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Date  
30/12/2006 Not a bad day for two particular Yorkshire trainers today. At Haydock Sue Smith's Sharp Belline put up a good performance to land the £16,265 The Last Fling Handicap Chase, whilst two races later her Royal Emperor was a reasonable second in the £15,658 Haydock Park Graduation Chase. At Musselburgh it was John Quinn picking up the plaudits with an early winner in the Novices' Hurdle later doubled up when Leslingtaylor won the £12,526 totescoop6 Introductory Novices' Hurdle. Meanwhile on the flat Tim Pitt had a winner down at Lingfield. Early evening racing at Wolverhampton sees a flurry of Yorkshire winners courtesy of Geoff Oldroyd, Linda Stubbs and Tim Pitt.
27/12/2006 Another festive day at Wetherby for the local trainers with wins for Tim Easterby, Patrick Haslam, Malcolm Jefferson (Calatagan in the £19,518 Castleford Handicap Chase) and Richard Fahey. On the all-weather David Barron has a winner at both Southwell and Wolverhampton, with John Balding also getting a winner at Wolverhampton.
26/12/2006 Boxing Day winners galore for the Yorkshire trainers. Pride of place goes to the (relatively) new Ferdy Murphy / Graham Lee partnership at Wetherby where their outsider Leading Man strolls home by 8 lengths to take the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase Gd 3, the first 'big win' for this partnership. The same team had taken the previous race with Naiad Du Misselot, whilst Sue Smith chalked up a treble at the West Yorkshire track and Kate Walton also had a winner. At Sedgefield there was another double for Ferdy Murphy as well as winners for Andy Crook and Tom Walford, whilst Tim Easterby and George Moore both had wins at Market Rasen.
23/12/2006 Another quiet week coming to a close with winners at Newcastle for Harry Hogarth and Ferdy Murphy and at Southwell for Bryan Smart.
16/12/2006 A quiet Saturday in the run up to the Christmas madness and the best 'Yorkshire' result comes from Pickering based Alan Brown who's River Logic lands the £12,526 Betfred Poker Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Newcastle, where Mick Easterby and Ferdy Murphy also have winners.
10/12/2006 The early morning sees Alan Swinbank's Collier Hill add to his already impressive haul when landing the Hong Kong Vase G1 at Sha Tin. The £600,000 first prize takes this admirable geldings earnings over the £2.3 million barrier, and absolutely incredible achievement for a horse who started out in a Catterick bumper ! Sent off at 11-1 (don't they learn ?!) Collier Hill led down the straight and held off the challenge of Kastoria to win by a nose. Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord didn't seem to last the six furlongs in the Hong Kong Sprint, and finished out of the prize money, but there was small compensation later in the day when his Harry Up won the main race at Kempton.
09/12/2006 The big race at Cheltenham today was either the boylesports.com Handicap Chase or the boylesports.com International Hurdle (respectively formerly known as the Massey Ferguson Chase and the Bula Hurdle), depending on your point of view. Neither boasted a Yorkshire trained winner however the winner of the Handicap Chase was Yorkshireman Sir Robert Ogdden's Exotic Dancer, whilst John Quinn's Crow Wood was an honourable third in the Hurdle, albeit there were only four runners! Quinn had a double at Market Rasen due to winning both divisions of the Novices' Hurdle, whilst there were also winners for Mike Sowersby, Malcolm Jefferson, Ferdy Murphy (Kitski in the £13,012 National Hunt Racing Handicap Chase) and Sue Smith (Tous Chez in the £13,012 wbx.com Sea Pigeon Handicap Hurdle). On the flat there is a winner at Southwell for Richard Fahey and for Geoff Oldroyd, David Barron and Karl Burke at Wolverhampton.
08/12/2006 A quiet week livens up a bit for Ferdy Murphy when it is a case of close, but no cigar at Cheltenham for the Middleham trainer and his new stable jockey Graham Lee with Aces Four beaten into second place by nine lengths in the opening Cleavent Novices' Chase. Two races later the losing margin is much smaller for the same team when New Alco runs an excellent race to be second, beaten a short head, in the £57,020 boylepoker.com Handicap Chase L. At Southwell there is a chase winner for Sue Smith and a hurdling winner for Brian Ellison whilst John Balding (who had a double earlier in the week) scores on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.
02/12/2006 The best result of the day comes at Southwell where Mick Easterby's Gentleman's Deal wins the £11,219 Southwell Handicap and there are also winners for Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston. At Wetherby there is a double for Tim Easterby and winners for Patrick Haslam and Sue Smith whilst Ferdy Murphy's L'Antartique is second in the One Man Novices' Chase.
30/11/2006 All but one of the 'Yorkshire' lots at the December Sales today are either withdrawn or buy-backs so top price falls to Gracious Air, sent from the Manor House Stud, who fetches 10,000gns. National Hunt winners at Market Rasen for Ferdy Murphy and Geoff Harker.
29/11/2006 Yorkshire interest at the December Sales today is represented by the unraced three-year-old May, bred at the Garrowby Stud, who is sold for 130,000gns. The first jumps winners of the week with victories at Catterick for Mick Easterby, Sue Smith (a double) and Patrick Haslam and at Ayr for Ferdy Murphy and Patrick Haslam.
27/11/2006 A good day at Tattersalls December Sales for Guy Reed of Copgrove Stud, who celebrated his 85th birthday last week, when his homebred Group One winning sprinter La Cucaracha is sold to Yorkshire based agent James Delahooke for 525,000gns, for American clients. On the track James Hetherton has a winner at Wolverhampton and David Barker at Kempton.
25/11/2006 Sue Smith's Omni Cosmo Touch was a reasonable fourth in today's Hennessy at Newbury. At Newcastle Ferdy Murphy won the Novices Chase whilst his Another Promise was second in the wbx.com Rehearsal Chase L, with Harry Hogarth's King Killone back in third. All-weather racing at Lingfield saw a winner for Karl Burke whilst Tim Pitt won the opener at Kempton's early evening meeting. With the withdrawal of the only Cliff Stud lot at Tattersalls it was left to the Providence Stud to carry the flag for Yorkshire and their top lot (excluding buy-backs) was the 6,000 gns obtained for a son of Robellino, bred by one of their boarding clients.
24/11/2006 The penultimate day of the foal section of the December Sales (yes, it does finish in November!) and the West Moor Stud is the only Yorkshire nursery with an offering, but their son of Oasis Dream makes an strong 75,000gns.On the track Mark Johnston has a winner at Wolverhampton and Mick Easterby at Kemtpon whilst Grant Tuer and Ferdy Murphy are successful over hurdles at Musselburgh.
23/11/2006 An excellent day for the Yorkshire stud's at the December Sales with Bolton Grange selling star filly Wunders Dream's first foal (by Oasis Dream) for 115,000gns, Manor House Stud selling Dr Anne Gillespie's foal by Galileo for 90,000gns, and West Moor Stud selling a son of Medicean and Preference for 70,000gns. Mark Johnston again chalks up another winner, this time at Wolverhampton, whilst Ferdy Murphy has a winner at Uttoxeter.
22/11/2006 Day two of Tattersalls foal sale sees the Theakston Stud sell a daughter of Elusive City for 24,000gns, not surprisingly perhaps Guy Reed of the Copgrove Stud was the buyer, at 12,000gns, of Theakston's daughter of Xaar, he bought Peggy Spencer - the dam of his top sprinter La Cucaracha (due to be sold next week) from the same nursery. Foston Stud sold a son of Verglas for 20,000gns. Another Mark Johnston double on the track, this time at Kempton, a bumper winner at Lingfield for Alan Swinbank and a double at Wetherby for George Moore, with Peter Beaumont also having a winner at the West Yorkshire track.
21/11/2006 The Tattersall's December Sales continues with the five day foal sale, and on day one the top price from a Yorkshire nursery comes from Bolton Grange Stud's son of Dansili, sold to Glenvale Stud for 58,000gns.On the all-weather today John Norton had a winner at Southwell and James Bethell at Wolverhampton whilst there were National Hunt winners at Sedgefield for Harry Hogarth, Alan Brown, Sue Smith and Ferdy Murphy.
20/11/2006 Tattersall's December Sales kicks off with the one day yearling sale and the top price for a Yorkshire stud is achieved by Oaks Farm Stables who's half brother to Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad sells for 70,000gns to the Chevington Stud. On the track Mark Johnston, currently well ahead in the all-weather championship, had a double at Southwell, where there were also winners for David Barron, Bryan Smart and Andy Crook, whilst Barron made in an across-the-card double with a winner at Wolverhampton's 'Regional' meeting.
12/11/2006 Mark Johnston's promising Empire Day put up a good effort in France to be third in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud G1 under Kevin Darley today. At Cheltenham Malcolm Jefferson's According To Pete was beaten only a neck in the valuable intermediate handicap hurdle race whilst the John Quinn trained pair of Caraman and Aleron were third and fourth respectively in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle Gd3. Kate Walton had a 1-2 in Carlisle's main race with Datito coming home in front of Huka Lodge.
11/11/2006 The National Hunt season is starting to get into full swing and today saw Ferdy Murphy's promising young chaser New Alco finish a good third in Cheltenham's Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase Gd3. At Wetherby the locals drew a blank in the first three races, but promptly won the next three with horses trained by Chris Wilson, Patrick Haslam and Harry Hogarth (King Killone in the £11,710 totesport.com Handicap Chase). On the all-weather Tim Pitt's Eccollo made it three in a row by winning at Kempton whilst his trainer made it a double for the day with an additional winner at Wolverhampton's evening meeting, where Mark Johnston and Karl Burke also had winners.
04/11/2006 A quiet week ends with a seasonally appropriate bang with two listed wins on the flat and a graded win over jumps. Doncaster's traditional end-of-season feast is relocated to Windsor but that's doesn't stop the Yorkshire stables putting up a good show with Alan Swinbank's Alfie Flits strolling away with the Serlby Stakes L by five lengths and David Barron's Rising Shadow landing the Wentworth Stakes L by the somewhat tighter margin of a head. Down at Wincanton John Quinn's Crow Wood put up an odds defying performance to land the Elite Hurdle Gd2 against strong opposition, and he could well be out again as soon as a week tomorrow at Cheltenham. Quinn had earlier had a winner at Kelso where Ferdy Murphy landed a treble.
28/10/2006 Mark Johnston appears to have another good stayer in the making in the form of Emirates-bred Empire Day who put up a good performance to win the Zetland Stakes L by four lengths at Newmarket today. Tim Easterby's Somuns picked up £1,503 for finishing fourth in the Ben Marshall Stakes L, he'll need to do better than that to overhaul Teleprompter (see 22nd below!) and Julie Camacho's Rio Riva was second in the big handicap. Over at Maison-Laffitte the Kevin Ryan trained Advanced put up a strong effort to be second in the Prix Seine-et-Oise G3 and he looks to be shaping into a leading candidate for the top sprints next season. At Ayr there were winners for Tom Tate, David Barron and Richard Fahey whilst the locals drew a blank in the big races at Wetherby with only Malcolm Jefferson managing to prevent a whitewash by winning the last. Evening racing saw a winner at Wolverhampton for Kevin Ryan. In Newmarket's sales ring the October Sales finally came to and end today and it was the first horse into the ring, Merryvale Stud's son of Kasakov, who provided the highest price for a Yorkshire stud (excluding buy-ins) when fetching 5,500gns.
27/10/2006 A good day at 'HQ' for the Tykes with Mark Johnston's Piety and Tom Tate's Dr.Sharp both winning the two main handicaps and Bryan Smart's Doric Charm gaining valuable black type when finishing third in the Bosra Sham Fillies Stakes L. Over jumps there were wins at Wtherby for Grant Tuer and Malcolm Jefferson. Mark Johnston's Park Farm Stud was the only Yorkshire nursery selling on Day One of Part 3 (confused? , I am !) of the soontoendatlastthankgod October Sales, and they managed to obtain 15,000gns for a son of Yankee Gentleman.
24/10/2006 The locals dominated at Catterick today with David Nicholls, Mick Easterby, Tim Easterby (a double), Micky Hammond and Anne Duffield between them winning every race on the card.
23/10/2006 Blue Dakota, winner of the Norfolk Stakes G3 at Royal Ascot in 2004 has been retired to stand at the Hedgeholme Stud.The son of Namid will stand at a fee of £2,000. Two winners today with Mark Johnston's Palo Verde winning at Lingfield, and Karl Burke's Tartan Special at Kempton.
22/10/2006 Alan Swinbank's globetrotting superstar Collier Hill adds another valuable victory to his C.V. when landing the Canadian International G1 at Woodbine today. A powerful last gasp drive under Dean McKeown saw the gelding come home a nose in front of Go Deputy. Already the winning most Yorkshire trained horse of all time this effort increases Collier Hill's lead over his rivals even further, not bad for a horse who started his racing career by winning a bumper at Catterick !! Indeed it is possible that he could soon have won twice as much as the next horse on the list, Attraction ! Somnus' efforts this season have enabled him to leapfrog Yavana's Pace whilst Les Arcs, Quito, Bahamian Pirate, Fayr Jag, Continent and Amadeus Wolf are horses still in training lying in the 11th to 20th band.
Horse Trainer Amount Best Performances
Collier Hill Alan Swinbank £1,717,612 Irish St Leger G1, Rothmans International G1, Gerling-Preis G2, Stockholm Cup International G3 (twice), Elnadim H, Old Newton Cup H., 2nd.Dubai Sheema Classic G1, Deutschlandpreis Preis G1, 3rd.Dubai Sheema Classic G1, Rheinland-Pokal der Sparkasse KolnBonn G1
Attraction Mark Johnston £899,597 1,000 Guineas G1, Irish 1,000 Guineas G1, Coronation S G1, Sun Chariot S G1, Matron S G1, Cherry Hinton S G2, Queen Mary S G3, 2nd.Matron Stakes G1, Falmouth S G1 etc.
Teleprompter Bill Watts £760,881 Arlington Million G1, Queen Elizabeth II S G2, Prix Quincey G3, Desmond S G3, Pacemaker International S. G3 (x2), 2nd.Queen Elizabeth II S. G2 (x2), Lockinge S G2, THF Mile G2, 3rd.Eclipse S. G1, Queen Anne Stakes G2 etc.
Somnus Tim Easterby £741,423 Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup G1, Prix Maurice de Gheest G1, Prix de la Foret G1, betabet Two Year Old Trophy, £200,000 St Leger Yearling Sales Stakes, 2nd.Sprint Cup G1, Park Stakes G2, Chipchase Stakes G3, 3rd.Duke Of York Stakes G2
Yavana's Pace Mark Johnston £722,656 Credit Suisse Private Banking Pokal G1, Prix du Conseil de Paris G2, Prix Gladiateur G3, 2nd.WGZ Bank-Deutschlandpreis G1, Preis von Europa G1, Irish St Leger G1, Princess of Wales's Stakes G2, Hardwicke Stakes G2, 3rd.Canadian International G1, Deutsche Post Euro Express-Pries von Europa G1, WGZ Bank-Deutschland Preis G1, Princess of Wales's Stakes G2, Gerling-Preis G2 etc.
Fruits Of Love Mark Johnston £607,115 Hardwicke S G2 (x2), Dubai Turf Classic, Princess of Wales's S G2, 2nd.Canadian Int'l G1, Futurity Stakes G3, 3rd.King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II S. G1, Grosser Preis von Baden G1, Meld Stakes G3
Double Trigger Mark Johnston £559,100 Ascot Gold Cup G1, Goodwood Cup G3 (x3), Doncaster Cup G3 (x2), Henry II S G3 (x2), Sagaro S G3 (x2), St.Leger Italiano G3, 2nd.Ascot Gold Cup G1 (x2), 3rd.St Leger G1
Bandari Mark Johnston £547,045 Hardwicke Stakes G2, Princess of Wales's S G2, Great Voltigeur S G2, Gordon S G3, Brigadier Gerard S G3, Lingfield Derby Trial G3, 2nd.Rheinland-Pokal G1, Princess of Wales's Stakes G2, 3rd.St Leger G1, Jockey Club Stakes G2(twice), Cumberland Lodge Stakes G3, September Stakes G3
Scott's View Mark Johnston £525,273 Magnolia S L, Serlby S L, 3rd.Queen Elizabeth II Cup G1, Dubai Sheema Classic G1, Grosser Mercedes-Benz Preis G2 etc.
Bollin Eric Tim Easterby £506,196 St.Leger G1, Lonsdale Stakes G3, 2nd.Hardwicke Stakes G2, King Edward VII Stakes G2, Dante Stakes G2, 3rd.Yorkshire Cup G2, Great Voltigeur Stakes G2, 4th.King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes G1

Today's Yorkshire runners at Aintree and Towcester didn't trouble the judges.

21/10/2006 A very quiet week indicating that the flat season is winding down is slightly enlivened with Mark Johnston's Hinton Admiral puts up a good display to land, in a good time, the Doncaster Stakes L, run this year on Lingfield's Polytrack. A disappointing display by the Yorkshire raiders at Newbury means that the only other winners come over jumps at Kelso where Ferdy Murphy has a double and Tim Easterby's Classic Event leads home a Yorkshire-trained-1-2-3 in the Handicap Hurdle.
19/10/2006 Second, and final, day of the October Yearling Sales at Doncaster and, if 'buy backs' are excluded, Norton Grove Stud has all three of the highest prices by Yorkshire studs, but it is with a daughter of Diktat that they really hit the headlines when she sells for 42,000gns, an excellent price for this sale. On the track Mark Johnston has a winner at Brighton, whilst Sue Smith has a win at Haydock.
18/10/2006 Day one of Doncaster's October Yearling sale and the highest price from a Yorkshire stud is reached by a son of First Trump sent from the Evelyn Stud, who fetched 12,000gns. A quiet day on the track, but one of Middleham's newest trainers, Bill Ratcliffe, has a winner at Nottingham when Bel Cantor lands the second race.
15/10/2006 Mark Johnston finally got his first Group One victory of the year when his Kirkless came home in front in the Gran Criterium G1 at San Siro this afternoon, to give the Middleham trainer his third victory in the race. The winner landed the spoils by a short head from Strobilus, the pair both being connected to Sheikh Mohammed, this and the decision that Frankie Dettori should ride Kirkless no doubt means the colt will be running in the dark blue of Godolphin next year.
14/10/2006 Newmarket's Champions Day started off reasonably for the Yorkshire raiders with Tim Easterby's Somnus running into a fourth place berth in the opening Challenge Stakes G2. The next race was the second half of the 'Autumn Double' - the £93,480 Cesarewitch Handicap and this saw a Yorkshire trained 2-3-4-5 with only the winner Detroit City preventing a Yorkshire clean sweep, in second place was Tim Fiztgerald's Inchnadamph, picking up £27,990 for his efforts, to add to the money he collected for finishing third in this race last year, whilst third place this year was taken by Tom Tate's Dr Sharp who led for much of the race. At Catterick there was a much needed winner for Mark Johnston when Celtic Step came home in the nursery, whilst Karl Burke's Bold Marc won the last. In the sales ring it is the final day of Part Two of the October Sales (part three starts on the 27th!) and the top price from a Yorkshire nursery is achieved by Providence Stud for their son of Medicean who fetched 38,000gns.
13/10/2006 After a poor run in France last time Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott bounced back to form when finishing a good second, beaten only a short head, in the Bentinck Stakes G3 at Newmarket today, with David Nicholls' Tax Free back in third. The quality at the October Sales is gradually declining and the top 'Yorkshire' prices today were both from Manor House Stud, both sold to veteran trainer Henry Candy, and both fetched 16,000gns !
12/10/2006 Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova, running again after only five days rest, was a decent enough second in the Severals Stakes L at Newmarket today. The last race at HQ saw a Yorkshire 1-2-3 in the £11,218 Sporting Index Handicap, with the Melbourne Stud bred Mecca's Mate coming home in front for David Barker. David Nicholls' Hamaasy provided the sole Yorkshire winner at Southwell. Best price by a Yorkshire stud at the sales today is achieved by Bolton Grange who sold a daughter of Richard Whitaker's former charge Captain Rio for 50,000gns.
11/10/2006 The only two Yorkshire winners today both came over hurdles at Wetherby with the winning trainers being John Quinn and George Moore. At the October Sales the best price from a Yorkshire stud was the 45,000gns achieved by Burton Agnes Stud for their son of Singspiel, who was sold to Mick Easterby.
10/10/2006 The marathon that is Tattersall's October Sales starts again today . Top price from a Yorkshire stud farm was the 165,000gns paid for Oaks Farm Stables son of Medicean. Other good prices were achieved by Burton Agnes Stud who sold a son of Montjeu for 90,000gns and by the Garrowby Stud who sold a son of Alhaarth and Nibbs Point for the same price. Just the one Yorkshire winner today when Neville Bycroft's Dium Mac struck at Newcastle.
08/10/2006 Over in Ireland today the Bishop Wilton Stud bred Frank Sonata ran his best race for a while landing the Barathea Finale Stakes L at the Curragh, taking a notable scalp in the form of Scorpion. Earlier on the same card the Mark Johnston trained Silent Waves had finished a reasonable third in the Beresford Stakes G2. Domestically there were winners at Musselburgh for David Barron, Robin Bastiman and John Wainwright and at Hexham for Micky Hammond.
07/10/2006 A very good day at Ascot today for the Yorkshire runners which started off in the best possible fashion when Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova ran out an easy 5 length winner of the Harvest Stakes L despite, predictably, hanging badly to the left. The next was the £46,740 ladbrokes.com Heritage Handicap and this saw a Yorkshire 1-2 with Mark Johnston's Peppertree Lane comfortably holding off Richard Fahey's St Savarin, who nevertheless picks up a nice £13,995 for second place. Today also saw York's final meeting of the season and in the opening race Mark Johnston's Hinton Admiral ran well to be second, albeit someway behing the winner, in the Rockingham Stakes L. The main race on the card was the £22,670 Coral Sprint Trophy Handicap and this saw yet another Yorkshire one-two with David Barron's Rising Shadow coming home a neck in front of Richard Fahey's Knot In Wood. So a day of mixed fortunes for Mr.Fahey! Tim Easterby's Bollin Derek won the last. Over jumps Micky Hammond's Tee-Jay won at Hexham and John Quinn's Caraman at Bangor.
06/10/2006 A poor show at Tattersalls today from the Yorkshire nurseries - technically the highest Yorkshire price was the 120,000gns achieved by Oaks Farm for a daughter of Sadler's Wells, although this was actually a vendor 'buyback'. A good day's racing at York today, but only one local winner with John Quinn winning the last race, Richard Fahey's Flying Clarets picked up second place and this pushed the Malton trainer over the £1m mark for the first time.
05/10/2006 At Tattersalls today the best price for a Yorkshire bred horse was achieved by Bolton Grange's Cape Cross half sister to Wunders Dream (sold by Trickledown Stud) who fetched 170,000gns to the bid of John Magnier. Little domestic track action today although over in France David Nicholls' Strike Up The Band made all under son Adrian to land the Prix de Bonneval L.
04/10/2006 Day two of the October Sales and the plaudits again fall to Oaks Farm selling (as agent) a daughter of Sadler's Wells and Infamy for 300,000gns and an own brother to Gypsy King by Sadler's Wells for 240,000gns. A light racing program saw just two Yorkshire trained winners today - both at Nottingham - with Bryan Smart and Tim Easterby winning the opening two races.
03/10/2006 Day one of the Tattersalls October Sales (Part One) and the highest price from a Yorkshire stud comes at 80,000gns for Oaks Farm's son of Galileo from the family of Pearl Bracelet. On the track there are wins at Catterick for Tim Easterby, Patrick Haslam, Jedd O'Keeffe and Ann Duffield, whilst Mark Johnston had a winner at Leicester.
01/10/2006 A mixed day for the Yorkshire sprinters. Early morning UK time saw Tim Pitt's Les Arcs finish an honourable, but well beaten, seventh in the Sprinters Stakes G1 in Japan. However come the afternoon it was a different story entirely at Longchamp where Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord came home in front by a neck and a head to land the Prix de l'Abbaye G1 with fellow Yorkshire raider Moss Vale, trained by David Nicholls back in third, and the winners stablemate Amadeus Wolf in fifth. This was an incredible performance from Desert Lord who has never raced above Group Three level before and, despite some good placings and top handicap wins, has never even won a black type race before. Owned by a group of 12 including landlords from Wakefield and Warwick the six year old gelding could next go to Hong Kong. There was even a good Yorkshire sprinting result in Ireland when David Nicholls' Peace Offering won the Abergwaun Stakes L at Tipperary! Over jumps at Kelso there were wins for Micky Hammond, Patrick Haslam and Malcolm Jefferson.
30/09/2006 An excellent day for the Tykes - on their own patch, at 'HQ', on the Polytrack, and even across the Channel ! The ball started rolling in decent enough fashion at Newmarket when Mark Johnston's Road To Love was third in the second race, the Joel Stakes G3. In the next race, the Sun Chariot Stakes G1, the Yorkshire bred (at the Star Cottage Stud) Soviet Song was a decent enough second. Next up was the £93,480 Cambridgeshire Handicap and this was captured in striking style by the Alan Swinbank trained Formal Decree who came from last to first under Jamie Spencer. Part owners of the winner are former Yorkshire training duo Lynda and Jack Ramsden and this explains why Dean McKeown was 'jocked off' the winner when Spencer's original mount Cesare was withdrawn - the former champion jockey being married to the Ramsden's daughter Emma. Later on the card there were good placings for John Quinn (with Fractured Foxy) and David Barron (with Skhilling Spirit). More big money was on offer at Redcar where things also started well when the Noel Wilson trained Nanton won the £18,696 Straight-Mile Championship Final, to give the trainer the biggest win of his nascent career, and only 10 days after claiming him out of Paul Cole's yard!. The next race was the £113,560 totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy L and here a rather more experienced trainer, Neville Bycroft, also landed the biggest win of his career when Danum Dancer came home in front to win easily, Kevin Ryan's Evens And Odds also picked up £10,740 for finishing back in fourth. Incredibly Bycroft picked up the winner as a foal for a mere 1,000 guineas, and he is owned by a syndicate of Doncaster taxi drivers. The last three races on Teeside were also won by locals courtesy of Alan Swinbank, Julie Camacho (Elkhorn, winning his fourth race in a row at this course in the last six weeks!) and Mick Easterby. Down at Kempton Kevin Ryan's Mutamared confirmed his Steward's Cup form to win the £24,928 Sports Betting With digibet.com Handicap on the all-weather. The big race results don't stop there however as over at Longchamp the advance Yorkshire raiding party was represented by Tom Tate's Welsh Emperor who ran arguably the race of his life to be joint second in the Prix de la Foret G1.
29/09/2006 Newmarket Day Two and although there are no Yorkshire trained winners today there is still plenty of prize money taken back up the A1 with Karl Burke's Aahayson starting the ball rolling by picking up £24,600 when finishing third in the Tattersalls £250,000 October Auction Stakes. The next race is one of the premier juvenille races of the season, the Middle Park Stakes G1 and here Kevin Ryan's admirably consistent Wi Dud puts up a strong performance to finish second, with Bryan Smart's Hellveyln faintly dissapointing back in fourth. Mark Johnston has an all-weather winner at Lingfield whilst there are jumping winners up at Hexham for Sue Smith, Ferdy Murphy (a double), Patrick Haslam and Alan Swinbank.
28/09/2006 The first day of the Newmarket meeting sees a good win for John Quinn when his faithful servant Fantasy Believer steams home in the Rous Stakes L for his first ever listed win at the age of nine. Up at Ayr Yorkshire trainers win five of the seven race with wins for Bryan Smart, Kevin Ryan, Mark Johnston, Mick Easterby and James Bethell.
24/09/2006 Just two third places for the Yorkshire runners at the Ascot festival today - Peppertree Lane for Mark Johnston in the £43,624 totesport Heritage Handicap and, more significantly, Fayr Jag for Tim Easterby in the Diadem Stakes G2, in which stablemate Somnus a faintly dissapointing sixth. A curtailed Musselburgh saw two Yorkshire winners, sort of, with the James Bethell trained King Harson and the Mick Easterby trained Mezuzah dead heating for the third and, as is transpired, final, race on the card. Good news for Robert Gray as it was announced today that the dozen horses owned by the City Racing Club who all be transferring to his Malton yard, this follows rapidly on the heels of the news that Viking Racing were moving all their ten horses out of Gray's hands.
23/09/2006 No Yorkshire trained winners at the Ascot Fesitval today but the Tykes acquited themselves reasonably well with Mark Johnston's Kirklees running his usual consistent race to be third in the Royal Lodge Stakes G2 and Tim Etherington's ever-improving Fullandby finishing second in the £62,320 totesport.com Heritage Handicap. The star at Haydock was the David Barker trained Sierra Vista (raised at the Melbourne Hall Stud) who won the £19,431 Lester Piggott "Start To Finish" Handicap. At Chester Alan Dickman's Porcelain won the opener, and David Nicholls' Circuit Dancer the last. Over jumps John Quinn's Aleron won the £28,184 Blue Square 'Exclusive Prices' Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen with Richard Fahey's Ball O Malt back in second, Fahey's Freeloader won the penultimate race and Mick Easterby's Mischief Man the last.
19/09/2006 'Millions' day at The Curragh, and although there were no Yorkshire runners in the fillies race there were five in the feature race, the Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Million, and the Mark Johnston trained Drumfire came home in third to pick up £91,724 - nearly three times what he got for winning the Solario Stakes G3! Closer to home there was a double for Richard Fahey at Beverley, as well as a winner for Alan Swinbank whilst Anne Duffield and Lynda Stubbs scored winners all the way down at Brighton and Mark Johnston had a winner at Newmarket.
17/09/2006 A much quieter day sees most of the Yorkshire interest still focussed on Scotland, but this time at Hamilton's meeting where David Barron's La Matanza (bred at the Hedgeholme Stud) wins the opener. Later on the card Mark Johnston's Hinton Admiral is the facile winner of the £12,464 totesport.com 2yo Final Nursery Handicap by three lengths whilst Tim Easterby's King's Revenge wins the last. Over fences John Quinn's Kings Quay wins at Plumpton and John Wainwright's Hilltime at Uttoxeter.
16/09/2006 Ayr may well be in Scotland, but today the Ayr Gold Cup belonged well and truly to Yorkshire, with White Rose trained horses occupying the first four places in this historic race. In front on the line was the Richard Fahey trained Fonthill Road, so often the bridesmaid (including in this race last year) who picked up £75,214 for his efforts. In second place was Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott, followed by the Kevin Ryan duo of Advanced and Coleorton Dancer. The day in Scotland had got off to a reasonable start when Kevin Ryan's Roxan, off the track since Royal Ascot, was a good second in the Firth Of Clyde Stakes G3, despite missing the break, Karl Burke's Zanida was further back in fourth (her stablemate Akarem was a decent enough fifth in the Irish St Leger G1 later in the afternoon). The next was the £15,580 Ayrshire Handicap and this fell to Richard Whitaker's Vicious Warrior, homebred at his Hellwood Stud. A couple of races after the Gold Cup Chris Thornton's Let's Roll won the £11,659 Carricks Darley Hay Architects Handicap, for the second year in a row, whilst the final race saw another Yorkshire 1-2-3-4 with, appropriately enough, Richard Fahey's Freeloader coming home in front. The Yorkshire trainers drew a blank at Newbury (although Alan Swinbank's Formal Decree was a decent enough third in the John Smith's Heritage Handicap), but not so the breeders with the Burns Farm Stud bred and owned Dixie Belle, the rank outsider at 50-1, coming home strongly to land the Dubai International Airport World Trophy G3, she will no doubt be an excellent recruit to the Burns Farm broodmare band in due course. At Warwick George Moore's Numero Due made it two in a row by landing the £11,218 Interchangefix Handicap whilst there were local winners at Catterick for David Barker (a 1-2 in the opener with Cape Sydney the winner), Mark Johnston (Ava's World in the maiden) and John Quinn (Fractured Foxy in the nursery, her third win in her last four races). James Bethell's Abstract Folly was the only Yorkshire winner at Wolverhampton's evening meeting.
15/09/2006 And so another weekend approaches and, as is traditional, the quality of racing takes a noticeable step up on Friday. Yorkshire get off to a good start at Newbury where Mark Johnston's Teslin wins the £11,218 Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes, which he took last season with Winged Cupid. Two races later David Barron's Carnivore (bred at the Garrowby Stud) is also a winner. Earlier Johnston's Prince of Light had run sixth in the Dubai Duty Free L which sounds like a set back on his road to recovery until you realise that only two necks and two heads separated the first five, furthermore you would have to think that his optimum distance would be further than the seven furlongs here. The second day of the Ayr Gold Cup meeting sees a winner for Richard Fahey when Utmost Respect keeps his 100% record when landing the Nursery, whilst in the Ayr Silver Cup John Quinn's Zomerlust is second and David Barron's Rising Shadow third. Later on the card Kevin Ryan's Wigwam Willie wins the mile handicap.
10/09/2006 A quiet day, comparatively speaking, with the highlight coming at Goodwood where the Mark Johnston pair Crosspeace and Road To Love finished respectively second and third in the Select Stakes G3 in the finish of the day, the distances being two necks. Hopefully Crosspeace will make his mark at group level before the end of the season. There was another group placing, but this time on the other side of the Channel when the David Nicholls trained Peace Offering was second in the Prix Du Petit Couvert G3 at Longchamp. Alan Swinbank's Shiwawa won the second leg of the bumper at Stratford, but his best results today came in Sweden where stablestar Collier Hill won the Stockholm Cup International G3 by a staggering nine lengths, whilst stablemate Hartshead was a good third in the Nickes Minneslopning L.
09/09/2006 St Leger Day at York, unfortunately there are no Yorkshire trained runners in the big race but Sixties Icon put up an impressive performance worthy of the final classic, the runner up The Last Drop is partly owned by former Yorkshire trainer Jack Hanson. The day got off to a good start for the locals with John Quinn's Fantasy Believer winning for the third time in his last four outings when landing the £31,160 Portland Handicap, a result which saw him shoot up the betting for the Ayr Gold Cup. The Yorkshire runners were faintly dissapointing in the Champagne Stakes G2 but in the next race, the Park Stakes G2, the Tim Easterby trained Somnus (Scampston bred and Sledmere raised) ran his best race of the season to be second, picking up £21,520 for his efforts. This was a good performance for Somnus considering the going and he must be in with a chance in the Diadem and/or Foret, especially if the going is softer than today. Later on Mark Johnston's Nakheel made his belated seasonal debut after injury problems and was a reasonable fifth in the Strensall Stakes G3, he's a big horse and had been off the track for 327 days, it would be no surprise if he runs a much bigger race next time out. The highlight down at Goodwood was David Nicholls' Tax Free running his usual good race to land the Starlit Stakes L in a close finish, whilst at Chester there were wins for Mark Johnston (Plane Painter), John Quinn (Caribbean Coral, another Quinn horse with a shout in the Ayr Gold Cup) and George Moore (Numero Due).
08/09/2006 Day one of the St Leger meeting at York. Events get off to an excellent start when Kevin Ryan's Wi Dud puts up an convincing performance to justify favouritism when landing the second race, the Flying Childers Stakes G2 - Yorkshire's 15th Group win of the season. The next is the Park Hill Stakes G2 and this is won by Rising Cross (bred by Cumbrian resident John Wills, who was one of the partnership that ran the Thornton Stud for a number of years) with Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova running another good race to finish second with Patrick Haslam's Maroussies Wings a slightly disappointing fourth. Mark Johnston's Voodoo Moon is second in the £22,670 Carrie Red Fillies Nursery whilst the next is the Scarbrough Stakes L which sees a win for the David Barker trained, Burns Farm Stud raised Celtic Mill, with David Nicholls' Strike Up The Band back in third. Elsewhere Mark Johnston's Piety is a winner at Sandown.
07/09/2006 A quiet week so far (although plenty of minor Yorkshire winners) steps up a gear today with a Yorkshire 1-2 in the main race of the day, the Fortune Stakes L at Haydock, where David Chapman's Quito comes home a neck in front of James Bethell's Mine, the combined age of this two campaigners being a youthful 17! His antics over the last week have put Quito in thirteenth place in the Yorkshire 'all time winnings' list, only £45,000 behind 10th placed Bollin Eric .... watch this space! The other winners at Haydock were John Quinn's Leslingtaylor and David Barron's California Laws, whilst Mark Johnston's Hearthstead Maison won at Chepstow on his debut and stablemate Crime Scene won the main race at Southwell, where Kevin Ryan's Blades Girl was also a winner.
02/09/2006 Yorkshire narrowly missed out on clean sweeps in both of the major races at Haydock this afternoon. First up was the £51,816 Old Borough Cup in which Mark Johnston saddled first, second and fourth in the form of Peppertree Lane, Quizzene and McEldowney, seeing nearly £70,000 going to Kingsley House owners. Next up was the main race of the day, the Betfred Sprint Cup G1, which produced, and it pains me to say this, a Lancashire trained winner, but the remaining places were filled by David Chapman's Quito, Kevin Ryan's Amadeus Wolf and Tim Easterby's Somnus, a former winner of this race. Quito acquited himself particularly well only being beaten by a neck. The next was the Betfred Superior Mile L and this went to David Barron's Zero Tolerance, another stakes win to add to his York victory at the Dante meeting. At Kempton Kevin Ryan's We'll Confer was a good third in the second race, the Sirenia Stakes G3. The following race was the September Stakes G3 and this saw a Yorkshire 1-2 of sorts with Kandidate, trained in Newmarket but jointly bred by the Providence & Foston Studs, coming home in front for his first group win after numerous good group placings and listed wins, closely followed by Mark Johnston's Crosspeace in second. The first three races at Thirsk saw no Yorkshire trained winners before the poor going saw the cancellation of the rest of the card.
31/08/2006 Useful sire Elmaamul, who has stood at Beechwood Grange Stud since 2003, was put down today at the age of nineteen due to a heart condition. Alan Swinbank's Collier Hill was beaten by a neck today at Salisbury. There were winners at Redcar for Tim Easterby, Brian Ellison and Mick Easterby and at Beverley for Alan Brown, Kevin Ryan, Neville Bycroft, James Bethell and John Quinn.
30/08/2006 One of the best prices for a yearling at the Doncaster St Leger Sale this year is reached today by a Piccolo colt out of Bonica sent up from Oaks Farm Stables who fetched 56,000gns. Indeed two Yorkshire stud can claim the credit as the colt was bred by Mrs.Trotter at her East Layton Stud. Oaks Farm also sold, as agent, a 60,000gns son of Markof Esteem. Just the one winner today when John Quinn's Leslingtaylor won at Leicester.
28/08/2006 For once a fairly good Bank Holiday for the Tykes. Performance of the day came at Ripon when Alan Swinbank's Stevie Gee confirmed both his promise and the betting market by taking the main race of the day, the Ripon Champion Two Year Old Trophy L in good style, making the step up from Nursery company with ease. The locals were dominant at the 'Garden Racecourse' with Julie Camacho taking the £12,464 Ripon Rowels Handicap and other winners for Nigel Tinkler, Karl Burke and George Moore, indeed only the Billy Nevett Memorial Handicap fell to 'outsiders'. At Epsom the Yorkshire raiders won both the main races with Bryan Smart's Bond City landing the £18,696 totesport.com Sprint Handicap and Mark Johnston's Nero's Return the £10,804 Totepool Amateur Derby Handicap, earlier Tim Pitt had won the opener with his promising juvenille Spirit Of The Mist. The Tykes were equally rampant at Newcastle with Tim Easterby's Rosbay winning the £11,218 Blaydon Race Nursery and other winners for Tom Tate, Karl Burke, Alan Swinbank and David Barron. Over jumps Sue Smith won the last at Cartmel. The links page has been re-verified and a lot of bad links either removed or corrected.
27/08/2006 A fairly poor day domestically with Princess Taise failing miserably at Goodwood, and only one local winner at Beverley thanks to David Nicholls who actually scored a 1-2-3 in the penultimate race with Danzig River being the winner, earlier his Bahamian Pirate had landed third place in the Beverley Sprint Stakes L. There was one other Yorkshire trained winner today when Linda Stubbs' Hurry Up Helen won at Yarmouth. However the best performance of the day came at the Curragh where Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord was narrowly beaten by a head into second place in the Flying Five G3, his third 'black type' placing in a row - surely this son of Green Desert will get his head in front next time?
26/08/2006 Almost September and the juvenille races are getting longer, this is traditionally a strong time of the year for the Mark Johnston team and thus is was no surprise when he finally clocked up his second group winner of the season when Drumfire landed the Solario Stakes G3 at Sandown. The winner (who was actually beaten over the same distance last time out) led for most of the race before being overtaken but put up a gutsy performance to claw back the lead in the dying strides. Entries for this son of Danehill Dancer include the Dewhurst and the Racing Post Trophy. At Goodwood John Quinn's stalwart Fantasy Believer landing the £11,218 South Coast Handicap, and in the following race Karl Burke's Akarem landed more black-type by finishing third in the March Stakes L. There was another stakes placing at Newmarket with Brian Ellison's filly Sunderland Echo being placed third in the Hopeful Stakes L. Over jumps, or more specifically hurdles, there were wins for John Wainwright and Sue Smith in the last two races at Cartmel. Evening racing at Windsor sees Kandidate, jointly bred by the Providence & Foston Studs, finish third in the Winter Hill Stakes G3, whilst at Market Rasen there are winners for Sue Smith and John Quinn.
25/08/2006 The calm after the Ebor storm, but there's still good racing to be had and Mark Johnston's Champery grabs his first bit of black type by finishing third in the Stonehenge Stakes L at Salisbury, the winner, Streets Ahead, is jointly owned by former Yorkshire trainer Lynda Ramsden and trained by her former assistant Andrew Balding at Kingsclere. Kevin Ryan's filly Golden Dagger won the maiden at Newmarket and the Hambleton trainer made it a double two hours later when Orpen Prince won at Chester, where earlier Alan Dickman's Inter Vision was also a winner. In the following race Tim Pitt's Blue Rocket put up a decent performance to be second in the valuable juvenille conditions event.
24/08/2006 The final day of York's Ebor Meeting proves to be the best of the week for the locals. Kevin Ryan's We'll Confer picks up £15,896 for finishing a mere fourth in the £300,000 St Leger Yearling Sales Stakes, the opening race of the day. Two races later 'we' finally get on the board in one of the Group One's (we didn't even have runners in the other two) when Ryan's Amadeus Wolf is second in the Nunthorpe Stakes G1, further cementing his challenge for Champion Three Year Old Sprinter honours, he should be even better over the extra furlong so hopefully he'll put up a good show in the Haydock Sprint Cup and/or the Diadem Stakes. Incidentally the winning horse Reverence is owned and bred by the Middlebrook family, who used to keep some horses at the Theakston Stud although I'm not sure if this horse can yet be acclaimed as 'Yorkshire bred' ! Richard Fahey's Bolodenka, so strong in Ireland last time, is a good second in the next race, the £25,908 Addleshaw Goddard Handicap. The following race is the City Of York Stakes L and here David Chapman's stable star runs his usual good race to come home in front, with Tim Easterby's Somnus back in fourth. Finally in the Galtres Stakes L Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova puts up an excellent performance to win her first piece of black type, the Park Hill Stakes back here seems the obvious next target. Roll on Doncaster ..... at York! Up at Musselburgh there are wins for David Nicholls, Kevin Ryan, Karl Burke and Jedd O'Keeffe whilst evening racing at Redcar sees winners for David Barron, Tom Tate, Brian Ellison and Julie Camacho.
23/08/2006 Another reasonable day for the Tykes at the Ebor Meeting, without actually winning any of the major races. The lesser fancied of Kevin Ryan's two runners, Wi Dud, put up a spirited performance to be second in the Gimcrack Stakes G2, picking up a more than useful £30,536 for his efforts. No Yorkshire winner of the Ebor, but Tim Pitt's Not For Me, who ran well in France last time, picked up yet another black type win for the young Bawtry trainer when taking the Roses Stakes L, with Richard Fahey's Smart Instinct back in third. The winner may well go for the Flying Childers next, which will be run at the Knavesmire instead of Doncaster this year due to the refurbishments. Finally David Nicholls' Buachaill Dona landed the last race, the £16,193 Eventmasters Handicap, with John Quinn's Fantasy Explorer back in third. At Leicester today Alan Brown won a nice double as a result of taking the last two races with Sudden Impulse and Miss Mujahid Times whilst there were winners at Hamilton for David Barron and David Nicholls.
22/08/2006 An up and down day for the locals on the first day of York's Ebor meeting. The opening race, the £19,431 The Sportsman Racing Handicap, saw a Yorkshire 1-2 with Mark Johnston's London Express just holding off James Bethell's Stretton by a head, and also surviving the ensuing Stewards' Enquiry after the winner swerved to the left in the closing stages. Johnston horses disappointed in the next two races with Golden Quest finishing sixth in the Lonsdale Cup G3 (two ahead of stablemate Winged d'Argent) and St Leger hope Soapy Danger could only managed fifth in the Great Voltigeur Stakes G2, although it later became apparent that he had damaged his near-fore, possibly a fracture of the fetlock, this is obviously a terrible blow for connections. There were no Yorkshire hopes in the International Stakes G1 which saw a Sir Michael Stoute 1-2, but Kevin Ryan's Gweebarra was a good second in the Acomb Stakes G3, albeit finishing some way behind the winner. The next was the £16,192 Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Nursery Handicap and the winner of this was the Theakston Stud bred Dubai Builder, an excellent high-profile result for this local stud, Mark Johnston's First Mate was third in this race. Finally there was another local winner in the last, the £16,192 Patrington Haven Leisure Park Handicap, with Richard Fahey's Knot In Wood just getting ahead where it mattered. Evening racing up at Perth sees Kevin Ryan win the opening Novice Hurdle.
20/08/2006 The final of the Lady Riders' Derby at Bath today did not see a Yorkshire trained winner (although David Nicholls' Incursion was in second) but the winning jockey was Yorkshirewomen Annie Elsey, a vet near Malton and daughter of former trainer Bill Elsley. This marked her 25th victory and, having reached that milestone, she promptly announced her retirement from the saddle! At Pontefract the local winners were provided by Kevin Ryan, Brian Ellison and Nigel Tinkler.
19/08/2006 Yet another Yorkshire trained group winner today when Tom Tate's Welsh Emperor, appearing trackside for the first time in three months, relished the soft going to take the Hungerford Stakes G2 in good style at Newbury. Hopefully it will soft for the Prix de la Foret, which appears tailor made for him. Earlier there had been a solid run at the Berkshire track for Karl Burke's Vale Of Belvoir who took a hefty step up in class to be second in the St.Hugh's Stakes L. Racing at Ripon saw a treble for Richard Fahey as well as winners for George Moore, David Barron and Mark Johnston. Indeed the only race at Yorkshire's 'Garden Racecourse' that didn't go to a local trainer was the feature £37,392 Great St Wilfrid Handicap, and even this saw Yorkshire trained horses fill all the places with Tim Etherington's Fullandby coming home best of the locals to pick up £11,196 for second place. Evening racing saw a sole Yorkshire winners with John Quinn's Rust En Vrede winning over hurdles at Market Rasen.
18/08/2006 Yorkshire's best result today came at Newbury where only two runners yielded first and third places in the feature race, the Washington Singer Stakes L with Mark Johnston's promising (not to mention hardworking!) colt Dubai's Touch, who was having his seventh run of the season, coming home in front with Tom Tate's Celtic Sultan a useful third. Johnston had earlier won the opener at Newcastle where there were also winners for Karl Burke and Neville Bycroft. Evening racing at Catterick saw a barrage of local winners supplied by Kevin Ryan, John Quinn, David Nicholls, Karl Burke (a double on the card and thus a treble for the day) and Chris Fairhurst.
17/08/2006 The Jacob's family of Newsell's Park will be putting Patrick Haslam to the top of their Christmas Card list (unless Mark Johnston wins the St Leger with Soapy Danger perhaps!) as the Middleham handler saddled his second group winner for the family at Deauville today, this time with Maroussies Wings who landed the Prix Minerve G3 in fine style. This follows on from the victory of Kinnaird in last years Prix de l'Opera G1 on Arc day. Already placed in the Musidora and Ribblesdale this season she will eventually prove be a valuable addition to the burgeoning Newsell's Park broodmare band. Another Yorkshire black-type perfomer today was Richard Fahey's Kings Point who was third in the Sovereign Stakes G3 at Salisbury, with Mark Johnston's Prince of Light again not running upto his best form. At a more parochial level there were winners at Beverley for Mel Brittain, Richard Fahey, Tom Tate and Alan Swinbank today, whilst Sandown saw an impressive 7 lengths win for Mark Johnston's well bred Mariotto, with stablemate Teslin back in second. Evening racing was at Musselburgh where there were winners for Karl Burke, James Bethell, John Weymes and David Nicholls.
15/08/2006 The honour of Mark Johnston's 100th winner of the year fell to Coalpark who won at Carlisle's evening meeting. Incredibly Johnston has risen to second on the trainers table despite only chalking up two group wins - both thanks to Soapy Danger. Interestingly no Yorkshire trainer has so far this season trained more than one individual group winner, despite (in order) Kevin Ryan (no group wins and the highest person on the list to have not won a group race), Richard Fahey (no group wins), Tim Pitt (2 group wins - both with Les Arcs), David Nicholls (3 group wins - all with Moss Vale and all overseas), David Barron (no group wins) and Karl Burke (no group wins) all appearing on the Top 25 trainers list. Yorkshire trainers not on the list with group wins this season are James Bethell (Strawberry Dale), Tim Easterby (2 with Fayr Jag) and Bryan Smart (Hellvelyn). This is the 13th consecutive year the Johnston has chalked up a ton of winners, and there was added poignancy as the winner was led up by Johnston's former apprentice Keith Dalgleish who's very promising career in the saddle was sadly cut short by weight problems. Richard Fahey, Bryan Smart, Ian McInness and David Nicholls also had winners at Carlisle with Nicholls' making it a double for the evening having had a winner at Nottingham 45 minutes earlier where Linda Stubbs had won the opener.
13/08/2006 A good day in Ireland today for the Yorkshire runners as at the Curragh Bryan Smart's Hellvelyn was second in the Phoenix Stakes G1, albeit suffering a reversal of his Ascot form with winner Holy Roman Emperor. Later on the card David Nicholls' Moss Vale grabbed his third group race of the season when winning the Phoenix Spint Stakes G3. Even further afield in Cologne Alan Swinbank's Collier Hill ran his usual good race to be third (only a short head behind the second) in the Rheinland-Pokal der Sparkasse KolnBonn G1. Closer to home at Redcar there were wins for Alan Swinbank, Mark Johnston (99 and counting), Richard Whitaker and Garry Woodward.
12/08/2006 A quiet week, albeit with quite a few Yorkshire winners from meagre opportunities. Mark Johnston's Kingsley House team caught a bad case of seconditis today with hot favourite Princess Taisie filling the runner-up spot in Newmarket's Sweet Solera Stakes G3, following on from stablemate Crime Scene who had filled the same position in the previous race. Things were no better at Ascot with McEldowney finishing second in the Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap, although he did at least perform best of the Yorkshire runners on this peculiar card. Another hot Johnston favourite Road To Love was well beaten in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes G3 at Haydock. Things went better closer to home at Redcar with doubles for John Quinn and Brian Ellison and winners for David Nicholls and David Barker. Evening racing at Ayr sees Mark Johnston finally get his winner to put him on the 98 mark for the season and other winners come courtesy of Chris Thornton, Alan Brown (an incredible 8 wins from his last 16 runners) and Ian McInnes.
07/08/2006 Post Goodwood Monday blues (How long till York?!?!) are alleviated somewhat when David Barron's Rising Shadow wins the £11,218 Armstrong Memorial Handicap at Ripon, the richest race of the day. George Moore, Tom Tate and James Bethell proceed to win the next three races on the card to make it a good day for the locals after a far from promising start, with Mark Johnston's Codeword hopefully finding the rain not to his liking in the opener. Evening racing sees a win at Windsor for Karl Burke and a double at Carlisle for Mark Johnston with other winners in Cumbria from Mick Easterby, Ann Duffield and Tim Easterby.
06/08/2006 The best result today came in defeat when Kevin Ryan's Amadeus Wolf looked like he might manage to win the Prix Maurice de Gheest G1 at Deauville before fading towards the end to finish a still respectable third. The shorter Nunthorpe Stakes at York may well see him improve on this position. Over at Galway Richard Fahey's Bolodenka registered his second win of the festival when landing the £44,896 Michael McNamara & Co. Builders Dublin & Galway Handicap in good style, with Kevin Ryan's Uhoomagoo back in fourth. Ryan finally managed a winner after a gap of nine days when his Gweebarra won at Chester where Tim Pitt's Chicken Soup won the £10,039 BMW Mile Handicap by a more than useful five lengths.
05/08/2006 Saving the best to last there were four Yorkshire trained winners at Goodwood today. Mark Johnston continued his excellent Goodwood when his Prince Of Light, so disappointing earlier in the week, showed his true form to land the Vodafone Thoroughbred Stakes L with a strong front running performance. Two races later Robin Bastiman gave hope to all small owners and trainers when his Borderlescott won the £62,320 Steward's Cup Handicap, by far the largest win of his career, in an exciting finish from the Kevin Ryan trained Mutamared. There is every chance that his gallant horse is capable of making the grade in group company if he continues to progress at this rate. Johnston's Mariotto was a promising second in the maiden and then David Nicholls', who seemed to be having a poor Goodwood by his standards, proceeded to win the last two races with Northern Fling taking the £10,687 Nursery Handicap and Lucayan Dancer the closing £9,716 Apprentice Handicap. Over in Newmarket Tim Easterby's Ponty Rossa completed a hat-trick of wins when landing the £12,954 Nursery Handicap. The Yorkshire trainers were also prolific closer to home with wins at Thirsk for Mark Johnston, Karl Burke, James Bethell (Granston in the main race), Tom Tate and Mick Easterby who's Compton Plume won the Lady Amateur's race giving his grand-daughter Jacqueline Coward, Yorkshire Champion Ladies Point-To-Point rider, her first win under rules. Evening racing at Hamilton saw winners for Alan Brown, David Barron and Alan Swinbank.
04/08/2006 Another good day for the Tykes down in Sussex with Mark Johnston chalking up yet another Goodwood winner when Crosspeace (who won on Tuesday) landed the Glorious Stakes L by a neck. Later Johnston's Dubai's Touch was a decent enough third in a weak looking Richmond Stakes G2. Opinion of the Johnston juvenilles thus far? - a higher number than usual of good horses, but no superstars yet. This may actually play into his hands as the superstars have a habit of being whisked away at the end of the season .....!! John Quinn's Fantasy Believer led home a wall of mainly Yorkshire horses in the Stewards Cup consolation race - the £12,464 Stewards Sprint Handicap, other Yorkshire (well Thirsk really!) trained horses filled places 3 to 6 inclusive. A fairly poor show by the locals at Thirsk this afternoon with Neville Bycroft providing the sole local winner, and that in the last. A better performance under National Hunt rules at Market Rasen where Sue Smith, Peter Beaumont and John Wainwright all made the return journey north with the satisifaction of having had a winner. Evening racing at Nottingham sees a win for Nigel Tinkler's long time stable servant Henry Hall.
03/08/2006 Again it was a Yorkshire breeding, rather than training, triumph that led the way at Goodwood today when the Barry Hills trained La Cucaracha, owned and bred by Guy Reed of Copgrove Stud, bounced back to form to land the King George Stakes G3 by 3/4 length from the Kevin Ryan trained Desert Lord. The winner will now head for the Nunthorpe having put her early season dissapointments behind her. Two races later Mark Johnston registered a one-two in the £62,230 ladbrokes.com Heritage Handicap, with hot-pot Road To Love coming home five lengths clear of Desert Realm. Later on the Goodwood card there were second placings for Kevin Ryan's High Curragh and David Nicolls' Smokin Beau. Today Yorkshire had it's first winner of this year's Galway Festival when the Richard Fahey trained Boldenko won the mile handicap. Other afternoon highlights included wins for Karl Burke, David Nicholls, Julie Camacho and Brian Ellison at Carlisle whilst evening racing saw wins for Mark Johnston at Epsom and for Chris Thornton, Richard Fahey, Karl Burke and Robin Bastiman at Musselburgh.
02/08/2006 No Goodwood winners today although the Mark Johnston pair of Kirklees and Silent Waves were third and fourth respectively in the Vintage Stakes G2. The following race, and the main race of the day, was the Sussex Stakes G1 and in this Soviet Song, bred at the Star Cottage Stud by the Elite Racing Club, was a very respectable second. Later on the card the Richard Fahey trained Princess Cocoa was second in the fillies handicap. At Musselburgh this afternoon there were winners for Alan Swinbank, Ann Duffield, Brian Ellison and Richard Fahey whilst James Bethell and Karl Burke had winners at Leicester's evening meeting.
01/08/2006 A good start to August and to Glorious Goodwood when Mark Johnston wins the opening race of the meeting, the £31,160 Sportsman Newspaper Handicap, with top weight Crosspeace who prevails by a neck. The next is the Gordon Stakes G3 and here the two Johnston runners make the running (as usual!) but at the death only Linas Selection holds on for a place - picking up third. No luck in the Lennox Stakes G2 but in the Molecomb Stakes G3 Kevin Ryan's Wi Dud puts up a excellent performance to finish second, beaten only a short head. Chris Thornton's current stable star the useful Lets Roll is third in the next, but after that the Yorkshire challenge for the day fades away. At Beverley there are locals winners for Mark Johnston, David Chapman, George Moore, Richard Fahey and Mick Easterby - who saddles the first three home in the Ladies Race, but of his four runners the one he would have presumably preferred to win Wahchi, ridden by his grand-daugher Jacqueline Coward, is the only one not placed! Over jumps Kate Walton wins the opener at Perth's evening meeting.
30/07/2006 The results at Ascot today are a little more to my liking with a Yorkshire 1-2-3 in the second race, the £18,696 Brunswick Handicap, seeing Mark Johnston's Road To Love (a son of former stable star Fruits Of Love) coming home seven lengths clear of stable companion London Express (both are entered at Goodwood next week), with Kevin Ryan's Kamanda Laugh a head back in third. The next is the main race of the day, the £43,624 Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint Heritage Handicap and this sees David Nicholls' live upto his 'Sprint King' moniker when his Machinist comes home in front by the shortest of short heads. Closer to home at Ponty there are wins for Richard Fahey (promising debutant Smart Instinct), Jedd O'Keeffe (Luna Landing), Ann Duffield (Jubilee Street in the main race of the card the £12,464 Pomfret Handicap) and David Barker (Mr Wolf making in two on the trot).
29/07/2006 A busy day of racing, but the Yorkshire highlight is provided by Richard Fahey's Wyatt Earp who wins the £31,160 Skybet Dash Heritage Handicap at York by 3/4 length from David Nicholls' Ice Planet, he will probably now be aimed at the Ayr Gold Cup. The locals also won the last two races on the card thanks to Richard Whitaker's Neon Blue and Brian Ellison's Fort Churchill. Again there are no Yorkshire winners at Ascot, although Kevin Ryan's Uhoomagoo ran his usual excellent race to finish second in the Totesport International Heritage Handicap, picking up £27,990 for his efforts. The Tyke's fare a little better at Newcastle with wins for Mick Easterby (Soto in the £12,464 Betfred Poker Sprint Series Final), Alan Swinbank (Hartshead in the £11,218 Beeswing Handicap) and David Barron, who won both the last two races on the card. Evening racing on the Emerald Isle sees the Mark Johnston trained Middleham run an decent enough second in the Tyros Stakes L.
28/07/2006 No luck at Ascot for the Tykes this afternoon, although Kevin Ryan and Brian Ellison have winners at slightly less impressive Wolverhampton. Evening racing however sees a good win for Tim Etherington's Fullandby at Newmarket, whilst the locals are in dominant form at an oddly valuable (£6,500 for a maiden on a Friday evening?!?) Thirsk with winners for Tim Easterby, Mark Johnston (a double), David Barron and Karl Burke.
27/07/2006 A quality mid-week meeting at Sandown where Karl Burke's Precocious Star is a good second in the Gods Of Poker Stakes L and Mark Johnston's Doctor Scott wins the closing £8,906 Handicap. Evening racing at York only sees one local winner, but it's that man Johnston again when Nihal wins the £12,954 Garrowby Handicap.
23/07/2006 Wetherby trainer Robin Bastiman had his first ever 'black type' performer today when his Borderlescott was second in the Belgrave Stakes L at Fairyhouse, indeed for much of the final parts of the race it looked like he was going to win, and in the end he only went down by a head. Closer to home the Tykes managed, for the second day in a row, to fill all the placings in a major local handicap, without actually winning it, this time it was the £32,385 Weatherbys Summer Sprint Heritage Handicap, and the best placed of the Yorkshire runners was Tim Easterby's Gallery Girl, who picked up £9,635 for finishing second. Earlier there had been wins on Teeside for Alan Dickman and James Bethell whilst Nigel Tinkler won one of the later races with stable stalwart Apace Point.
22/07/2006 Pride of place today goes to Tim Easterby's Fayr Jag who lands the Hackwood Stakes G3 at Newbury, despite the deluge prior to the race (he's much better on firm going). The distances in this classic sprint finish were a neck, two short heads and a neck, and the winner could well go for the Nunthorpe next. In the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint Kevin Ryan's We'll Confer is best placed of the Yorkshire runners, and picks up £14,188 for finishing third. At Ripon the one eyed Nelsons Column (gettit?) was a gallant winner for George Moore whilst in the main race, the £11,218 Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap the local trainers managed to fill second, third, fourth and fifth places, without actually winning the race, Mark Johnston's Nero's Return coming home best of the Yorkshire runners. Over jumps at Market Rasen there were wins for Patrick Haslam, Mike Sowersby and John Quinn whilst the Malcolm Jefferson trained Portavadie was third in the £25,052 Totescoop6 Summer Handicap Hurdle. Evening racing sees a winner at Lingfield for Mark Johnston whilst at Haydock there is a double for Ann Duffield as well as winners for Tom Tate and Karl Burke.
21/07/2006 A quiet week, albeit with plenty of minor Yorkshire winners. The weekend got off to a good start however when David Barker's Mr Wolf won the £11,218 Antonia Deuters Handicap at Pontefract this evening by two lengths from John Quinn's Caribbean Coral. This smart gelding was bred by former trainer Peter Asquith at the Burns Farm Stud. This marked a double for Barker who had earlier won with Mundo's Magic in the opener, and George Moore also had a winner on the card with Apsara. The other evening meeting, at Newmarket, also saw a good winner with Mark Johnston's debutante Princess Taisa winning at the first time of asking. Earlier Bryan Smart had registered a double at Carlisle courtesy of Startolini and Aegean Dancer whilst Richard Fahey's reliable Sualda won the claimer, and was claimed for 15,000gns by Diamond Racing.
17/07/2006 A valuable win up in Scotland today for John Quinn when his three year old Fantasy Explorer stormed up the middle of the track to win the £32,385 Giles Insurance Brokers Heritage Handicap at Ayr by a length from Kevin Ryan's Harry Up. Earlier on the same card there were winners for Ann Duffield and Mark Johnston.
16/07/2006 The best result by a Yorkshire trained horse today comes over the Irish Sea at the Curragh where the Kevin Ryan trained Sadeek, so impressive at York and Epsom, recovers his form after a poor run at Royal Ascot when finishing second in a tight finish in the Anglesey Stakes G3. Some small compensation for the Hambleton trainer for losing Balthazar's Gift and a couple of other horses earlier in the week. Richard Fahey's Knot In Wood and Mick Easterby's Inside Story are winners at Haydock, whilst Patrick Haslam's Hi Dancer wins the opening Novice's Hurdle at Stratford.
15/07/2006 Another good day for Yorkshire, to cap an excellent week. At York a local victory was guaranteed in the opener - as there were no 'foreign' declarations, and in the end David Nicholls' Fremen came home in front. In the following race Richard Fahey's Wyatt Earp made a quick reappearance (having run at Pontefract earlier in the week) and held on by a neck. The main supporting race on the card was the John Smith's Silver Cup Handicap L and this was taken by Mark Johnston's progressive horse Linas Selection in a very promising manner. Unfortunately the locals couldn't win the main race of the day, the £93,480 John Smith's Cup Heritage Handicap (The Magnet Cup to the traditionalists), although the Karl Burke trained Boo picked up a useful £13,995 for finishing third. Mark Johnston made it a double with promising debutante Codeword winning the maiden whilst Bryan Smart's Avertuoso won the closing nursery in nice style. The Yorkshire raiders started well at Chester with Mark Johnston's injury prone Prince of Light (Sort of bred at High Bramley Grange!) confirming his has lost non of his ability by landing the opening £13,249 Totescoop6 Chester Conditions Stakes, he is ambitiously entered and should be worth following if his feet hold out. Richard Fahey (whos Bo McGinty was later third at the Curragh) won the next with Instructor. The third race, the Chester City Wall Stakes L, was the main race on the Roodeye card and although there was to be no Yorkshire victory 'we' did manage a 2-3-4-5 with Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord and Tim Pitt's Ooh Aah Camara picking up the black type by finishing second and third respectively. Evening racing at Hamilton saw a double for David Barron as well as winners for Richard Fahey and Tim Etherington.
14/07/2006 Yorkshire wins both the main races on the final day of Newmarket's July meeting, maybe they should merge this meeting with York's meeting and transplant it to the Knavesmire?!?. The Third Estate may have universally condemned the current crop of British sprinters, and to be honest they may have a point, but there can now be no doubt that the premier six furlong horse in Britain is the Tim Pitt trained former hurdler Les Arcs who made it a Group One back-to-back double when landing the July Cup G1 in his usual last-gasp style. Incredibly this victory will push his young trainer into the upper reaches of the trainers table! Kevin Ryan's Amadeus Wolf ran an excellent race to be fourth, the highest placed three year old, it's just a pity there aren't more (ie any!) group sprints restricted to three-year-olds, the pattern committee need to sort this out. In the previous race the James Bethell trained Mine defied top weight to land the £45,339 Bunbury Cup for a record-breaking third time (he has also been runner-up once). This is an excellent performance and the gallant eight year old may now be aimed at group races, after one more handicap effort. At York another Sir Robert Ogden owned, Jeremy Noseda trained, filly triumped in a Group race - this time with La Chunga winning the Summer Stakes G3 - another top class filly to grace the Sicklinghall Stud paddocks when her racing career is over. David Barker won with Gallantry in the following race, whilst the race after that, the £11,659 John West Tuna Handicap, was landed for the umpteenth time by a Mark Johnston runner, this time Luberon. Evening racing at Chester saw Tim Pitt land the £10,094 Highstreetvouchers.com Conditions Stakes with Not For Me, to make a Red Letter day for him and his team, whilst the Karl Burke trained Vale of Belvoir was also a winner. Hamilton's evening card was dominated by the Yorkshire raiders with wins for Tim Etherington (Urbe Condita), Richard Fahey (Baby Barry), Mark Johnston (Adaptation) and Alan Swinbank (Bronze Dancer) but unfortunately six Yorkshire runners in the £21,812 John Smith's Scottish Stewards Cup Handicap 'only' yielded a second place for the David Nicholls trained Machinist.
13/07/2006 A much better effort by the Tyke raiders at HQ today. In the second race, the July Stakes G2, Mark Johnston's Armigerent continued his run of runner-up placings, albeit in much better company this time, finishing one place ahead of stablemate Dubai's Touch. The next was the £31,160 Blandford Bloodstock Joss Collins Handicap and this saw the Alan Swinbank trained Formal Decree complete his three-timer in excellent style, who knows what awaits this lovely horse. The following race, and the main race on today's card, was the Princess of Wales's Stakes G2 and here the Mark Johnston trained Soapy Danger completed his group race double in nice style, although that King George entry is still looking a trifle optimistic - Mark, give the poor horse a rest and bring him back for the Great Voltigeur followed by the St Leger! The winner's stablemate Bandari was last, ie. fourth, but was not too far back and this is one of the seven year olds better performances for some time. The last race saw a Yorkshire 2-3-4 courtesy of the David Nicholls' top weighted pair Handsome Cross and Fast Heart, with Richard Fahey's Kings College Boy taking the final placing. The more mundane surroundings of Warwick saw a winner for John Quinn.
12/07/2006 A quiet day for the Yorkshire raiders at Newmarket's July meeting today, although the Newmarket trained Sander Camillo, who won the Cherry Hinton Stakes G2, will no doubt make her way to owner Sir Robert Ogden's Sicklinghall Stud when her racing days are over. It wasn't even a particularly good day more locally at Catterick where Micky Hammond provided the sole Yorkshire trained winner.
08/07/2006 From a Yorkshire perspective the main action today took place on the wrong side of the Pennines at Haydock where the Alan Swinbank trained Ouninpohja put up a sterling effort under top weight to be second in the £52,972 Old Newton Cup Handicap. The following race was the £12,464 Casino 36 Stockport Classic Conditions Stakes (some of these race names ...!) which finally saw a return to winning ways for the Tim Easterby trained (and Scampston bred and Sledmere raised) Somnus, this was his first win since October 2004, and hopefully marks a serious return to form, although his winning margin was a mere short head. Kevin Ryan's King Orchisois won the next race, the £11,335 Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry Stakes. The day's premier meeting was at Sandown and here, of the Yorkshire trainers, it was Mark Johnston who came away with the best results - Winged d'Argent having finished third in the Addleshaw Goddard Stakes L and Road To Love winning the last. At Beverley there were winners for Mark Johnston, George Moore and Noel Wilson. Evening racing at Carlisle saw winners for Mark Johnston (making an across-the-cards treble), Bryan Smart, Richard Fahey, Kevin Ryan and John Quinn whilst the evening meeting at Nottingham saw a winner for Mick Easterby in the opener.
07/07/2006 Today's main meeting is at Sandown where the feature race is the Gala Stakes L which is won by Kandidate, jointly bred by the Providence & Foston Studs , with Alan Swinbank's Alfie Flits back in third. Meanwhile at Southwell Pickering trainer Alan Brown (former top class National Hunt ridder of Night Nurse amongst others) wins the opener with Miss Mujahid Times, his second winner since recommencing his training career earlier this year. On the same card David Barron's California Laws won the last, whilst Mark Johnston's Raslan was amongst the winners over at Warwick. Evening racing at Haydock sees winners for Tim Etherington and John Quinn whilst at Beverley there are winners for Richard Fahey, Kevin Ryan and Chris Thornton.
06/07/2006 The past few days have seen plenty of minor Yorkshire winners, but there was something a little bigger today when Richard Fahey's Ball O Malt took the £19,518 Renault Vans Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase at Perth this afternoon. Not surprisingly the Galway Plate or Market Rasen's Summer Plate are amongst the intended targets for this consistent 10 year old chaser. On the flat today there was a winner at Haydock for Karl Burke, at Yarmouth for Mark Johnston and at Epsom for Richard Whitaker, who's Steel Blue won the main race on the evening card.
03/07/2006 The main racing news today was that, depsite my predictions last year, three jockeys and others have been charged with various offences, mostly specifically conspiracy to defraud. The charges relate to race fixing and all three jockeys have Yorkshire connections being Kieren Fallon (ex jockey to Jimmy Fitzgerald and Lynda Ramsden), Darren Williams (lives in Leyburn) and Fergal Lynch (lives in Boroughbridge). The only silver lining is that Middleham trainer Karl Burke, who is having an excellent season, has been released without charge, having been on bail since September 2004. The more usual events saw winners at Pontefract for David Barron, Mark Johnston, Richard Fahey and Richard Whitaker, at Wolverhampton for Patrick Haslam and Mick Easterby and at Musselburgh's evening meeting for John Weymes and David Nicholls.
02/07/2006 A somewhat quieter day on the flat, with a few unplaced Yorkshire runners on the Irish Derby card at the Curragh. The sole flat winner eventually came courtesy of Mark Johnston's Raslan at Warwick, although Karl Burke's promising filly Princess Ileana put up a good performance to be second in one of the main races at Windsor. Over jumps at Uttoxeter however Sue Smith's useful Omni Cosmo Touch put up an excellent effort to be second in the £45,072 Britannia National Handicap Chase L and Alan Swinbank's Little Lu won the bumper on the same card.
01/07/2006 An excellent day for the Yorkshire trained horses especially at Newcastle. Up on Tyneside the proceedings started in the best possible fashion with Tim Easterby's Fayr Jag finally returning to winning ways when taking the Chipchase Stakes G3. The harder ground suits this tough gelding (unlike his stable companion Somnus) and he looked very fit in the parade ring, the plan now is to aim for the July Cup. In the same race David Barker's Celtic Mill was third and Richard Fahey's Philharmonic fourth. The second race was the £18,696 Totescoop6 Northern Sprint Handicap and this saw a Yorkshire 1-3-4 with David Nicholl's Indian Trial coming home in front and his stable mate Ice Planet taking third place ahead of David Barron's My Gacho. The big race of the day was the so-called "Pitman's Derby" - the £123,320 Northumberland Plate Handicap and this was won in good style by George Moore's Toldo, with Richard Fahey's Greenwich Meantime back in third. Toldo led most of the way to win by a neck and a short head and this is George Moore's biggest victory since landing the same race with Highflying back in 1993. The winner is likely to skip the Ebor and may eventually run in the Cesarewitch. The fourth race, the £12,464 Doug Moscrop Journal Handicap went to David Barron's Imperial Echo. The fifth saw a very promising debut win by the Mark Johnston trained Champery whilst the seventh went to Alan Swinbank's Prince Evelith. Only the sixth race went outside Yorkshire and even then Mark Johnston's In Full Cry was second ahead of Mick Easterby's Trouble Mountain - a fantastic Pitman's Derby Day for the Tyke raiders! Down at Windsor Mark Johnston's Prince of Light made a very promising seasonal debut (off the track for 274 days) when finishing second in the Totepool Midsummer Stakes L, although the discovery after the race of yet another foot problem for this likeable colt was a little worrying. Later on the card Johnston scored another winner when Luberon took the £12,464 Totecourse Handicap. Newmarket's meeting saw Alan Swinbank's Ouninpohja finish a good second in the Fred Archer Stakes L, albeit beaten four lengths. Over the Irish Sea at The Curragh Alan Swinbank's stable star Collier Hill put up his usual plucky performance to finish second in the Curragh Cup G2, denied victory by only a head, Karl Burke's Akaram was back in fourth. Kevin Ryan got in on the winner-fest when his Harry Up won at Wolverhampton's evening meeting.
30/06/2006 Afternoon racing sees wins for Tim Easterby and James Hetherton at Wolverhampton and for John Wainwright and Sue Smith at Market Rasen. The big meeting of the day however is Newcastle's evening card and here David Nicholls win the main race on the card, the £18,696 Gosforth Park Cup, with Peace Offering, the gelding's first win for four years! There were also wins at Newcastle for the in-form duo of Alan Swinbank and David Barron.
29/06/2006 Day one of Newcastle's Northumberland Plate meeting and Yorkshire accrue a good opening tally of five wins thanks to Tim Easterby, Brian Ellison (a double), David Barron (Flipando in the main race of the day - the £18,696 Seaton Delaval Handicap) and Karl Burke. Evening racing up at Hamilton sees a winner for Mark Johnston.
26/06/2006 A treble up at Musselburgh for David Barron courtesy of Esoterica, Ingleby Princess and the Garrowby Stud bred Carnivore. David Chapman also had a winner in Scotland whilst Tim Pitt won the maiden at Wolverhampton.
25/06/2006 An excellent day at Pontefract for the locals with Alan Swinbank's Alfie Flits easily winning the Pontefract Castle Stakes L on only his third start on the flat and David Barron's Mistress Twister landing the £28,044 Totepool Fillies' Heritage Handicap - the two main races on the card. The supporting races at Ponty saw a double for Karl Burke whilst there were National Hunt winners at Hexham for Sue Smith and Kate Walton.
24/06/2006 Another good day at Royal Ascot for the Tykes, and for one trainer in particular. Events started reasonably well with Mark Johnston's colt Middleham not disgraced when third in the opening Chesham Stakes L. Bandari was plum last in the next race, the Hardwicke Stakes, showing that my musings don't always come true! The third race however was the Golden Jubilee Stakes G1 and here we saw an excellent Yorkshire trained 1-2 with Tim Pitt's Les Arc coming home just in front of the fast finishing Balthazaar's Gift, trained by Kevin Ryan. Thus in his first full season of training Bawtry handler Pitt has won his very first Group One race - an absolutely incredible performance, especially when you consider that he has also won the Chester Cup with Admiral, not to mention the a string of valuable races with Les Arc himself - his run of five wins earlier in the year culminating in the Cammidge Trophy L, relocated to Redcar. After a decent second in the Abernant Stakes L at Newmarket Les Arc seemed to go off the boil somewhat in his next two races (including the King's Stand earlier at this meeting) but has now more than made up for it ! Tim Pitt therefore joins the ever-increasing list of active Yorkshire trainers who have trained a Group One winner - the list is now David Barron, Mick Easterby, Tim Easterby, Patrick Haslam, Mark Johnston, David Nicholls, Tim Pitt, Kevin Ryan and Alan Swinbank, in addition Bryan Smart trained a Group One winner when based 'down south'. In the Wokingham David Nicholls' Bahamian Pirate and Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott ran good races to be third and fourth respectively. Up at Ayr Richard Fahey's Tagula Sunrise won the main race on the card, the £28,044 Coral Fillies' Heritage Handicap, ahead of David Barron's Dispol Katie and Julie Camacho's Miss Meggy. Earlier Fahey's Greenwich Meantime had won the opener, whilst Mark Johnston and Mick Easterby also had winners in Scotland. Closer to home at Redcar there were winners for Tim Easterby (Go Tech in the main, £11,659 Handicap), Bryan Smart and David Nicholls. Amazingly the evening meeting at Warwick saw another good result for Tim Pitt when his Ooh Aah Camara picked up black type when finishing third in the Eternal Stakes L, remember this is a trainer who has only had 15 horses run for him ever, and one is a Group One winner, another has won a major handicap, and another is a black type performer!
23/06/2006 Yesterday I extended the hypothesis, admittedly more in hope than expectation, that the Mark Johnston team may be finally coming back into form - and then today his horses win the last three races at Royal Ascot ! This remarkable feat was kicked off by I'm So Lucky landing the £31,229 Wolferton Handicap L, with stablemate Crosspeace (carrying significantly more weight) a gallant third. The next race was the Queen's Vase G3, something of a Johnston benefit race, and this time it was Soapy Danger who came home in front for Johnston, talk of the King George at Ascot can perhaps be put down to post-race euphoria, and the St Leger seems a more likely long term target, no doubt taking in the usual prep races at Goodwood and York. The last race was the King George V Handicap (also something of a Johnston benefit) and the Johnston victor here was Linas Selection owned, liked Soapy Danger (and Patrick Haslam's Maroussies Wings from yesterday) by the Jacob's family of Newsells Park Stud in Hertfordshire. What odds now on old-timer Bandari in the Hardwicke tomorrow? Earlier on the card the first race, the Albany Stakes G3 was won by Sander Camillo who, whilst not trained or bred in Yorkshire, does have strong 'Tyke' links as she is owned (like last years winner La Chunga) by Sir Robert Ogden, of the Sicklinghall Stud. Mark Johnston should have had another winner up at Redcar but jockey Stanley Chin dropped his hands up in the closing strides on newcomer Hyperalert, who was consequently overtaken at the line, which won't go down well at Kingsley House! It was thus left to Richard Whitaker and Ronnie Barr to bring home the winners from Teeside, whilst up in Scotland there was a double for Jedd O'Keeffe and winners for Karl Burke and Richard Fahey.
22/06/2006 Kevin Ryan finally got his Royal Ascot winner on Day Three when stable stalwart Uhoomagoo triumphed in the last race on the card, the £34,276 Buckingham Palace Handicap. Earlier Patrick Haslam's Maroussies Wings ran yet another good race to be third (beaten a neck and 3/4 of a length) in the Ribblesdale Stakes G2, surely she will be lowered in class now to get that elusive black-type win? Perhaps the Mark Johnston horses are coming back into form as today saw two wins at Ripon and a further two at Beverley for the Kingsley House trainer, and these included two 1-2's. John Quinn and Brian Ellison also had wins at Ripon, whilst Chris Fairhurst, Richard Fahey and David Barron were the other Yorkshire winners at Beverley's evening meeting.
21/06/2006 Royal Ascot, Day Two, and although there is no Yorkshire trained winner today we do instead see the return to form of the Yorkshire bred (by Elite Racing Club at Star Cottage Stud) Soviet Song who wins the Windsor Forest Stakes G2 in excellent style to show that she still retains her ability after a shaky seasonal debut. There are however Yorkshire winners at Hamilton thanks to a double from Mark Johnston and a win for John Quinn whilst evening racing at Ripon saw wins for Tim Easterby and Anne Duffield.
20/06/2006 Royal Ascot, 2006, Day One, Race One - the first race of the 'new look' Ascot and, somewhat appropriately given the location of the meeting last year, the winner is trained in Yorkshire ! Whilst many have been predicting great things from Kevin Ryan's string at this year's Ascot is was actually his next door neighbour at Hambleton Bryan Smart who provided the winner of the opening Coventry Stakes G2 with his Hellvelyn making it three wins from as many starts, this was Smart's second Group Two win since his move to Yorkshire in late 2002, the first being Monsieur Bond in 2004's Duke Of York Stakes, although Misu Bond's victory in last years Totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy remains the most financially rewarding victory. After this stirring opening effort the Tyke trained 'osses didn't really trouble the judge and it was left to Mick Easterby, David Barron, Tim Easterby (a double) and Edwin Tuer to provide the rest of the days winners - closer to home at Thirsk.
18/06/2006 A good day at York (unlike yesterday) with wins for Richard Fahey, David Barron, Kevin Ryan (Don Pele who led a Yorkshire 1-2-3 in the main race) and Brian Ellison.
16/06/2006 A double at York for Richard Fahey (including Ski Jump in the £11,659 HSS Hire Handicap) where Kevin Ryan had earlier won the opener. Meanwhile at Nottingham there are wins for Mark Johnston, James Bethell and the seriously in-form Alan Swinbank.
14/06/2006 Although picking up black type for finishing third Bryan Smart's Misu Bond was really a dissapointment in the Ballycorus Stakes G3 at Leopardstown this evening. Earlier Nigel Tinkler, John Wainwright (his first for nearly 3 months), John Quinn and Kevin Ryan had winners at Beverley, with winners up at Hamilton for Allan Dickman, Alan Swinbank, Mark Johnston, Richard Fahey and Karl Burke.
12/06/2006 The Karl Burke trained filly Imperialistic picked up some very useful black type when finishing third (only narrowly missing out on second) in the Pipalong Stakes L at Pontefract where there a distinct lack of local runners meant the only Yorkshire winner was Alan Swinbank's Formal Decree in the prior race.
10/06/2006 Yet more winners with David Nicholls' leading the way when he has a 1-2-4 in the £31,160 GNER Scottish Sprint Cup Heritage Handicap at Musselburgh with Handsome Cross coming home just in front of Peace Offering. On the same card Alan Swinbank's Ouninpohja gains some additional 'black type' when second in the Designer Chris Clyne & Pam Jenkins Grand Cup L and another win for Nicholls and one for David Barron make it a double for Nicholls and a treble for the Thirsk trainers! Over in Lancashire there is some faint glimmer of hope on Mark Johnston's horizon when Soapy Danger wins the opening £15,580 Nicholas Whittle Communications Handicap, his first winner for 8 days in what, to date, has been a dissapointing season - the lesser winners have been flowing but most of the horses seem to be running some way below expectations. George Moore doubles up for Middleham at Haydock when taking the last and the Ian McInnes trained Fiefdom wins the second race at Lingfield.
08/06/2006 Another good day today with the David Chapman trained Quito landing the John Of Gaunt Stakes L at Haydock in good style, this nine year old just keeps on going. Earlier on the same card Nigel Tinkler had won the opener (with the Hedgeholme Stud bred Picture Frame) whilst there were also winners for David Barron and Mick Easterby. Further afield there was a winners for Richard Whitaker (who is quietly having an excellent season) and Linda Stubbs at Hamilton and over fences for Sue Smith at Uttoxeter.
07/06/2006 Evening racing at Leopardstown sees David Barker's Mecca's Mate run yet another good race to the third in the Ballyogan Stakes G3. Ripon again come up trumps with wins for James Bethell, Ann Duffield, Richard Fahey (Grey Box in the main race) and Richard Whitaker, whilst Tim Etherington had a juvenille winner at Nottingham and Micky Hammond won the bumper at Sedgefield.
06/06/2006 A better display by the locals at today's Yorkshire meeting with Nigel Tinkler (Bright Sun), Kevin Ryan (Desert Commander in the feature race) and Mick Easterby (Zarova) all landing wins at Ripon. Karl Burke's Million Percent won the claimer at Lingfield.
05/06/2006 A Bank Holiday pretty much everywhere apart from Britain and over in Ireland Kevin Ryan's Amber Valley in only denied the runner-up spot by a head when finishing third in the Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes G3 at Naas' evening meeting. There is only one local winner on Thirsk's evening card with Mick Easterby taking the opener with his homebred filly Emma Told Lies. Earlier in the day Yorkshire trainers had won the first and last at Leicester courtesy of Kevin Ryan's Soviet Palace and Richard Fahey's Whitethorne.
04/06/2006 A Yorkshire 1-3-4 in one of the main supporting races of the French Derby card at Chantilly with the David Nicholls trained Moss Vale winning the Prix du Gros-Chene G2 and the same stables Tax Free back in third and Kevin Ryan's Balthazar's Gift in fourth place. The winner seems certain to go for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot next, having scored two group wins on the trot. Domestically Alan Swinbank's Barton Belle won the bumper at Southwell, the closing race, to ensure there was at least one Yorkshire trained winner in England today.
03/06/2006 Derby Day on Epsom Downs, and another year passes with no Yorkshire winner when the Mark Johnston trained outside chance Atlantic Waves led for the first three furlongs but then gradually fell back into the pack. A good day as a whole for the Yorkshire trainers however, and specifically for Kevin Ryan who's Sadeek (pictured below winning at York) won the Woodcote Stakes L , with the Mark Johnston trained Always Fruitful back in third, and now heads for the Coventry at Royal Ascot, having proven himself on both good and soft going. Two races later it was Ryan again when his second string Desert Lord brought home a Yorkshire 1-2-3-4 ahead of Bryan Smart's Bond City, David Nicholls' Continent and David Barker's Sierra Vista in the £46,740 Vodafone Dash Heritage Handicap. Sue Smith and Patrick Haslam had winners at Hexham whilst Karl Burke had another winning debutante at Musselburgh and quickly followed up with a winner at Southwell's evening meeting where David Barron's Hillbilly Cat won for the second time in four days.
02/06/2006 Oaks Day at Epsom and there are no Yorkshire runners in the back race, a tiny Yorkshire connection however as the breeder of second placed Rising Cross, Cumbrian resident John Wills, was one of the partnership who ran the Thornton Stud for a number of years. Yorkshires best result on day one of the meeting came from Richard Fahey's Look Again who picked up £13,995 for finishing second in the Rose Bowl Heritage Handicap, David Nicholls' Shot To Fame and David Barron's King Of The Moors were both placed third in their respective races. Away from the big meeting there were winners for Karl Burke, Mark Johnston, Alan Swinbank and Kevin Ryan at Catterick, Swinbank doubled-up with a winner at Wolverhampton, where Nigel Tinkler also came home with a first place.
31/05/2006 Another day where the primary meeting is in the evening. Daytime racing sees a win at Yarmouth for Richard Fahey and a double at Cartmel for Sue Smith. The evening fixtures see wins at Southwell for David Barron and Mark Johnston but the days main racing is the evening meeting at Beverley. Here the in-form Kevin Ryan's Roxan makes an excellent racecourse debut to land the Hilary Needler Trophy L, with John Weymes' Just Joey back in second. Roxan is not only one of Ryan's more expensive yearling purchases at 160,000gns, but her victory also marks the first win as a sire for Rock Of Gibraltar, Roxan is now taking the traditional route for Hilary Needler winners and aiming for the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
30/05/2006 Winners galore at Redcar today with horses trained by Kevin Ryan (a double), John Weymes, Neville Bycroft, Linda Stubbs and Kate Walton all coming home in front. In addition at Chepstow there was a winner for Richard Whitaker, but the main meeting of the day was the evening card at Sandown where the David Barker trained Mecca's Mate (bred by the late Cherry Tagart at Melbourne Hall Stud) was a good third in the Temple Stakes G2. The other evening fixture at Hexham saw winners for Alan Swinbank and Malcolm Jefferson.
29/05/2006 At Sandown today the Mark Johnston trained Winged d'Argent showed something approaching a return to form when a decent second in the Henry II Stakes G2 on the Bank Holiday card. At Leicester Karl Burke's in-foal mare Imperialistic wins the main race and there are also winners for Tim Easterby and Kevin Ryan. Meanwhile at Redcar there were winners for Richard Fahey, Alan Swinbank and Mark Johnston but no better placing than fourth in the main race on the card, the Zetland Gold Cup.
28/05/2006 The first meeting at the newly refurbished Ascot and the second race is won by a Yorkshire trained horse when Karl Burke's Akarem takes his second listed race in a row when landing the Buckhounds Stakes L by 4 lengths from Frank Sonata, who was bred at the Bishop Wilton Stud. Two races later and things got even better for the Yorkshire invaders when David Barron's Partners In Jazz won the £52,972 Victoria Cup in convincing style. This Tyke double was quickly converted into a treble when George Moore's Toldo put up a breeding defying performance to take the £12,464 Toni and David Eyles Handicap. Over in Ireland it was Guineas day at the Curragh and Yorkshire managed to gain it's second group win of the season when the David Nicholls' trained Moss Vale won the Greenlands Stakes G3, with stable companion Bahamian Pirate back in fourth. Moss Vale is sired by former Hedgeholme Stud stallion Shinko Forest. The Yorkshire horses were also in great form over at Haydock which saw Anne Duffield's Prince Namid win the opening £19,431 Rectangle Group Handicap and thus provide the Constable Burton trainer with one of the biggest wins of her career. The next was the Sandy Lane Stakes L and this saw David Barron complete a top-class across-the-card double when his Skhilling Spirit came home a neck in front of Kevin Ryan's Guto, with Richard Fahey's Green Park (another by Shinko Forest) back in third. The fourth race on the card was the most valuable of the day in England, the £63,320 totepool Silver Bowl Heritage Handicap and it was Richard Fahey's turn for the glory in this when Anna Pavlova came home a neck in front, incredibly the trainer is now talking about a tilt at the Irish Oaks! Fahey then made is a double when Dark Charm took the next, whilst Kevin Ryan also had a winner later on the card. Closer to home at Catterick there was a double for Karl Burke, to add to his Ascot success, and also winners for Mark Johnston, Bryan Smart and Tim Etherington.
20/05/2006 A disappointing day after the excitement of York, the highlight is the Lockinge at Newbury, but the best Yorkshire result of the day comes closer to home at Thirsk where Richard Fahey's Green Park lands the £12,954 Thirsk Handicap from John Quinn's Grazeon Gold Blend. Other local winning trainers at Thirsk are Kevin Ryan, Alan Swinbank, Bryan Smart and Karl Burke, whilst Uncle and Nephew Mick and Tim Easterby are amongst the winners at Nottingham.
19/05/2006 Three more local winners on the final day of the Dante meeting, with the first coming from Mark Johnston's front running Peppertree Lane who landed the second race, the £16,516 VC Caino.com Handicap. Robin Bastiman booked his first trip to Royal Ascot after his Borderlessscot won the £12,954Countrywide Freight Handicap (leading a Yorkshire 1-2-3-4) and Tim Easterby's Collateral Damage also won the £9,716 Play VC Casino.com H. Earlier the first race had seen Kevin Ryan's Amber Valley finish a useful second in the Marygate Stakes L., presumably another on her way to Ascot. Already in Berkshire was David Nicholls' Strike Up The Band who was third in the Carnarvon Stakes L at Newbury, he was only denied second place by a head. The lesser afternoon meeting at Nottingham saw winners for Kevin Ryan and Brian Ellison. The evening action centred on Hamilton where there was a Yorkshire 1-2 in the Braveheart Handicap L with Karl Burke's Akarem coming home a neck in front of Alan Swinbank's Ouninpohja. There were also winners in Scotland for Kevin Ryan and David Barron and whilst jumps action at Aintree saw a winner for Sue Smith.
18/05/2006 Day two of the Dante meeting, and a bloodbath is predicted for the local runners, as yours truly is in attendance ! However it turns out to be an even better day than yesterday and is kicked off in the best possible style when David Nicholls' Trinculo wins the opening £16,516 Totesport Handicap. In the next race James Bethell registers one of his best wins of his career (and Yorkshire's first group winner of the season) when his Strawberry Dale is allowed to make all the running in the Middleton Stakes G3 and punishes the opposition in the best way possible - a three length victory for the Middleham filly. There is no Yorkshire interest in the Dante itself (apart from the reappearance of the former Kevin Ryan trained Palace Episode who looked to have hardly grown from last season and finished plum last) although Septimus looks a decent horse in the making. The following race was the Hambelton Handicap L and this yields yet another Yorkshire trained winner when David Barron's Zero Tolerance comes home in front by a head. Incredibly this is not the end of the Yorkshire successes as in the fifth race Kevin Ryan's Sadeek beats the Aidan O'Brien trained hotpot Abraham Lincoln and, as a result, enters contention for the Coventry at Royal Ascot. Click pictures below for larger images (max size 710k). Further wins up at Carlisle for Mark Johnston, Richard Whitaker, Mick Easterby and Neville Bycroft.

totesport.com Handicap - Trinculo (white, green and yellow)
comes home in front under Adrian Nicholls

Middleton Stakes G3 - Strawberry Dale (noseband) springs
a surprise for Champion Jockey Jamie Spencer.

James Bethell collects the trainers prize for the Middleton Stakes G3

Septimus and a delighted Kieren Fallon after
comfortably landing the Dante Stakes
G2

Zero Tolerance (white and red colours) flies home in the Hambleton Stakes L

Sadeek (Neil Callan) & Abraham Lincoln (Kieren Fallon)

17/05/2006 Day one of York's Dante meeting starts well for the locals when the Mick Easterby trained Blue Spinnaker, a real regular at this track, wins the opening £16,516 Newton Investment Management Handicap tidily from Richard Fahey's Look Again and John Quinn's Focus Group. The first group race of the meeting is the Oaks trial the Musidora Stakes G3 and here Patrick Haslam's Maroussies Wings is an odds-defying third at 33-1, although as she beaten in a handicap at Pontefract last time out it would be wise not to read too much into this form, nevertheless it is an excellent placing by her canny handler. The next is the Duke Of York Stakes G2 and the winner, Steenberg, is Newmarket trained (albeit by Yorkshireman Mark Tompkins) but David Chapman's Quito runs an excellent race to be second and Tim Easterby's Somnus finally shows a return to form to be third, indeed fourth and fifth are also Yorkshire trained as well ! The next race sees second and third go to Chris Thornton's Lets Roll and Tim Easterby's Tcherina respectively.
13/05/2006 Mark Johnston's Baan is an odds defying third in the Lingfield Derby Trial G3 this afternoon, albeit some way behind the leading pair. Richard Fahey's Look Again is second in the main race at Newmarket whilst there are winners at Beverley for Ann Duffield (a double), Brian Ellison and Kevin Ryan (another double). Even racing at Thirsk sees winners for Mick Easterby and Kevin Ryan.
12/05/2006 Another Chester winner, this time James Bethell's Stretton wins the last, with Tim Easterby's Collateral Damage and David Nicholls' both having claimed second places earlier on the card. There is win at Lingfield for Richard Whitaker whilst David Barron had a double at Hamilton (including the main race with Ingleby Arch) where Mark Johnston also had a winner. It was announced today that Middleham trainer Ferdy Murphy has recruited leading National Hunt jockey Graham Lee to his team, following that pilot's split from the Graham Wylie/Howard Johnson team.
11/05/2006 Incredibly Tim Pitt struck again at Chester today when the heavily gambled on Ooh Aah Camara came home to win the last race, the £10,039 Senior Wright Handicap, by 2 heads, 2 necks and a head - certainly a blanket finish! Earlier David Nicholls' Merlin's Dancer had won the £15,142 Betfred Handicap by a more comfortable 3/4 length. Elsewher Nigel Tinkler was amongst the winners at Yarmouth whilst Linda Stubbs and John Quinn had wins at Hamilton.
10/05/2006 First season trainer Tim Pitt, based in Bawtry, cements the excellent start to his training career when Admiral (he of the disintegrating feet) lands the £74,784 Chester Cup, with Richard Fahey's Greenwich Meantime back in third. The last Yorkshire trainer to have a debut season as good as Pitt was a certain Kevin Ryan who's Divine Gift won the next race, the £13,249 Breitling Watches & Waltons Of Chester Handicap. There were Yorkshire winners for Neville Bycroft, Alan Swinbank and Karl Burke up at Newcastle whilst Ripon's evening meeting sees winners for Mark Johnston, Richard Fahey and Tim Easterby (Dazzling Bay in the £9,348 Nick Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap).
07/05/2006 Guineas day two and Mark Johnston's old-timer Bandari shows he's lost non of his enthusiasm when a decent third on his seasonal debut in the Jockey Club Stakes G2 at Newmarket. Hamilton is dominated by the Yorkshire raiders with a double for Brian Ellison as well as winners for Mick Easterby, David Barron and Micky Hammond.
06/05/2006 Guineas day and the Yorkshire raiders are not completely disgraced in the big race with Bryan Smart's Misu Bond finishing a strong fifth and Kevin Ryan's Amadeus Wolf a slightly dissapointing seventh. Earlier David Nicholls' Tax Free had made a nice seasonal debut to be third in the the Palace House Stakes G3, and in the race after the 2,000 Guineas Kevin Ryan's Mutamared won the £31,160 stanjamesuk.com Handicap from Nicholls' Ice Planet. Elsewhere the mixed card at Haydock sees Richard Fahey's Saif Sareea finish third in the Betfred Handicap Hurdle Gd3. This gelding was bred by Mrs.Beddis at Melbourne Hall Stud, and was a winner on the flat at Musselburgh on Thursday! The following race is the slightly farcical site of the three runner listed race when Fahey's Philharmonic is second and Ryan's My Paris third in the Spring Trophy Stakes L. There is a double at Thirsk for Tim Easterby and also a winner for Mark Johnston. Sue Smith and Noel Wilson both have winners at Uttoxeter.
05/05/2006 A good haul of minor winners today (nine in fact) for the Yorkshire trainers, rather like yesterday (eleven winners) in fact, however special mention must go to young Middleham trainer John Weymes who had a double at Musselburgh today (Welcome Approach in the opener and Attacca in the last) as well as a winner at Wolverhampton (Grand View).
03/05/2006 Two stakes placings for the Tykes at Lingfield with Mark Johnston's Hearthstead Wings running one of his better races over two miles by finishing third in the Sagaro Stakes G3. The prior race was the Pavilion Stakes L in which David Nicholls' Strike Up The Band was a useful third. There were winners for Johnston and Tim Easterby closer to home at Pontefract.
01/05/2006 Given the domestic Bank Holiday card it seems appropriate that Yorkshire's most significant results of the day all occur over the water at the Curragh. Events start well when Karl Burke's Chjimes is second, beaten only a head, in the Coolmore Stakes L at the Curragh - the first juvenille stakes race of the season in the British Isles. Later on the same card Bryan Smart's Sir Xaar makes up for his poor show at Newmarket when he is also second, in the Tetrarch Stakes G3. There is yet more strong placings to come when Karl Burke's Near Dock has another good run for his new handler when third in the Mooresbridge Stakes G3. Interestingly both the Burke horses are owned by Mrs.Gitins (Chjimes in partnership). Elsewhere the usual boring Bank Holiday fayre, with wins at Newcastle for David Nicholls, David Barron and Richard Whitaker whilst over jumps at Sedgefield Ferdy Murphy and John Quinn are the Yorkshire winners.
29/04/2006 Yet more third places in Group company down at Sandown with Richard Fahey's Kings Point occupying that position in the betfred.com Mile G2 and Mark Johnston's Baan filling the same place in the Betfred Classic Trial G3, the later beaten only a neck and a head. Numerous Yorkshire placings at Leicester, the most important of which were the second and third places that fell to Richard Fahey's Philharmonic and David Chapman's Quito in the Leicestershire Stakes L . The local meeting of the day came at Ripon and here there were winners for Richard Fahey (with Greenwich Meantime in the feature race), Kevin Ryan and Mark Johnston. Evening racing at Haydock sees Kevin Ryan's Amber Valley win the opener and a later winner for Ann Duffield.
28/04/2006 Mark Johnston's Crosspeace finishes third in the Gordon Richards Stakes G3 at Sandown, denied second place only by a neck. Incredibly this was his fifth run of 2006. Later on the same card Johnston had a much needed winner when Linas Selection took the last race in good style. Up at Perth Ferdy Murphy's Noir Et Vert won the Conditionals Hurdle.
22/04/2006 No luck for Yorkshire in Newbury's Spring Cup, although David Barron's Trance was a winner later on the card. Similarly there was no Yorkshire victory in the Scottish National Gd3 at Ayr although Sue Smith's Royal Emperor ran an excellent race to finish third in a tight finish. Thankfully the locals won both of the main races at Thirsk with Tom Tate's Welsh Emperor taking the £11,218 Michael Foster Memorial Conditions Stakes on his seasonal reappearance, and Kevin Ryan's Guto landing the £11,659 Thomas Lord Handicap on his first run for the Hambleton trainer. Earlier Thirsk has seen another local winner when Richard Fahey's Greenwich Meantime won the 3:40. In other news Mark Johnston's Nakheel will miss the first half of the season, and thus the classics for which he was amongst the favourites, after suffering a stress fracture of the pelvis on the gallops, some reports suggest he may be back in time for the Derby, but this seems somewhat optimistic. Evening racing at Nottingham sees wins for Karl Burke and David Barron, with Burke doubling up with a winner at Wolverhampton.
20/04/2006 Craven meeting, day three and there are two Yorkshire winners with Atlantic Waves' victory in the Feilden Stakes L for Mark Johnston coming after David Barron's Ingleby Arch had won the £11,659 Exning Handicap. The first five in the Feilden finished a short head, neck, short head and neck apart, however Atlantic Waves put up a decent front running performance over a distance that is possibly already too short for him. There were also two Yorkshire winners locally at Ripon courtesy of Mark Johnston and Tim Easterby. So after my comments about the lack of Johnston winners the Kingsley House team has now knocked in three in two days, including a recognised classic trial, luckily I never claimed to be a tipster ! Over jumps Andy Crook's Jonty's Lass is second in the Yorkshire Bank Mares Only Handicap Hurdle L at Cheltenham.
19/04/2006 Day two of Newmarket's Craven meeting sees a winner in one of the main races of the day when Bryan Smart's Misu Bond came home a neck in front in the European Free Handicap L, having overcome the trauma of being reshod twice - once in the pre-parade ring, and once down at the start! The winner is now priced at a maximum of 50-1 for the 2,000 Guineas. Winners at Beverley for David Nicholls (a double including Trinculo in the £9,068 Flying Five Handicap), Mark Johnston and Tim Easterby. Back to Newmarket and Tattersalls sees Oaks Farm Stables son of Danehill Dancer sell for 200,000gns at the Breeze-Up Sales.
18/04/2006 The bank holiday action sees Yorkshire trained winners at Redcar (Kevin Ryan, David Barron, Tim Easterby, Julie Camacho and Patrick Haslam), Warwick (John Weymes), Yarmouth (Kevin Ryan), Fakenham (Alan Swinbank) and Sedgefield (John Quinn, Kate Milligan and a Ferdy Murphy double).
16/04/2006 The middle day of the Bank Holiday, and Yorkshire winners galore at Musselburgh with Noel Wilson, Kevin Ryan (a double) and David Barron all making the trip home having gained victories. Not many Mark Johnston winners yet this season, although it's very much early days, and news today that his Nakheel (high up in many lists for the Guineas and the Derby) will no longer be doing a racecourse gallop at Newmarket during the Craven meeting, this option having previously been suggested. Kevin Ryan's Amadeus Wolf (3rd favourite for the Guineas) will make the trip to Newmarket, having already had a racecourse gallop on the all-weather at Southwell.
15/04/2006 Kandidate, who was bred in Yorkshire by a partnership comprising the Providence and Foston Studs, wins another major race when landing the £31,160 Rosebery Handicap at Kempton this afternoon, despite carrying top weight. Later on the same card Karl Burke's new recruit Near Dock (Group placed when trained in Germany last year, but now owned by major Burke owner Mrs.Gittins) is third in the Magnolia Stakes L. Over jumps at Carlisle Sue Smith's Undeniable (who was placed in the Kim Muir last time out) led a Yorkshire 1-2-3 in the £13,012 Sportsman's Handicap Chase, whilst at Haydock there was another winner for Sue Smith and also wins for Malcolm Jefferson and Tom Tate.
07/04/2006 Yorkshire makes a small dent on the Aintree festival when Tom Tate's The Duke's Speech is a distant third in the John Smith's Imagine Appeal Top Novices Hurdle Gd 2.
26/03/2006 And so to Market Rasen where Sue Smith's Little Big Horse wins the main race of the day, the £14,313 Rase Veterinary Centre Handicap Chase, and Mick Easterby's Bang And Blame wins the next.
25/03/2006 What a day, I'm not sure how we'll survive if the whole season continues in this style! Other events notwithstanding pride of place today must go to the old cripple Collier Hill who ran a fantastic race to scoop second place (and with it £581,395 for connections) for trainer Alan Swinbank in the Dubai Sheema Classic G1 at Nad Al Sheba. This was a brilliant effort and, incredibly, makes him the winningmost horse trained in Yorkshre, ever, overtaking Attraction (who's reign was a lot shorter than now-third placed Teleprompter!) and making him Yorkshire's first millionaire. The all-time table now looks like this;
Horse Trainer Amount Best Performances
Collier Hill Alan Swinbank £1,052,737 Irish St Leger G1, Gerling-Preis G2, Stockholm Cup International G3, Elnadim H, Old Newton Cup H., 2nd.Dubai Sheema Classic G1, Deutschlandpreis Preis G1, 3rd.Dubai Sheema Classic G1
Attraction Mark Johnston £899,597 1,000 Guineas G1, Irish 1,000 Guineas G1, Coronation S G1, Sun Chariot S G1, Matron S G1, Cherry Hinton S G2, Queen Mary S G3, 2nd.Matron Stakes G1, Falmouth S G1 etc.
Teleprompter Bill Watts £758,536 Arlington Million G1, Queen Elizabeth II S G2, Prix Quincey G3, Desmond S G3, Pacemaker International S. G3 (x2), 2nd.Queen Elizabeth II S. G2 (x2), Lockinge S G2, 3rd.Eclipse S. G1
Yavana's Pace Mark Johnston £722,656 Credit Suisse Private Banking Pokal G1, Prix du Conseil de Paris G2, Prix Gladiateur G3, 2nd.WGZ Bank-Deutschlandpreis G1, Preis von Europa G1, Irish St Leger G1 etc.
Somnus Tim Easterby £671,798 Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup G1, Prix Maurice de Gheest G1, Prix de la Foret G1, betabet Two Year Old Trophy, £200,000 St Leger Yearling Sales Stakes, 2nd.Sprint Cup G1
Fruits Of Love Mark Johnston £607,115 Hardwicke S G2 (x2), Dubai Turf Classic, Princess of Wales's S G2, 2nd.Canadian Int'l G1, 3rd.King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II S. G1, Grosser Preis von Baden G1
Double Trigger Mark Johnston £559,100 Ascot Gold Cup G1, Goodwood Cup G3 (x3), Doncaster Cup G3 (x2), Henry II S G3 (x2), Sagaro S G3 (x2), St.Leger Italiano G3, 2nd.Ascot Gold Cup G1 (x2), 3rd.St Leger G1
Bandari Mark Johnston £531,844 Hardwicke Stakes G2, Princess of Wales's S G2, Great Voltigeur S G2, Gordon S G3, Brigadier Gerard S G3, Lingfield Derby Trial G3, 2nd.Rheinland-Pokal G1, 3rd.St Leger G1
Scott's View Mark Johnston £524,228 Magnolia S L, Serlby S L, 3rd.Queen Elizabeth II Cup G1, Dubai Sheema Classic G1, Grosser Mercedes-Benz Preis G2 etc.
Bollin Eric Tim Easterby £506,196 St.Leger G1, Lonsdale S G3, 2nd.Hardwicke S G2, King Edward VII S G2, Dante S G2, 3rd.Yorkshire Cup G2, 4th.King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Diamond S.G1

Somewhat closer to home events start well at Redcar, which is hosting Lincoln Day, with Mick Easterby's Mezuzah leading a Yorkshire 1-2-3-4 in the opening £16,426 William Hill Spring Mile Handicap. Two races later it is the £62,320 Lincoln Handicap itself and this almost sees another Yorkshire clean sweep with John Quinn's new recruit Blythe Knight coming home ahead of Mark Johnston's fast finishing Royal Island, with David Barron's Zero Tolerance back in fourth. This is the biggest win of Quinn's career, which seems ready to move to another level now that he has moved part of his string to the famous Highfield Stables in Malton. In the next David Chapman's Quito confirms he has lost non off his sparkle when he is second in the Cammidge Trophy L.. The winner however is Les Arc trained at Bawtry by Tim Pitt, incredibly this novice trainer has now send Les Arcs out to win five in a row for a total haul of over £72,000! Ian McInnes' Eliminator rounds the day off nicely by taking the last. Over jumps Yorkshire trainers win both the main races at Bangor with Sue Smith's Ross Comm landing the £10,410 Handicap Chase, and Ferdy Murphy's Ile Maurice taking the £10,410 Handicap Hurdle. Down at Newbury Andy Crook's Jonty's Lass was a good second in the £28,510 John Smith's EBF Mares 'NH' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final. Finally Brian Ellison's Swiper Hill won at Kempton's first ever all-weather meeting.

24/03/2006 The first actual flat turf racing of the season happens today at Southwell in bottomless ground, but there is a double for Richard Fahey with Philharmonic landing the £12,464 Betfred The Bonus King Handicap and Dancing Lyra the following race. Earlier David Barron's Braddock had won on his debut and Mark Johnston's recent purchase Shalapour (3rd in last years Irish Derby) was second in the opener. David Nicholls' had a one-two in the claimer at Lingfield.
23/03/2006 Bizarre events today when Doncaster's re-development sees the so-called Turf season beginning on the All-weather at Lingfield where the Doncaster Mile L is the main race! However it's still a result for Yorkshire as the winner is Kandidate, back from Dubai, who was bred in Yorkshire by a partnership comprising the Providence and Foston Studs.
17/03/2006 St. Patrick's Day, and weren't those Irish eyes smiling at Cheltenham. Unlike the Yorkshire ones.
16/03/2006 Ferdy Murphy confirmed his position as the leading Yorkshire trainer at Cheltenham today when his Hot Weld came home in front in a tight finish for the £30,010 Letheby & Christopher National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, his second major 'amateur' win in as many days. Suffice it to say this was the only Yorkshire effort to trouble the judge today. Further afield at Saint-Cloud the Cliff Stud raised Krataios was winner of the Prix Altipan L, this son of Sabrehill was bred by S.A.Stilvi Compania Financiera, who used to keep their UK mares at Cliff, and this was not his best result as in 2003 he was third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains G1 - the French 2,000 Guineas. A treble at Southwell for Karl Burke.
15/03/2006 A much better day today at Cheltenham with Ferdy Murphy's You're Special winning the £30,010 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap (with Sue Smith's Undeniable some way back in third) at odds of 33-1. Those of you with long memories may remember You're Special being a prolific runner on the flat for another Middleham trainer, Patrick Haslam. Earlier Sue Smith's Mister McGoldrick had an odd-defying run in the Queen Mother Champion Chase Gd1, to finish a very good third. The race before that had seen Sir Robert Ogden yet again take one of the main races, this time with Star de Mohaison in the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase.
14/03/2006 Day one of the Cheltenham Festival and the Yorkshire raiders are out of luck - with only two fourth places to show for their efforts. However there is small recompense as Yorkshireman Sir Robert Ogden, owner of the Sicklinghall Stud, is owner today's Arkle Chase winner Voy Por Ustedes (which I'm fairly sure is NOT Yorkshire dialect).
11/03/2006 Not much luck for the Tykes in the big races today - hopefully things will go slightly better next week! The best results came on the all-weather at Wolverhampton where the Kevin Ryan duo of Divine Gift and Always Esteeemed were second and third respectively in the £29,886 betdirect.co.uk Lincoln Trial Heritage Handicap, the stablemates were separated by a neck. Earlier Karl Burke's City of Conquest had won the opener and David Chapman's Quito showed he's still a force to be reckoned with at the age of nine by coming second in the next. Later on the same card Gainsborough Stud's Lucky Lark, trained by Mark Johnston, lost his maiden at the first time of asking. Meanwhile at Ayr there were winners for Patrick Haslam (Patxaran in the opener) and Ferdy Murphy (Green Ideal).
09/03/2006 Mark Johnston finally muscles in on the Nad al Sheba action when Crosspeace is third in the Maserati Trophy, picking up £10,174 for his efforts.
25/02/2006 Edwin Tuer's proven mudlark Euro American wins the opening race at Newcastle, the £9,395 Toteplacepot Novices' Hurdle Handicap. Meanwhile at Lingfield John Wainwright's first runner of the year is a winner when Riquewhir lands the seven furlong handicap.
24/02/2006 The Tykes dominate at Wolverhampton with five winners - including four for Kevin Ryan. Somewhat further away from home Richard Fahey's Realism picked up a useful £12,790 by finishing second in the Etisalat Cup Handicap on the turf at Nad Al Sheba, earlier on the card Karl Burke's King Marju had finished third in his race.
23/02/2006 Sue Smith's Royal Emperor wins the main race of the day when taking the £22,808 Rendlesham Hurdle Gd2 at Haydock by 19 lengths, although better fancied stable companion Patriarch Express was a faller. The Gold Cup now beckons for Royal Emperor, although it will need to be a quagmire for his to show his best form.
18/02/2006 The best win today comes at Uttoxeter where Sue Smith's Corlande takes the £12,526 Betfred Poker Handicap Hurdle Series Final, the following race is the £34,048 Singer & Friedlander Handicap Chase, in which the same stables Better Days is a decent enough third. At Haydock Patrick Haslam's Model Son, having his first run for the Middleham handler, finishes a good second in the £71,275 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup Handicap Gd3 , albeit beaten 15 lengths, the race before had seen Ferdy Murphy's Carlys Quest finish second in the £13,012 Pertemsp Handicap Hurdle Qualifier. Meanwhile down at Lingfield Sue Smith's highly fancied Mister McGoldrick is a somewhat disappointing third in the Levy Board Game Spirit Chase Gd2. Finally at Wolverhampton Mark Johnston's Ransom Strips win the maiden, rounding off a good week for the Middleham trainer, who has now had four winners (and two seconds) from his last nine runners.
17/02/2006 Quite correctly, in my opinion, Michael Dickinson's remarkable feat of training the 'famous five' to annexe the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup has been voted the 'Great Training Feat' by readers of the Racing Post. At the time Michael was based at Dunkeswick, no distance from Harewood House to the North of Leeds, although he now plies his trade with great success on the flat from his base in Maryland.
07/02/2006 Today at Southwell sees one of those odd valuable mid-week all-weather races - the £13,288 Littlewoods Pools Handicap - and the bounty is taken back to Middleham by Karl Burke's Speed Dial Harry.
05/02/2006 A valuable Yorkshire one-two at Musselburgh today with John Quinn's Crow Wood landing the £18,789 John Smith's Scottish County Hurdle Trial Handicap from Richard Fahey's Saie Sareea.
04/02/2006 Another quiet week (roll on the Lincoln - or at least Cheltenham!). The Yorkshire-centric highlights today were minor and came at Sandown where Sue Smith's Mister McGoldrick was third in the Agfa UK Hurdle L and Ferdy Murphy's Underwriter later occupied the same berth in the £28,184 Agfa Diamond Handicap Chase. Voting is open in the Racing Post's '100 Greatest Training Feats', the top ten nominations including three by Yorkshire trainers - so make sure you get your vote in! The Yorkshire trio are ; James Croft for training the first four home in the 1822 St.Leger, Michael Dickinson for training the first five home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and David Chapman for saddling Chaplins Club to win seven handicaps in nineteen days in the heady days of summer, 1988.
28/01/2006 Another quiet Saturday, not helped by Cheltenham falling victim to the weather. The only notable results came at Southwell where there were a string of good placings for Yorkshire trained horses headed by Ferdy Murphy's Europa who was second in the Sky Bet Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase L. In the following race Tim Easterby's Pay Attention was an improving second in the £19,518 It Matters More When Money's On It Mares' Handicap Hurdle (gotta love these snappy titles!). Earlier there had been good places for Malcolm Jefferson's Roman Ark and Tim Easterby's Turgeonev, whilst Alan Swinbank's Alflie Flitts won the closing bumper. On the all-weather at Wolverhampton Ann Duffield's Pauvic was the only Yorkshire trained winner.
21/01/2006 Only one win today (David Nicholls' Blue Knight in the opener at Wolverhampton) but there are some reasonable jumps performances across at Haydock. These came in successive races and were started with Sue Smith's Mister McGolrick being beaten only a neck in the Commhoist Logistics Champion Hurdle Trial Gr 2, having filled the same position in the same race last season. In the next it was the turn of stablemate Truckers Tavern who was third in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase Gr 2, albeit he was beaten 9 and 14 lengths. Finally Ferdy Murphy's ex-French trained New Alco was a decent second in the next race, the £16,265 Sporting Index Novices' Chase.
19/01/2006 Kandidate, bred in Yorkshire by a partnership comprising the Providence and Foston Studs won the £31,976 Shadwell Farm (Turf) Handicap at Nad EA Sheba today, a valuable return to form for the Clive Brittain trained colt who was third in the 2,000 Guineas G1 last year.
14/01/2006 A reasonably good day for Middleham's Ferdy Murphy who sees his Haut de Gamme win the £11,273 Antigua & Barbuda Handicap Hurdle which is the main race on the card at Wetherby (where Malcolm Jefferson, George Moore and Fred Kirby also provide local winners) as well as Nine de Sivola win the £13,012 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle at Warwick. Meanwhile Sue Smith's Corlande wins the Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle by eleven lengths, only for her to see Better Days pipped by a neck in the following race.
06/01/2006 The Melbourne Hall Stud has been placed on the market with Jackston-Stops & Staff in York. The guide price for the property is £1.5m, which includes the Hall with 4 reception rooms, 6 beds and 2 baths, a 1 bedroom flat and a 3 bedroom stable cottage as well as extensive stabling with 41 boxes and 82 acres of gardens, parkland, paddocks and woodland. Numerous photographs are here. New Yorkshire trainer Tim Pitt gets his career off to a flying start when Les Arcs wins the £11,658 Text Betdirect Handicap at Wolverhampton today. Pitt takes over from the controversial Vicky Haig in the Bawtry yard owned by Willie McKay, and has only held the licence for three weeks!
01/01/2006 The year gets off the a good start for Chris Fairhurst when his Burnt Oaks wins the £9,819 EBF Cheltenham Race Club Junior National Hunt Flat Race L (snappy title!). David Nicholls, Robert Gray, Mark Johnston and Mick Easterby all score on Southwell's all-weather, with the later's Gentleman's Deal taking the £12,954 Bet Direct Freephone Handicap in his first run for the Sheriff Hutton trainer. I will keep my promise to try to keep the news down to major results or other news, rather than detailing every single winner!

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2011 ~2010 ~ 2009 ~ 2008 ~ 2007 ~ 2006 ~ 2005 ~ 2004 ~ 2003 ~ 2002 ~ 2001 ~ 2000 ~ 1999

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Copyright 2006 Stephen George-Powell

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