After a dramatic headline-grabbing weekend Jamie Spencer will return to racecourse action at Lingfield tomorrow when he has two all-weather rides for the top Newmarket trainer David Loder.
Spencer has been snapped up by Loder in the wake of his remarkable resignation from the post of number-one rider at Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard which was confirmed on Sunday.
Spencer has maintained a firm "no comment" stance since news of his resignation broke at the weekend but he will be at the races tomorrow when his rides are scheduled to include Jostle and Captain Johnno for Loder. The partnership enjoyed a successful 2003 when they combined for a total of 22 victories.
Despite reports of a heated row between Spencer and O'Brien last week, and speculation that owner Michael Tabor was unhappy with the riding arrangements at Ballydoyle, there has been no response from O'Brien who was unavailable for comment yesterday.
John Murtagh continues to be the bookmakers' favourite to take over from Spencer, though Paddy Power report a number of inquiries for former Ballydoyle number one Michael Kinane.
"He has ridden for them before so it is not entirely unfeasible. But like everyone else it seems some people are willing to take a shot in the dark. We've also had inquiries from Britain about Jimmy Fortune getting the job," said a Paddy Power spokesman yesterday.
Michael Hourigan has given an upbeat bulletin on Sunday's beaten Hennessy Gold Cup favourite Beef Or Salmon and dismissed the respiratory tract infection that was uncovered just minutes after the race as "a minor problem".
The Co Limerick trainer said the horse was fine when pulled out yesterday morning and that he will continue to be given a course of antibiotics.
"With what he has, I think it should be cleared up in three to four days," Hourigan said. "It's an inconvenience but nothing major. It's a minor problem, but we will treat him with care and he'll be fine."
Paul Carberry reported that Beef Or Salmon "gurgled" between the last two fences on Sunday as the odds-on favourite trailed in 14 lengths behind Rule Supreme. That report was quickly backed up by a veterinary examination at the track.
"Without doubt it was good to find something wrong because it was obvious in the race that he wasn't right," Hourigan added.
Beef Or Salmon could get the chance for revenge on Rule Supreme in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although the latter's team stressed yesterday that no call has been made on whether Rule Supreme will go for the Gold Cup or the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
Willie Mullins reported that his latest Hennessy hero has emerged in good shape from the race but no decision on his next start has been taken.
"He has already won a Grade One race at Cheltenham over fences (SunAlliance Chase) so obviously we have that in our minds. The plan all year has been to go for the Stayers race but I said to myself if we were to win on Sunday we would have a rethink and that's what we're going to do. I will discuss it with the owners and then see what to do," said Mullins yesterday.
"He bounced out of his box this morning and is in great order. He's a very happy horse. He jumped better than he ever has over fences and everything came right. David (Casey) gets on particularly well with the horse, has confidence in the horse and the horse has confidence in him. They gel and make a great team," he added.
Rule Supreme is a 6 to 1 second favourite behind Baracouda in the World Hurdle and is a general 10 to 1 shot for the Gold Cup.
A total of nine horses were left in Saturday's Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park at yesterday's forfeit stage and they were headed by the current champion hurdler Hardy Eustace.
Dessie Hughes's horse was beaten in the race last year by the now retired Georges Girl and could be joined in Saturday's renewal by Power Elite, Adamant Approach and Ansar.
Rathgar Beau heads the entry of eight still left in the Grade Trial Chase on the same card.
BETTING: (Paddy Power): 4-6 John Murtagh, 3 Kieren Fallon and Darryll Holland, 10 Michael Kinane, 25 Pat Smullen, 33 Jimmy Fortune.
