Balding may quit C4: BAFTA Special Award recipient Clare Balding is understood to be considering quitting Channel 4 Racing with a decision pending in the autumn.

Balding said: “I am weighing up my options.” The 43-year-old hosts key fixtures for the channel 40 days a year and spends another 20 days working on features.

The 60-day commitment comes on top of a demanding workload for Balding whose popularity soared with her coverage of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics.

Alhebayeb to Tara Stud: Group 2-winning juvenile Alhebayeb has been bought to stand at Tara Stud in Co Meath next year.

The son of Dark Angel won twice for Richard Hannon and Hamdan Al Maktoum with his biggest win in the July Stakes at Newmarket. A fee for the four-year-old will be announced at a later date.

Russell fine annulled: The Turf Club cancelled a €200 fine imposed on Davy Russell for failing to appear for his only ride at Downpatrick on Monday.

Russell explained: “I wasn’t at the meeting for personal reasons as I was welcoming the arrival of a baby daughter Lilly.”

Russell was due to ride Coldstonesober in a two-mile five-furlong handicap hurdle.

Notnowcato success: Knockhouse Stud’s resident stallion Notnowcato is enjoying further success with his son Custom Cut winning two listed races and two Group 3 events in quick succession, the most recent being the Betfred Play Today £2 million + Strensall Stakes at York for David O’Meara.

Hills horses positive: Two winners trained by Barry Hills were among the eight horses which tested positive for the banned raceday substance morphine earlier this summer, it emerged on Wednesday.

Hills (77) came out of retirement to take over the Lambourn base of his late son John. The British Horseracing Authority announced that the inquiry into seven of the eight cases will take place on September 25th.