Tony McCoy made a triumphant return to the saddle after eight weeks on the sidelines with a double at Hereford yesterday.
The champion jump jockey brought up his 50 for the season with an all-the-way win on the 8-11 shot Absolutelythebest in the opening novice hurdle and brought 7/2 chance Bouncy Castle home by a length in the concluding bumper.
Supporters of the hot favourite Absolutelythebest never had an anxious moment as McCoy made all the running on the John O'Shea-trained gelding.
Always in control, he came home 17 lengths clear of Tyup Pompey, with L'Eau Du Nil a further three and a half lengths away third.
"John O'Shea said the horse was in tip-top form and he's a trainer that I've been lucky for all summer," McCoy said.
"When John's horses are going well you believe in him. The wrist was okay but it was just a case of steering him round."
Aidan O'Brien has reported that his Ascot Gold Cup hero Yeats is likely to make the long journey to Australia to contest the Melbourne Cup.
After running out an impressive four-length winner of the Group One event at the Royal meeting back in June, he was installed as ante-post favourite with many bookmakers for the famous Australian race, but, after being outpointed by Kastoria in the Irish St Leger, the five-year-old's participation seemed in doubt.
O'Brien reports Yeats to be in good shape, however, and has confirmed the November 7th contest is very much on his agenda.
"Yeats will go into quarantine at Ballydoyle this Friday for two weeks, and the plan is to travel to Australia as long as everything is okay with the horse," he told the Racing Post.
"When he gets to Australia he will spend a further two weeks in quarantine, so hopefully it all will work out. He seems in good form since the Irish Leger. Nothing has been decided about a jockey," explained O'Brien.
Yeats currently heads totesport's market for the "race that stops a nation" at 7-1.
Doncaster St Leger winner Sixties Icon has, as expected, been supplemented for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
Jeremy Noseda's Classic winner has been added to the line-up for the 12-furlong showpiece after owners Paul and Susan Roy paid the £60,000 supplementary fee to make him the sole British runner in the race.
A maximum field of eight will go to post for the Group One event with main contenders Shirocco, Hurricane Run and Deep Impact all standing their ground.
The first two are both trained by Andre Fabre who also has Prix Niel winner Rail Link to form a triple assault on the race.
Alain de Royer-Dupre will rely on Pride after connections decided not to supplement impressive Prix Vermeille winner Mandesha.
Robert Collet's French Derby second Best Name and Grand Prix de Deauville winner Irish Wells complete the probable runners.
O'Brien has taken out both Alexandrova and Dylan Thomas, while Geoff Wragg's Dragon Dancer and French Oaks second Germance will also miss the race.
Ouija Board will bypass Sunday's Prix de l'Opera on the Arc card in favour of next month's Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.
The five-year-old could clash with Derby winner Sir Percy amongst others at Newmarket after the prospect of easy ground in France prompted connections to rethink their plans.
In the absence of Ouija Board, a maximum of six fillies will go to post on Sunday. De Royer-Dupre's impressive Prix Vermeille winner Mandesha is set for a fascinating clash with O'Brien's dual Classic winner Alexandrova.
