Godolphin have been dealt a hammer blow with the news that their Melbourne Cup hope All The Good will miss the race.

News broke earlier in the week that the Caulfield Cup winner had suffered a setback, but Sheikh Mohammed's operation was hoping that some intensive treatment would enable him to take his place in the line-up.

However, x-rays have revealed that the five-year-old entire has a hairline fracture of the cannon bone.

"The latest news on All The Good is not great. He will miss the race,'' said Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

Forgotten horse Darkness is not far off making a racecourse return after two-and-a-half years away from the action.

Owned by Lady Lloyd-Webber and trained by Charlie Egerton, the chestnut was given an entry for the Hennessy Gold Cup Chase at Newbury next month.

He sustained a tendon injury around October 2006, having made his final start in the Scottish Grand National of the same year.

Darkness was pulled up that day but had travelled to Ayr on the back of a busy novice chasing season, which saw him beat Iris's Gift in a Grade Two at Newbury.

He also won the Feltham Novices' Chase at Sandown before staying on to be third behind Star De Mohaison in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

"He's ready to run and will hopefully be out in the next couple of weeks,'' said Simon Marsh, the Lloyd-Webbers' racing manager.

"The horse is in great form -- we're delighted to have him back but he has been off for two years and we'll have to see how he gets on before thinking about anything like the Hennessy.''

Ryan Moore was out of luck in his appeal against a one-day riding ban before racing, but enjoyed better fortune in the Play Poker At ladbrokes.com Handicap at Lingfield as he drove his father Gary's Bridgewater Boys (11-4) home by a head.

The Moore-ridden Custody racked up his fourth consecutive second-place finish when losing out to Richard Hannon's 11-1 winner Star Links in a tight climax to the Bet At Ladbrokes On 0800 777 888 Maiden Stakes.

And a long-held plan came together as Mischief Making landed the EBF Better Prices Ladbrokes.com River Eden Fillies' Stakes.

Ed Dunlop's three-year-old stayed on best of all in the mile-and-five-furlong Listed contest for a 33-1 success under Tom McLaughlin.

McLaughlin completed a 288-1 double when surviving a stewards' inquiry to claim the Play Casino At ladbrokes.com Handicap aboard 15-2 chance Gallantry.

Baharah will be given the chance to register back-to-back course wins next month after capitalising on a drop in grade to land the EBF Bingo At Ladbrokes.com Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes.

Trainer Gerard Butler is targeting the Churchill Stakes on November 22 with the four-year-old.

- Nick Robson