DEREK Thompson is one of the high-profile victims of Channel Four's shake-up of its horse racing team.

Channel Four will present exclusive terrestrial coverage of racing from January 1 after securing all domestic rights in a four-year deal.

The broadcaster will rely on a new 13-strong presenting team, but there will be no place for North Yorkshire-born Thompson or the equally high-profile John McCririck and Alastair Down.

Thompson's axing is a major surprise, although the veteran broadcaster insists it will not end a media career that started when he began to submit point-to-point reports to The Northern Echo as a 15-year-old pupil at Guisborough Grammar School.

Thompson, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, has a number of work commitments in Dubai before the end of the year and is currently discussing a range of proposals for racing-related employment in this country.

**

HIS career looked to be coming to an end when he left Sunderland, but Steed Malbranque is enjoying an unexpected renaissance at Lyon.

The midfielder cancelled his contract at St Etienne last season after just one game because he claimed he was "not enjoying himself".

However, he rejoined Lyon in the summer, having made his professional debut for them in 1998, and has rapidly become one of the most effective midfielders in French football.

"Steed has been excellent for several weeks," said Lyon boss Remi Garde after Malbranque impressed against Brest last weekend.

The French media have penned a series of positive pieces about the 32-year-old's impact, and a recall to Didier Deschamps' national side is even being predicted.

**

RICHARD Kilty is ready to draw a line under his athletics career after his National Lottery funding was withdrawn last week.

The Teesside sprinter, who was controversially overlooked for an Olympic place in the 200m, was informed last week that UK Sport will no longer include him on their funding programme.

As a result, his scheduled warm-weather training in Florida at the start of next year is now in doubt and his prospects of appearing in next year's World and European Championships have been severely dented.

Kilty fears his reputation has been tarnished by his arrest last month following an assault in Stockton that left a 19-year-old man nursing serious head injuries.

He was released without charge, but fears the damage had already been done by the time the police admitted his innocence.

His coach, Linford Christie, has pledged to stand by him, but the 23-year-old will spend the next few months pondering his sporting future.

**

SOUTH DURHAM boxer Bradley Saunders has stepped out of the ring to enter a gruelling 10k obstacle course race in the name of charity.

Saunders was at Greystoke Castle in Penrith, Cumbria, to take part in the punishing endurance course to raise money for Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary.

The 10K No Ego Challenges took in 25 gruelling obstacles including The Mangle and Scafell Pike.

The hard-hitting 26-year-old is due for his fifth pro fight on November 30 in Manchester's MEN Arena when ex-cricketer and television personality turned professional boxer, Freddie Flintoff, will headline. For tickets for the Manchester show call 07414 112022.