Brian Haggas, father of Newmarket trainer William Haggas, dies at 93

Brian Haggas, the father of Newmarket trainer William Haggas, died peacefully on Sunday at the age of 93 after a short illness.

Haggas was the owner-breeder of eight-time Group-race winner Hamish and enjoyed notable success with other horses including Champagne, Greenham and Park Stakes scorer Bog Trotter and John Porter Stakes winner Harris Tweed.

Haggas is survived by his wife Judy, four children and three stepchildren.

George Reveley, widower of ground-breaking trainer Mary Reveley, dies at 87

George Reveley, widower of the ground-breaking trainer Mary Reveley, has died at the age of 87.

Reveley played a huge part in the success of his wife, who trained more than 2,000 winners in her career and became the first woman to win 100 races in a calendar year or win 50 in a Flat season. She sent out two Grade 1 winners over jumps and also won the Cambridgeshire and Cesarewitch (twice).

Funeral details have yet to be announced.

Second Thurles meeting in a row called off

Thurles has lost another meeting because of a lack of rain with Thursday's fixture cancelled due to the track being unsuitable for jump racing.

The course scrapped its meeting a fortnight ago and an insufficient amount of rainfall has meant officials have already called off this week's seven-race card.

Clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer said on Tuesday: "Unfortunately, due to the unseasonably dry weather we've had this month, there's been insufficient rain and the track is unsuitable for jump racing.

"We did have 10mm of rain here since entries last Thursday, but during my routine inspection this morning the track was unsuitable for jump racing. With not enough rainfall due between now and racing we've made the difficult decision to cancel the fixture.

"We'll work with Horse Racing Ireland to find a suitable date to reschedule the meeting."

Popular Martin Pipe chaser Cyfor Malta dies at the age of 31

Cyfor Malta, the popular chaser who racked up four consecutive wins at Cheltenham and Aintree in the 1998-1999 season, has died at the age of 31.

The Martin Pipe-trained gelding was a high-profile recruit from France for owner David Johnson in 1997 and finished second in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown on his second start in Britain. He was successful in the Cathcart Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival that season.

His best win was in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham in 1999 when he beat Go Ballistic and See More Business, who battled out the finish to the Gold Cup two months later – a race Cyfor Malta missed due to injury.

He gained another big handicap chase success when landing the Thomas Pink Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham in 2002.

Pipe’s son David said: “He was an amazing horse that we unfortunately probably did not get to see the very best off because of his injuries but you wouldn’t find many more talented ones. He leaves us all some very special memories.”

Jockey Club to offer free Stayers' Hurdle entry to eligible winners of Grade 1 hurdle in the US

A link-up between Iroquois Steeplechase and the Jockey Club will see the winner of a Grade 1 US hurdle offered free entry for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle the following year.

Snap Decision, a three-time winner of the Calvin Houghland Iroquois, including this year’s running in May, has been invited to participate in this season’s Stayers’ Hurdle.

The Calvin Houghland Iroquois winner will need a rating of 130-plus to qualify for the Cheltenham Festival event, with a travel incentive also on offer from the Jockey Club to support participation.

Dwight Hall, chairman of Iroquois Steeplechase, said: “We couldn’t be more grateful to our friends and partners at the Jockey Club for this generous and meaningful opportunity.

“The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of jump racing, and to have Snap Decision, following his historic third victory in the Calvin Houghland Iroquois, and our 2025 winner invited to race at this storied event highlights the calibre of horses competing. This partnership underscores the strength of the relationship between our two prestigious events.”

Connections of Alphonse Le Grande given date for appeal against Cesarewitch ruling

Connections of Alphonse Le Grande will aim to overturn the result of this month's Cesarewitch after their runner was disqualified due to whip infractions.

Jockey Jamie Powell was handed a 28-day ban and his mount was demoted from first after the rider was found to have used his whip four times above the permitted level in the closing stages of the historic handicap at Newmarket.

After a meeting of the BHA review committee on October 15, victory was instead awarded to Manxman, but the Bet Small Win Big Syndicate and Powell will appeal against the ruling in front of an independent disciplinary panel on November 14.

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.