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Ruby lands the odds on Oscar Dan Dan.

Having suffered an unexpected reversal on his last outing, 11/10 favourite Oscar Dan Dan atoned for his last outing with a fifteen length win in this afternoon's Vendee Hurdle at Thurles. Always close to the pace, Walsh sent him on a long way from home, and he kept up the gallop to score handsomely in today's two mile six furlong contest.

Top class steeplechaser Schindlers Hunt ran on in his seasonal bow to grab second place off Eagles Pass, and the runner up will certainly come on for today's run.

Russell and Carberry suffer injuries.

Davy Russell and Paul Carberry both hit the deck in the Horse and Hound Beginners Chase at Thurles this afternoon, and after medical investigations, both were found to have suffered injuries - Russell a suspected broken thumb, and Carberry a sprained wrist - and both were stood down for the remainder of the meeting.

Easy ground suits Telluride at Deauville.

Telluride, a son of Montjeu, missed the Prix Nils because of lack of cut, but back on softer conditions at Deauville today, the John Hammond trained colt scorred an easy length and a half success over Agent Secret in the Listed Prix Vulcain, with Terre du Vent a further half length adrift in third.

Telluride responded readily when asked for his effort by partner Christophe Soumillon in today's 2,500 metre contest, and he looks like he could be even better with another year under his belt.

Major players still amongst final Group 1 entries.

There have been no major defectors at today's forty eight hour decleration stage for Saturday's final flat Group 1 - The Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

Aidan O'Brien's undefeated Beresford Stakes winner St Nicholas Abbey is joined in the final line-up by Godolphin's unbeaten Al Zir. While John Dunlop's Elusive Pimpernel returns to the track for the first time since his victory in a very hot Acomb Stakes at York's August Ebor meeting.

Peter Chapple Hyam's Doncaster winner Coordinated Cut will be joined by progressive stable mate Morana, while Mark Johnston's number one prospect appears to be Goffs Million Mile winner Shakesperian.

Clowance could get her head in front in St Simon Stakes.

After being set two extremely hard tasks following an injury which kept her off the track for over twelve months, this weekend Roger Charlton's Irish Field St Leger runner up Clowance could get the ground and a selection of rivals who could give her a major opportunity to open her account for the season.

The four year old filly is currently amongst thirteen horses standing their ground for the Group 3 St Simon Stakes at Newbury this coming Saturday, and on ratings, only Sir Michael Stoute's Harbinger would appear to have the ammunition to stop a Clowance victory, but Harbinger still has to prove his disasterous run in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in August was an abberation, otherwise, with the ground likely to be exhibiting cut, the race could become a benefit for Clowance.

Burke urging patience over Kauto Star's half brother.

Liam Burke is not getting carried away with having Kauto Star's half brother in his yard, for so far, Kauto Relko has fallen in two point to point races, and Burke is not expecting great things from his charge when he makes his debut in a two mile hurdle at Clonmel next Thursday.

"He may be five, but he is a big baby who is still carrying a lot of condition, and I think we will have to build him up in stages. If we can fill his frame out and improve his stamina he could be a very interesting acquisition, but at this stage, he is not in the same league as his famous half brother."

Morrison confident stalls problems will not reappear.

Discussing Pastoral Players participation in Saturday's 0800 221 221 Stakes at Newbury, trainer Hughie Morrison indicated there would be no repeat of the stalls antics his youngster displayed before the Totepool Trophy Sales Race at Redcar on his last outing. The unbeaten two-year-old refused to enter the stalls, but Morrison believes the strong wind at Redcar could have had something to do with Pastoral Players antics, but either way Morrison has spent considerable time re-educating his charge ahead of Saturday's race, and the handler seems confident Pastoral Player will not disappoint at Newbury.

Tregonning contemplating globe trotting campaign for Mawatheeq.

Having allowed the dust to settle after Mawatheeq came a close second in last Saturday's Champion Stakes at Newmarket, trainer Marcus Tregonning is believed to be contemplating a globe trotting winter campaign in the far east. Indeed, after discussions with owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, Tregonning said today,

"I will confirm the Japan Cup on 29 November, and the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup on 13 December, are the two races we are currently considering for Mawatheeq."

Captain Cee Bee on come-back shortlist.

The Eddie Harty trained J P McManus owned Captain Cee Bee is amongst forty one entrants for the Dobbins Panoramic Restaurant Beginners Chase at Punchestown scheduled to take place next week. A winner of three of his four starts over hurdles, including a victory over Binocular in the Cheltenham Supreme Novices Hurdle of 2008, Captain Cee Bee has not been seen on a racecourse since flopping at Aintree in April of the same year.

Eddie Harty has confirmed the McManus horse is ready to run, but connections are keeping an eye on the amount of rain which falls over the next few days, as very testing ground conditions could still Block Captain Cee Bee's planned reappearance at Punchestown.

Sevenna heading to paddocks after Prix Royal Oak.

Ahead of this Sunday's Group 1 Prix Royal Oak at Longchamp, Henry Cecil is hoping Sevenna will repeat her effort when winning the Group 3 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, for the handler has confirmed the french marathon will be the filly's last run before taking up a new career as a brood mare, and naturally, Cecil would like her to end her racing career on a high.

Vision D'Etat heading east not west.

Connections of Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Vision D'Etat have today confirmed he will not be heading to Santa Anita for the Breeders Cup, but instead, the four year old will be prepared for a run in the Hong Kong Cup on 13 December.

Look Here retirement confirmed.

We suggested on Monday, the 2008 Epsom Oaks winner Look Here was likely to be retired after her disappointing run in the E P Taylor Stakes in Canada over the weekend, and today trainer Ralph Beckett has confirmed the four-year-old will be retired with immediate effect to the paddocks, and she will take up duties as a brood mare in the coming year.

Frankie to take Spirit ride in California.

Frankie Dettori has not ridden Fleeting Spirit since he won on her in the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster in her juvenile year, but part owner Andy Stewart has requested Jeremy Noseda replace usual partner Tom Queallly with Dettori for the Breeders Cup Sprint at the Breeders Cup on 07 November..

Overturn the major buy at Doncaster Sales.

In what appears to be good news for the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales, all the figures at the 'recently completed Horses In Training Sale were over 20% up on 2008 figures, with the main purchase being recent Salisbury mile and three quarter winner Overturn. Sold out of the Walter Swinburn yard, the potential national hunt type was the subject of fierce competition between Evan Williams and Donald McCain, with the latter prevailing at a purchase price of 75,000 guineas.

Phantom to reappear as Man moves on.

David Simcock has today confirmed 2006 Craven Stakes runner up Metropolitan Man is to leave his stable for the Moorcroft Racehorse Rehabilitation Centre. A winner of over £100,000 in his racing career, Metropolitan Man had only returned to racing last month after a long injury, but his lack lustre performance at Wolverhampton persuaded connections to retire him from racing.

On a brighter note, injury sidelined Desert Phantom, last seen finishing fifth in the Prix Jean lac Lagardere in 2008, is due to return to the track at Doncaster on the last day of the current turf flat racing season, (07 November), and the trainer is expecting him to be an interesting five year old prospect in the 2010 flat season.

Reading between the lines - Not looking good for Williams.

The BHA have indicated they have concluded their deliberations on whether to allow Darren Williams to renew his racing license, but they are now allowing the jockey one week to provide character references in support of his application.

Williams has just finished a ban for being involved in the infamous Miles Rogers\Karl Burke race fixing incident, but with unproven rumours suggesting Williams may have been involved in previous nefarious activity, reading between the lines of what we know and what we have read, we feel it is very unlikely the BHA will grant Williams a renewal of his jockey's racing license.

Mullins hoping Wexford ground will be suitable for Fosters Cross.

Seven year old Fosters Cross has been a very progressive horse since joining the Tom Mullins yard. A facile hurdles win at Clonmel in September was followed by a Grade 3 hurdle win at Tipperary, and Mullins is now keen to give his charge an initial run over fences as soon as possible, but entries at Wexford on Saturday and Galway on Sunday are now in jeopardy due to current and forecast rain. As Mullins explained,

"Fosters Cross is in a rich vein of form at present, and as much as I would like to give him an early outing in a novice chase, I also know to be at his best he has to have ground no worse than good to soft. Unfortunately, the recent rain and the forecast of more heavy downpours at the weekend are making a run at Galway look very unlikely, and although Wexford looks more hopeful, we will not risk him if the ground becomes soft."

Punter places audacious wager for possible million pound payout.

This weekend could see the beginning of an ambitious coup by punter Richard Smith as he attempts to hit William Hill for their maximum £1million payout with an outrageous 16,280/1 gamble on four of 2010’s biggest races.

The 43-year-old racing enthusiast has placed a £62 ‘double-double’ bet on Elusive Pimpernel winning next year’s 2000 Guineas and Derby, and crossed codes by combining with Notre Pere to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in the Spring of 2010.

John Dunlop’s Elusive Pimpernel is available at 16-1 to prevail in next year’s 2000 Guineas, while he is 20-1 to capture the famous Epsom Classic, whilst Notre Pere is Ireland’s leading Cheltenham Gold Cup challenger at 10/1, and he is also a 25/1 chance to win the World’s greatest Steeplechase at Aintree in April.

Discussing the wager, David Hood, spokesman for William Hill, said: ‘

’This is one of the most bizarre and ambitious bets i’ve laid during my career at Hills. Our man formerly worked in Racing so is clearly a shrewd judge of horses, but he may have a bright future in clairvoyance if he takes us to the cleaners with this bet!’’

Mr Smith boasts an impressive record in the industry working as a youngster for the likes of Bill Marshall, Ben Hanbury, and at Guy Harwood’s Kingsclere yard during the time of Glint of Gold – who held the unlucky accolade of finishing runner-up to Shergar in the 1981 Derby.

For those who like the technical bit, the bet is as follows:

80-1 Elusive Pimpernel – 2000 Guineas & Derby Double
200-1 Notre Pere – Gold Cup & Grand National Double

ODDS – 16,280/1
STAKE - £62
PAYOUT- £ 1,000,000!

For the best odds and the best anti post markets:

Betfair

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