Willie Mullins has been fined and Final Demand stripped of his Cheltenham Festival second, which leads Tuesday’s racing news. Meanwhile, Champions Day at Ascot has been given a major lift by three big-name supplements, as well as Kalpana and Sparan Nua being set to renew their Yorkshire Oaks rivalry.
Final Demand disqualified after BHA ruling
Final Demand has lost his runner-up spot in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival after testing positive for mepivacaine, a local anaesthetic classed as a prohibited substance. Willie Mullins admitted two breaches of the BHA’s medication rules and has been fined £1,100.
The result at the top is unchanged, with stablemate Kitzbuhel keeping the race. Gary and Josh Moore’s Salver is promoted to second, and everyone behind moves up a place. It takes some of the gloss off what had been a smart first season over fences for Final Demand, who won the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas.
Three added to British Champions Day fields
Saturday’s Champions Day card at Ascot got even stronger on Monday when three high-profile supplements were added. The headline name is Talk Of New York. Godolphin paid £70,000 to add Charlie Appleby’s Joel Stakes winner to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and he went straight to the head of the betting. You can read everything you need to know about him in our Talk Of New York cheat sheet.
Aidan O’Brien’s Coral-Eclipse and French Derby winner Constitution River has been given the option of dropping back to a mile for the QEII after two third places over further, although he also remains in the Champion Stakes. Perhaps more excitingly, St Leger hero Highwayman has been supplemented for the Long Distance Cup. Joseph O’Brien’s colt, who made history last month when giving Saffie Osborne her first British Classic and the first by a female jockey, had been considered for the Melbourne Cup before connections chose Ascot instead.
Kalpana and Sparan Nua set for Ascot rematch
One of the most eagerly awaited clashes of the weekend is in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. Andrew Balding’s Kalpana, bidding for a hat-trick in the race, beat Jim Bolger’s Sparan Nua by just a short head in the Yorkshire Oaks in August. Sparan Nua was short of room in the pack that day as Kalpana got first run under Colin Keane, and connections believe the rematch could go the other way.
Sparan Nua was a disappointing ninth as favourite in the Prix Vermeille last time, but PJ Colville, racing manager to owners Newtown Anner Stud, blamed the conditions. “The ground just dried out a bit too much for us at Longchamp,” he said. “Ascot is the plan. Saturday should be right up her alley and I think the track will suit her well. It’s a good staying mile-and-a-half on a big, galloping track so we’re looking forward to it.”
Theo Gillard becomes McCain’s stable jockey
Donald McCain has promoted Theo Gillard to stable jockey at his Cholmondeley yard, succeeding three-time champion Brian Hughes. The 28-year-old has been with McCain for 11 years, having joined from his father Mark’s Devon stable as a conditional, and he is married to the trainer’s daughter Ella. He stepped in while Hughes was injured in the spring and rode 29 winners last season, not far off his best of 33.
“Theo deserves his chance,” said McCain to the Racing Post. “It’s about having our own team, being on the same page and battling for the same things. There’s been no falling out with Brian.” Hughes will still ride for the yard from time to time, while Gillard is relishing the role. “It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “I’ve been here 11 years now and it’s nice to get the chance.”
Racing today
The first and last race times below are from the live racecards when this draft was built. Check for late changes before publication.
Leicester — first race: 13:24 · last race: 17:17
Punchestown — first race: 13:35 · last race: 17:40
Hereford — first race: 13:45 · last race: 16:38
Southwell — first race: 14:00 · last race: 17:23
Wolverhampton — first race: 16:25 · last race: 20:30
[View today’s racecards] · [Latest non-runners] · [Today’s results]