IN A five-horse race, you would not think it possible to find traffic problems, but that's how it was for Middleham's Kinnaird, joint favourite to land the Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes at the Curragh last Saturday - and Racing Week was there to see the problems live at Ireland's premier course.

Patrick Haslam and his wife Ann were there to saddle the pride of their stable, whose fame was overshadowed last year by Mark Johnston's star Attraction. Kinnaird had shown she liked the track 12 months ago in a cracking fourth to the other Middleham wunderkind in the then Irish 1000 Guineas.

We all had high hopes. Thunder and hail greeted us just before the off, but the sun came out during the race itself. Michael Kinane was a top class booking. But then the race unfolded.

Kinnaird met a wall of horses before the Irish rider pulled her free and she stayed on well to finish three parts of a length and a length behind Aidan O'Brien's Airwave, the other joint favourite, and Kevin Prendergast's 25-1 outsider Miss Trish.

Meanwhile, back at home, Tim Easterby is in cracking form and had a Newcastle double on Thursday, with a jumps winner that night up at Kelso, David Allan providing the Flat duo and David O'Meara the NH one. The Great Habton handler also won at Catterick with Fizzlephut.

Michael Dods is also hot just now and he also had a Newcastle brace, thanks to Philip Makin. He was on the mark at Carlisle's Saturday night meeting, too, with Son Of Thunder.

Mark Johnston and Kevin Darley were stars of the Cumbrian course that night, with no less than three on the scorecard. David Barker's Whinhill House took his fifth sprint this year.

Bryan Smart and John Wainwright took Doncaster evening wins. Wainwright's winner, Baron Rhodes, is aimed at the Vodaphone Festival Handicap at Epsom on Derby day.

David Barron had a winner at Newmarket on Friday and a Ripon success on Tuesday. Mick Easterby sent out Jean Turpin's homebred Strong Hand to land a good Haydock handicap on Friday and Ian McInnes followed up there next day to take the opener with Anduril.

Ann Duffield, whose lean patch ended last week thanks to Prairie Sun and Saleem Golam, took a Catterick double, the Musselburgh winner following up and stablemate Jubilee Street coming good, both again thanks to the young apprentice.

Richard Fahey had three on Monday, one at Carlisle and a Beverley double. Jockey Neil Callan had a pair at the first, one for Keith Reveley and the second for his boss Kevin Ryan. Karl Burke sent out a good two-year-old winner, Clare Hills, at 25-1, just pipping a Tim Easterby hotpot, King's Revenge.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Wednesday last week. - He's Hot Right Now (trained by R Guest, at Brancepeth; owned by P Beck), ridden by J Clare (claiming 8lb); Beat The Heat (J O'Keeffe, Coverham; R Berry), B Harding; Snow's Ride (M Hammond, Middleham; Oakwood Racing Partnership), G Lee; Tickateal (R Woodhouse, Malton; Hb, trainer), J Crowley.

Thursday last week. - Newcastle: Mullaad (T Easterby, Great Habton; Croft, Taylor & Stone Partnership), D Allan; Princess Kiotto (T Easterby; Hb, R Matthews), D Allan; Best Prospect (M Dods, Denton; Mrs K S Pratt), P Makin (3); Shrink (M Dods, Hb, K Knox), P Makin (3).

Wetherby NH: Talarive (P Niven, Barton le Street; I G M Dalgleish), J Crowley; Jonty's Lass (A Crook, Middleham; A Crook, T Oglesby, S Hollingsworth), Mr T Greenall (3).

Doncaster ev: Sir Xaar (B Smart, Hambleton; Pinnacle Xaar Partnership), F Lynch; Baron Rhodes (J Wainwright, Kennythorpe; I Barran & P Rhodes), T Eaves.

Kelso NH ev: Tribal Dispute (T Easterby; Mrs J E Pallister), D O'Meara.

Fri. - Haydock: Strong Hand (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Hb, Mrs J Turpin), D Gibson.

Sat. - Haydock: Anduril (I McInnes, Catwick; M Shirley), R Winston.

Newmarket: Trance (D Barron, Maunby; N Shields), G Baker.

Catterick: Fizzlephut (T Easterby; Mr & Mrs W J Williams), F Lynch; Prairie Sun (A Duffield, Constable Burton; Mrs H Wynne), S Golam (7); Jubilee Street (A Duffield; D W Holdsworth & J A McMahon), S Golam (7).

Carlisle ev: Always Baileys (M Johnston, Middleham; The Always Trying Partnership), K Darley; Windhover (M Johnston; M Al Maktoum), K Darley; Son Of Thunder (M Dods; R Mould), T Eaves; Whinhill House (D Barker, Scorton; J Crosier), R Winston; Marias Magic (M Johnston; Mrs R J Jacobs), K Darley.

Stratford NH ev: Ghadames (R Guest; P Beck), H Oliver.

Mon. - Carlisle: Clare Hills (K Burke, Wensley; D Fehan & Tweenhills Racing), D Williams; Tomasino (K Reveley, Lingdale; Hb, P D Savill), N Callan; Kelly Nicole (K Ryan, Hambleton; Mrs M O'Keeffe), N Callan; Knot In Wood (R Fahey, Musley Bank; Rhodes, Kenyon & Gill), T Hamilton (3); Shifty (D Carroll, Warthill; WRB Racing 39 (Wrbracing.Com)), D McCreery (5).

Beverley: Magnolia Blossom (R Fahey; Hb (trainer), J Staunton), P Hanagan; Paris Heights (R Whitaker, Scarcroft; W Ellis), J-P Guillambert; Sir Knight (J O'Keeffe; Highbeck Racing), M Fenton; Komreyev Star (R Fahey; Hb, G Whittaker), P Hanagan; American Cousin (D Nicholls, Sessay; Middleham Park Racing XIV), A Nicholls.

Thirsk ev: Serieux (D Nicholls; B Hughes), A Nicholls.