St Michel ruled out of Melbourne Cup bid

Britain's Melbourne Cup hopes suffered a blow on Friday when St Michel, who had been as short as 16-1 for Australia's most famous race, was ruled out after he was found to be lame.

The Sir Mark Prescott-trained St Michel had already proven his credentials on the international stage by finishing second in the Belmont Gold Cup in June, and connections were looking forward to a Melbourne Cup tilt after he finished a creditable third in the Lonsdale Cup at York last month.

However, Prescott revealed on Friday: "Unfortunately St Michel was slightly lame yesterday and he's not sound this morning so he won't be able to enter quarantine to go to Australia. It's a great shame for the owners as he looked to have a nice weight in the Melbourne Cup."

The market for the Melbourne Cup is headed by last year's winner Almandin at 7-1, who is bidding to become the first multiple winner of the famous handicap since the legendary Makybe Diva won three in a row between 2003 and 2005.

With Order Of St George set to bypass the race in favour of the Arc, the Andreas Wohler-trained Red Cardinal, who beat St Michel in a thrilling tussle at Belmont, is the leading European hope at a top price of 20-1.

The 2017 Melbourne Cup will take place at Flemington on Tuesday November 7.

Melbourne Cup entries

Death of Champion Hurdle-winning jockey Harry Sprague

Harry Sprague, who won the 1956 Champion Hurdle on the Charlie Hall-trained Doorknocker and the Whitbread Gold Cup on Done Up three years later on his last ride, has died at the age of 97.

Sprague, who was light enough at under 6st as an apprentice to ride on the Flat and twice rode in the Derby, was also successful at Cheltenham on the Bob Turnell-trained Rosenkavalier in the Grand Annual and Stroller, trained by Vincent O'Brien, in the Spa Hurdle.

Sprague was born in Devon in 1920 to a merchant seaman and was the grandson of a local shoemaker. After he rode Shetlands and cart horses to local acclaim his parents got him an apprenticeship with trainer Jack Reardon at Epsom.

Before the second world war interrupted his teenage career, Sprague was champion apprentice, had ridden Larchfield in the 1939 Derby and won over hurdles and fences.

After serving in the Far East, Sprague returned to beat champion jockey Gordon Richards in a photo-finish at Bath and resume winning ways under both codes.

His natural balance and independent mind made him a 'turn-to' jockey. Paddy Prendergast even flew him to Ireland to ride a horse no one could hold and Ryan Price plucked him out of retirement for one last glory day on Done Up in the 1959 Whitbread.

As with many jump jockeys he had his fair share of injuries, twice breaking a leg as well as an arm, ankle and wrist. He retired after riding nearly 250 jump winners including two Imperial Cups, to run a farm in his home county of Devon.

Jack Berry, who was apprenticed to Charlie Hall and led up Sprague's Champion Hurdle winner, paid tribute.

"Not only was Harry a great jockey, he was a lovely man and a gentleman to boot."

Recalling Doorknocker's triumph win Berry added: "Our stable jockey Paddy Farrell rode Ingo, the stable's more fancied runner. I said to Harry, 'Don't be put off because Paddy rides Ingo – this fellow has a big chance even though he is a novice', which he proved.

"Harry and I have been good mates ever since."

Further changes at Bath after infestation

Bath's season will finish earlier than planned after its final fixture of the year on October 18 was transferred because of problems with the surface caused by an infestation of chafer grubs.

With the issues affecting the home bend, the track, which lost the first day of last weekend's two-day fixture before staging an all-sprint programme on the Sunday, can only stage races over distances short of six furlongs.

The next meeting on October 2 will become another all-sprint affair, but the October 18 fixture will be switch to the all-weather at Lingfield, except for the Listed Beckford Stakes, which will be run at Yarmouth on October 16.

Jon Pullin, racing director at Arena Racing Company, said: "We are pleased to have worked with the BHA to ensure a final race meeting can go ahead at Bath on October 2, followed by a replacement card at Lingfield on October 18.

"Transferring the Beckford Stakes to Great Yarmouth's fixture on October 16 means the Listed contest has a suitable home for 2017.

"We continue to treat the turf at Bath to address the issues caused by the chafer grubs to ensure the full course can be ready for racing in 2018."

Findlay makes William Hill book prize list

The autobiography of Harry Findlay, legendary punter and co-owner of the Gold Cup winner Denman, has made the long list for the William Hill sports book of the year.

Gambling For Life (Trinity Mirror Sport Media), which was featured in an excerpt in last Sunday's Racing Post supplement and is available from our book shop, is one of two racing stories in the field of 16 to make the long list.

The other is Centaur, the story of top jump jockey Declan Murphy and his miraculous recovery from the fall that should have killed him, brought to life by writer Ami Rao.

Other books on the list for what has become known as 'The Bookie Prize' feature World number one Andy Murray's mother Judy's story and former England cricket captain Mike Brearley.