ATTRACTION did not shine in the sweltering heat of Sha Tin, but well done to the Duke of Roxburghe, her breeder and owner, and the Mark Johnston team for having a crack at the Asian Mile competition.

Of course, as briefly touched upon last week, the trip to Hong Kong meant Mark and Deirdre Johnston missed the annual Middleham Trainers' Association (MTA) dinner for the media at the Blue Lion, East Witton, last week, sponsored by Skybet.

The guest speaker, Claude Duval of The Sun newspaper, touched on some of Middleham's highlights through the year, including Johnston's 119 winners and £2.4m in prize money, as well as Patrick Haslam's feat of a winner at all 59 British racecourses.

Naturally, tribute was paid to Don Enrico Incisa, who had recently died. This week, the late trainer's son, Giovanni, said that the plan was to keep running the Coverham stables and run Don Enrico's horses during the coming months. Then, most would return to the family stud in Tuscany.

At the MTA dinner, Duval particularly complimented Bethell on stealing the show at Royal Ascot when Mine won the Royal Hunt Cup. And it was the same horse which caused Sally Bethell to win the tipping table, and £1,000 for her chosen charity, given by the sponsors.

At the York May meeting last Thursday, Quito fulfilled trainer David Chapman's forecast earlier this spring that good things were to come from his eight-year-old when landing the Listed seven furlongs handicap under Tony Culhane.

They beat Mick Easterby's Blue Spinnaker into second place, while Sally Bethell's beloved Mine was not far behind in fifth.

It is a rare York meeting without a Mick Easterby winner, though, and his good two-year-old Bow Bridge landed the Listed fillies' race on Friday.

Howard Johnson and owners Andrea and Graham Wylie won at Thirsk with Tsaroxy and Robert Winston, who is in top form, had a double there, as well as at Musselburgh on Monday night.

Mick Easterby also won at Carlisle's evening meeting on Thurdsay night with Strong Hand. Royston Ffrench gave Neville Bycroft a long-awaited winner at Carlisle, partnering Tedsdale Mac, and went on to win next day for Johnston at Nottingham on You Too. Kevin Ryan and rider Neil Callan won there, too, and again at Redcar.

Scorton trainer David Barker is in good fettle and Whinhill House won at Carlisle, Choysia at Thirsk.

TRAINERS' DINNER HORSES TO FOLLOW

Tea Dancer, Industrial Star (Micky Hammond and Hannah Watson); Orphan, Bamber (Karl and Elaine Burke); Princess Perfect, Castle Richard (George and Carol Moore). Linton Dancer, Crosby Vision (John Weymes and Kirsty Buckle); Tammy, Let's Roll (Chris and Antonia Thornton); Prince Of Love, Reluctant Suitor (Jedd and Andrea O'Keeffe); Grafton, Mine (James and Sally Bethell), Desert Realm, Pearl Of Love (Mark and Deirdre Johnston).

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - York: Quito (trained by D Chapman, at Stillington; owned by M Hill), ridden by T Culhane.

Perth NH: Hot Weld (F Murphy, West Witton; S Hubbard Rodwell), K Mercer (claiming 3lb).

Carlisle ev: Royal Engineer (M Johnston, Middleham; Hb (homebred by owner or connection) J Brown), J Fanning; Whinhill House (D Barker, Scorton; J Crosier), T Eaves; Tedsdale Mac (N Bycroft, Brandsby; Hb, B Abbott), R Ffrench; Strong Hand (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Mrs J Turpin), P Mulrennan (3).

Friday. - York: Bow Bridge (M Easterby; Hb, Mrs A Jarvis), D Gibson.

Nottingham: You Too (M Johnston; H Springfield), R Ffrench; Iskander (K Ryan, Hambleton; Mrs M Forsyth), N Callan.

Saturday. - Newbury: I'm So Lucky (M Johnston; Mrs S Brookhouse), J Fanning.

Nottingham: Catch The Cat (J Wainwright, Kennythorpe; T Heseltine), P Mathers (5); Far Pavilions (A Swinbank, Melsonby; J D Abell), D McKeown; Esteponia (J Camacho, Norton; Mrs S Camacho), D McCabe.

Thirsk: Chosya (D Barker; Mrs J Trotter), F Lynch; Tsaroxy (H Johnson, Billy Row; A & G Wylie), R Winston; Mimi Mouse (T Easterby, Great Habton; Mrs J P Connew), D Allan; Wanchai Lad (D Nicholls, Sessay; A Turnbull), A Nicholls.

Bangor on Dee NH: Brooklyn Brownie (M Jefferson, Malton; P Gaffney & J Stevenson), G Lee.

Uttoxeter NH ev: Scotts Court (N Tinkler, Langton; The Green Syndicate & W Hardie), R Garritty.

Sunday. - Ripon: Little Trump (M Easterby; N Gravett & L Bolingbroke), P Mulrennan (3); Toldo (G Moore, Middleham; J Armstrong), S Kelly.

Market Rasen NH: Bishop's Bridge (A Turnell, Norton; S Kimber), R Johnson; Hilltime (J Quinn, Settrington; Mrs S Quinn), D Costello (5); Royal Snoopy (Mrs S L Dent, Billingham; M D Abrahams), Mr R Abrahams (7).

Monday. - Wolverhampton AW: Torrent (D Chapman; trainer), G Baker; Pagan Storm (L Stubbs, Malton; trainer), K Stubbs.

Musselburgh ev: Prairie Sun (A Duffield, Constable Burton; Miss H Wynne), S Golam (5); Titus Alone (B Smart, Hambleton), F Lynch; Richtee (R Fahey, Musley Bank; T Elsey & R Mustill), P Hanagan; Proud Western (B Ellison, Norton; trainer), R Winston; Best Game (D Thompson, Bolam; J Greenbank), D Tudhope (5).

Tuesday. - Beverley: Wing Commander (R Fahey; S Ryan), P Hanagan.

Redcar: Lucayan Dancer (D Nicholls; J E Greaves), A Nicholls; Cordage (J Parkes, Upper Helmsley; B Plows, P Watson, J Owen), M Lawson (5); Louisiade (K Ryan; Whitestonecliffe Racing Partnership), N Callan.

Leicester ev: Bolton Hall (R Fahey; J Staunton), P Hanagan; Boppys Princess (R Fahey; Mrs S Bond), P Hanagan.