She was smartly into her stride and set a good gallop under Gary Hutchinson in the two-and-a-half-mile heat.Hutchinson kicked on turning for home as Sacundai faded out of contention while Fota Island, who emerged as Solerina’s main challenger, crashed out at the second last. Azertyuiop, Le Roi Miguel and Cenkos are all considerations for the two-mile zip around Esher.Azertyuiop, an impressive winner of the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival is considered by many as the yard’s leading hope despite crashing out at the first fence in the Haldon Gold Cup on his reappearance. One Knight has a big haematoma on the side of his head near his eye and x-rays will be needed to see whether anything is broken.”Plans are a little more established for the Minehead yard’s Flagship Uberalles, who will contest Sandown’s Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday, an event he won he has won three seasons in a row (1999-2001) before finishing fourth to Cenkos last December.There will be a potent flotilla facing the Flagship. However, Cenkos won the Tingle Creek last year, while Le Roi Miguel put up a great performance to finish second in the First National Gold Cup despite having to concede weight away all round.Limestone Lad’s team further confirmed yesterday that they are more than a one-trick pony when Solerina took another step towards the top of the hurdling ladder with an impressive success at Fairyhouse. Ruby Walsh was the jockey, but his partner could have probably carried Ruby Murray up there as well and still won.Great horses have emerged from the Hennessy to claim even greater laurels.

It was an awesome victory at the weekend, one which was required as the less savoury elements of the sport were advertised. One Knight and Richard Johnson departed horribly at the first and, throughout, there was the disturbing backcloth of loose horses smashing through rails.One Knight was a bit groggy for the experience yesterday “He’s sore,” Philip Hobbs, the trainer, said “He’s got a bang on his head We don’t know at this stage though how bad it is He’s got a very swollen eye Hopefully it will only be bruising but we don’t know yet. The supposedly must be stressed here.Strong Flow made a joke of the Hennessy, winning with impunity, despite bringing himself to a near standstill with error at an open ditch. To become legend in this game you have to start early and those behind Strong Flow have already exhibited they are up for a gamble by running the gelding in supposedly one of the most competitive high-quality National Hunt handicaps of the season.

Nike Arinze clinched Rocks’ win, scoring the last of his 36 points 12 seconds from time to complete a three-point play.Sharks’ victory was built on out-rebounding the Towers 46-21, but it still needed a four-point play from Randy Duck, fouled while sinking a three-pointer, to seal the win.. The Cheltenham Gold Cup theme is forever shifting. At start of season’s play it seemed to be Best Mate against the world, but now the narrative and perhaps even the cast list has changed

The Cheltenham Gold Cup theme is forever shifting. With the clock ticking down and no options available, he dramatically sent the game into overtime. If a British Basketball League coach is dependent on his 6ft 10in centre to save the game by sinking a long-range three-pointer from the corner, it’s desperate.