Balla Sola to miss Newcastle

Balla Sola misses a crack at Saturday's Pertemps Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, according to trainer Willie Mullins yesterday. "It's a long straight at Newcastle and I thought as he is just a four-year-old, I didn't really want to get him into a hard battle," Mullins said.

"Instead there is a nice conditions hurdle for him at Fairyhouse on Saturday (the Brady Catering Equipment Hurdle) where the weights suit him so we'll go there."

Mullins also had news of antepost Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Florida Pearl, saying: "I gave him a little break after his last run but he's done a little bit of work, he's in good form and he's still right on course for the Ericsson Chase."

The Last Fling remains firmly on course for Saturday's other big event, the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury. The uncertainties of the British weather mean that many of his possible rivals may yet sidestep the race should the going become unsuitably soft or fast.

But in-form trainer Sue Smith's husband, Harvey, said yesterday: "He definitely runs - we are not going to be crying off!"

Andrew Thornton has been booked for the ride on last season's Martell Cup hero Macgeorge. Thornton schooled the horse at trainer Richard Lee's Presteigne base on Monday.

Mark Pitman has warned punters to "hold their bets" on Ever Blessed for the £85,000 contest. Speaking at Market Rasen, he said: "I would advise anyone thinking of backing Ever Blessed to hold their bets until they see him going around the paddock."

Newbury's clerk of the course Mark Kershaw confirmed yesterday that the going remains good and in the ante-post market, the main market move came for Paul Nicholls' Earthmover, who was trimmed from 7 to 1 to 11 to 2 by the Tote.

Tote bet: 11-2 Earthmover (from 7), Spendid, 6-1 Hanakham (from 11-2), 7-1 Ever Blessed, 8-1 Djeddah, The Outback Way, 10-1 Fiddling The Facts (from 14-1), Tullymurry Toff, Young Kenny, 12-1 Betty's Boy, 14-1 Macgeorge, Suny Bay, 16-1 The Last Fling, 25-1 Step On Eyre (from 20-1), 33-1 Jack Doyle, 50-1 Queen of Spades, 66-1 Doualago.

Arc de Triomphe hero Montjeu has been installed as the 11 to 8 favourite for Saturday's Japan Cup. Japanese hope Special Week, who finished second in last year's race, is the 9 to 2 second favourite with Mark Johnston's Fruits Of Love next-best at 6 to 1.

Coral bet: 11-8 Montjeu, 9-2 Special Week, 61 Fruits Of Love, 8-1 High-Rise, 10-1 Alborada, Tiger Hill, 12-1 Borgia, Stay Gold, Suehiro Commander, 16-1 Rascal Suzuka, 20-1 Osumi Bright, Hishi Pinnacle, Umeno Fiber, Indigenous, 33-1 bar.

Running Stag has made the final cut in the Group One Hong Kong International Cup at Sha Tin next month following the defection of Luca Cumani's Zomaradah. Philip Mitchell's Running Stag had been first reserve.

Ten places have been set aside for foreign runners in the mile-and-a-quarter race. Also guaranteed places are Mark Prescott's Alborada and David Elsworth's Lear Spear.