Kieren Fallon declines Cheltenham place

PAUL Carberry has stepped in for the ride on Old McDonald in next week's Weatherbys Champion Bumper after Kieren Fallon decided against a trip to the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-time champion Flat jockey agreed to ride Noel Glynn's charge last month but has now informed the trainer that he will be unavailable. Glynn said: "I received a text to say Kieren wouldn't be available as he's decided to stay in Dubai, which is obviously a bit disappointing.

"Luckily for us it's worked out grand as Noel Meade hasn't got a runner in the bumper and we've got Paul Carberry booked to ride.

"I'm delighted to have got him as he knows the course really well. His sister Nina rides my other horse Becauseicouldntsee."

Meanwhile, Ben Haslam sent out his first winner as a trainer with only his fifth runner when Hi Dancer came good under Giles Hawkins in the Complete Football Handicap at Newcastle – with a helping hand from Tony McCoy.

Haslam had booked champion jockey McCoy for the seven-year-old last time out when he could only finish fifth, but advised the fledgling trainer to drop him in trip. The 2-1 favourite gradually edged away to score by three lengths from Nevsky Bridge and give Hawkins his first success at the course also.

Haslam, 25, has taken over the licence from his father Patrick at their Middleham base and said: "I started on 22 February so it's great to get off the mark."