Joe Colliver banned from driving for 40 months

Jump jockey Joe Colliver has been disqualified from driving for 40 months after pleading guilty to drink driving at Harrogate Magistrates Court.

The funeral of popular Yorkshire owner Alan Black will take place on Friday, May 3 at St Mary's Church, Sand Hutton near York at 1.30pm.

The funeral of long-standing Newcastle Journal correspondent Doug Moscrop will be on Wednesday, May 8 at St Nicholas Church, Cramlington at 1.45pm, followed by a cremation at Whitley Bay Crematorium at 3pm. A celebration of his life will follow at Newcastle racecourse that afternoon.

UK Athletics appoints Jockey Club Services

UK Athletics has appointed Jockey Club Services (JCS) to manage its financial processing function for the next three years.

Jonathan Orr, the chief financial and operations officer for athletics' governing body, said the feedback from other sports who have used JCS had been "exceptionally positive".

JCS director Rob Quick added: "It's a real honour for Jockey Club Services to be chosen by a governing body with the size, scale and pedigree of UK Athletics to manage their financial operational requirements for the next three years.

"The appointment from our perspective confirms the quality of the JCS offer and the depth of support that we are able to offer."

Williams pleased with Chester Cup pair after workout

Chester Cup winner Magic Circle and new stablemate Shabeeb delighted trainer Ian Williams in a racecourse gallop at Haydock on Saturday.

The pair are being aimed at the May meeting at Chester, the favourite track of their owner Dr Marwan Koukash.

"I thought Magic Circle worked very well," Williams said. "PJ McDonald was very happy with him. And I was suitably pleased with Shabeeb's work, he showed a good attitude and David Egan was really pleased with him.

"Both horses handled the easy surface well and it was a very satisfactory last piece of work before Chester."

SportPesa Chester Cup card and betting

Shabeeb, formerly with Roger Varian, is a best-priced 10-1 for the SportPesa Chester Cup with Magic Circle, who has top weight of 10st 2lb, available at 16-1.

Williams said: "They are both in the Cup but Magic Circle has the option of switching to the Ormonde should the weight be too much in the Cup."

Egan keeps Qabala mount in Guineas

Roger Varian has confirmed David Egan will ride Qipco 1,000 Guineas favourite Qabala at Newmarket next Sunday with stable jockey Andrea Atzeni missing the meeting through suspension.

Egan partnered the three-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy to her impressive win in the Nell Gwyn and she is a general 3-1 chance for the fillies' Classic over a mile.

Egan, who was champion apprentice in 2017, turned professional last summer and claimed his biggest win when the Varian-trained Pilaster landed the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

William Buick has been booked to ride Varian's other 1,000 Guineas contender Mot Juste, who is a top-priced 16-1 chance.

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