Ffos Las calls 7.30am raceday inspection for Monday's card with more rain forecast

Ffos Las has called a 7.30am raceday inspection ahead of its seven-race card on Monday – one of two jumps meetings in Britain – due to forecast rain.

Officials at the track called an inspection on Sunday, when the ground was described as heavy after 14.8mm of rain in the previous 24 hours.

There is an unsettled forecast on Sunday evening with the prospect of showers.

Kyle Clifford appears in court 

The man charged with the murder of the wife and two daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt did not enter a plea while appearing at Cambridge Crown Court via video link on Thursday.

Hunt's wife Carol, 61, and daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28, were found fatally injured at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 following a crossbow attack.

Kyle Clifford, 26, from Enfield, north London, was arrested after being found injured in a cemetery near his home on July 10. He has also been charged with false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons.

No date for a further hearing has been fixed but the judge said another hearing might be staged early next month.

Special recognition award at Epsom Awards named in honour of late Howard Wright

The special recognition award at this month's ROA Epsom Awards has been named in honour of former Racing Post associate editor Howard Wright.

The Racehorse Owners Association-sponsored (ROA) ceremony, which is in aid of Racing Welfare, takes place on November 30 and will celebrate the achievements of Epsom's horses over both codes, as well as the town's trainers and stable staff over the last year.

Wright, who died aged 79 in August, was a long-serving judge for the awards. This year's panellists include the Racing Post's Lee Mottershead, Sandown and Epsom clerk of the course Andrew Cooper, ITV Racing broadcaster Rishi Persad and the ROA's Sarah Holton.

Racing Welfare chief executive Dawn Goodfellow said: "Racing Welfare plays a pivotal role in supporting Epsom’s racing staff and retirees, so it’s fitting that funds raised from the ROA Epsom Awards 2024 will go towards Racing Welfare’s work in the local community."

Gambling Commission chair Marcus Boyle to step down in January

Gambling Commission chair Marcus Boyle is to step down, the industry regulator has announced, with his term set to end on January 31.

During his time Boyle oversaw the ongoing implementation of the gambling review and subsequent white paper, as well as the awarding and launch of the fourth National Lottery licence. A complete new board of commissioners was also recruited during his time as chair, although it was criticised for not including anyone with experience of gambling.

Gambling minister Baroness Twycross, said: “The past three years have been very significant for the commission, as it takes forward measures set out in the Gambling Act review and the start of the fourth National Lottery licence. I am grateful for Marcus’s hard work and commitment to the Gambling Commission and public service over his tenure and wish him the best for his future endeavours."

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