News on Saturday, an interesting ride at Musselburgh, opposition to Big Bucks.................................................................

Kieren flies back in on Saturday from the heat of Dubai to freezing temperatures at Lingfield. He will be chuffed! Rides in England are mainly to keep up his fitness level and, in part, to keep people happy for the forthcoming season.

Rides have been to a inimum so I have a limited number of bullets to fire. Kieren has three rides on Saturday and the same number on Sunday. He rides Kings Colour in the first for Brett Johnson, who has Brunston to beat. Roger Charlton's horse has to prove as effective on the AW. None off his siblings have won the surface

Ibiza Sunset diappointed when favourite at Kempton. It was a poor run but he missed the break and a few things came to light. He should run better. Finally, Kieren rides Mawaakef in the feature, who has heekpieces on for the first time. Interesting.

When the Betfair site goes down it will obviously draw plenty of criticism. It's human nature. I would guess, however, that the two-and-half hours that it was out of action on Friday saved quite a few players a considerable amount of money.

Nicky Henderson has a 28% strike rate in January but he had two red-hot favourites turned over at Huntingdon. Ericht's defeat at 1-5 was followed 30 minutes later with the demise of Problema Tic at 1-4.

Yet it was the defeat of Kickahead in between at Mussleburgh that probably saved backers the most cash. The Ian Williams-trainer horse, favourite on the exchanges early morning, opened on the course at 11-4 before returning at 9-2.

Having been restrained at the back from the start, rider Steven Gagan (7lbs) was unshipped at the fourth in the softest unseat you will see. I haven't heard of any report of equiptment failure. Judge for yourself from the video section on the Sportinglife. com site.

The news that Dai Walters is intending to send his Oscar Whisky into battle against Big Bucks in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is the best news ever for supporters of the favourite. Big Bucks is the best staying hurdler that will be seen in my lifetime and the 8-13 available with Sportingbet. com is so enticing.