Ashurst Beacon shaped okay when thrown in the deep end on his debut 2.15 Pontefract Despite finishing only fifth of six on his first outing at Haydock this month, Brian Ellison's gelding ran ...

The word beacon is self-explanatory but who was Ashurst? Some confusion arises because Sir William Ashurst only came into the picture when Napoleon was threatening to invade England.

LAST Saturday's Ashurst Beacon Fell Race (5.9m/950) from Upholland, near Wigan saw a good turnout of Horwich RMI Harriers.