's effort was a true measure of his ability, we better think about entering him in some good races."

Charles Byrnes was disappointed in the performance of Weapons Amnesty, saying,

"He blundered away his chances, but even so, I am disappointed we lost so convincingly to a horse rated thirty pounds his inferior. I can only hope he improves for today's run."

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