Racing: Bradley burns his bridges on Street

GRAHAM BRADLEY has decided to forsake Morley Street and partner Bishops Hall rather than the former champion hurdler in Saturday's pounds 50,000 Mackeson Gold Cup.

The jockey's agent, Chris Pimlott, said: 'It was a difficult decision to make, but Graham feels he owes it to Bishops Hall's trainer Harry de Bromhead. He promised to ride the horse a long while before he knew the situation with Morley Street.'

The latter's owner, Michael Jackson, was philosophical about the decision. 'I understood Graham's position because he had made an earlier promise to another trainer. He gave the horse a brilliant ride at Aintree (to win on Grand National day).'

The gelding's trainer, Toby Balding, said: 'Graham Bradley has always been against running the horse in the Mackeson. He thought this was not the right race for Morley Street, but I believe it is just what he wants.'

Chester Barnes, the assistant trainer to Martin Pipe who had been convalescing from two heart attacks, has been re-admitted to hospital after complaining of chest pain.

Adrian Maguire, who missed riding at Newbury yesterday after injuring a hip in a fall at Southwell on Tuesday, will wait until the first day of Cheltenham's Mackeson meeting tomorrow to return to the saddle.