Stewart’s rescue plan for Newbury

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The racecourse has been the subject of an aggressive takeover bid by the Guinness Peat Group which currently has a shareholding of around 26 per cent.

Having failed to win over the remaining shareholders, GPG are now trying to unseat three of the directors, chairman Sir David Sieff, Brian Stewart-Brown and Erik Penser.

Stewart has agreed to talks with GPG today to see if they will sell their stake, currently worth around £10million, to his company.

GPG believe they can do better for shareholders than the Newbury management who have a housing proposal with David Wilson Homes to create residential development on the surrounding land over the next 10 years.

Stewart, who was at Plumpton yesterday, said: "We are here to see if they want to dispose of their shareholding. We are not interested in egos or loss-making activities.

"We do not want to sling out fellow directors or tell good management what to do. We need to let the Newbury management get on with things and we will just attend board meetings to ensure the future of racing there."

Stewart, whose Turko ran such an encouraging second to The Listener in Sunday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown, was out of luck yesterday when Supreme Huntress unseated Sam Thomas in the Chris Poole and George Ennor Celebration Novices' Chase at Plumpton.

The race was won in dour fashion by Verasi who now qualifies for a £60,000 bonus should he win any race at the Cheltenham Festival.

Winning trainer Gary Moore, who reported Wingman in great form after his totesport Trophy success at Newbury on Saturday, said: "He wasn't that impressive because they've gone very slow and he's pulled a shoe off his front leg.

"He could go in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase but he needs soft ground. If he gets lucky he'll run as he is now rated 140 in handicaps and the William Hill Handicap is probably not his race now."

Cheltenham is definitely the next stop for champion hurdler Sublimity who will go there without a prep race. Connections have decided against an outing on the all-weather at Dundalk.

Meanwhile, Gold Cup hero Kauto Star will continue his build-up to the defence of his crown this Saturday.

He is likely to face Monet's Garden in the Commercial First Ascot Chase but, as a precaution if the going is too fast, has an alternative entry on the same day at Wincanton where he has been declared for the Country Gentleman's Association Chase.