Controversial racehorse Top Cees is back on top form two weeks after his Thirsk-based trainer and jockey romped to victory in a libel court case.

The horse came home at 11-1 in his first race since he was the centre of a celebrated High Court victory against the Sporting Life by Lynda Ramsden, her husband, Jack, and jockey Kieren Fallon.

During the libel action, Channel 4 racing pundit Derek Thompson alleged Mr Fallon had told him he had "stopped" Top Cees in a race at Newmarket, evidence rejected by the jury.

After winning libel damages to the tune of £195,000, Mr Ramsden accused Thompson of being "utterly contemptible".

And while the Top Cees trio celebrated the first prize of £38,000 at the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival yesterday, Mr Thompson - who was on duty at the racecourse - was left to endure chants of "Tommo, where are you now?"

Top Cees was ridden yesterday by Barry Fenton.

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