Howard Johnson had a Sandown winner last Saturday, but not from the ones expected - and the trainer and his chosen rider, Tony Dobbin, were stuck in the North in the bad weather.

Timmy Murphy substituted on Iron Man, third in the juvenile novice hurdle which opened the card, and on Log On Intersky, stone last in the two-mile chase, with Brian Ellison's useful Transit only seventh, two in front of him.

Jim Culloty, in the Wylies' beige and black colours, partnered Astronomic, well fancied to land the Tolworth Hurdle despite his lack of experience. But the pair fell at the fourth and, after riding Chivalry for the Wylies and Johnson to be 17th in the Ladbroke Hurdle, Culloty felt shaken and gave up the rest of the day's rides. Patrick Haslam's King Revo was third in the Ladbroke.

Next off the subs' bench was Paul Carberry, well known to us in the North in his days with Ferdy Murphy, who came over to Esher from Ireland to ride at the meeting. In the last race, a three-miles plus chase, he partnered Boy's Hurrah and led from the off until near the end, when six were in with a shout.

The pair battled well to land the odds at a course Boy's Hurrah clearly loves, having also landed a race there in December. Part-owner Richard Gurney said he had had to saddle the five Johnson runners. "It's been hard work, but I'm glad it paid off," he commented after the race.

Paul Robson won on Julius Caesar at Newcastle on Monday and Tony Dobbin on La Perrotine at Sedgefield on Tuesday for the Crook team.

Ferdy Murphy and young rider Keith Mercer won on Saturday at Uttoxeter with Basilea Star, fourth win in a row from the consistent hurdler, who may now head to the Punchestown Festival as his owner, Brendan O'Rourke, lives nearby.

Later, Ballinclay King, Mercer up, was sulking in the chase and resembled nothing more than John McCririck in Celebrity Big Brother, moody and upset. Two out, Ballinclay King landed all four feet on the top of the birch before hopping back down the wrong side of the jump. This was counted as a refusal.

Brian Harding was in the saddle to win for Murphy on Friday at Musselburgh, World Vision going in.

Richard Guest sent out Longstone Lass to win twice this week, at Towcester on Friday and at Sedgefield on Tuesday. Claire Metcalfe partnered the mare at the first to win by 18 lengths. The trainer paid her great credit for the work his amateur rider had done, as the mare is "horrible, because she pulls so hard." Claire had worked on her for three months and the winning ride was her reward.

The Sedgefield seller was a conditional riders' race (jumps apprentices) and man-of-the-moment Keith Mercer had the leg up for this win. But the mare has found a new home as she was sold to local bookmaker Lee Ibbotson after the race.

John Wade has his string in good form and landed two more races this week, at Newcastle with Recent Edition, Kenny Johnson up, and at his home course, Sedgefield, with Devil's Run, Jim Crowley riding.

Graham Lee was due to make his riding reappearance at Catterick as we go to press, but Malton's Vinnie Keane, who broke his arm last November, has to wait a further six weeks or so as the bone isn't healing as fast as expected.

And well done, Jonjo Sanderson, clerk at Catterick, and his colleagues for naming the handicap chase the "Vote Keep Big Mac In" race. We ourselves find the show repelling and compelling in equal parts, but at least the racing guru, now he is speaking again, provides great amusement and, like the ebullient Italian jockey, Frankie Dettori, keeps racing much in the public mind.

On the level, a famous riding name carried on in the next generation as Andrew Elliott took his first win as a jockey. The 17-year-old, who originally came from Leyburn, is the son of Bobby Elliott, former Mark Johnston jockey, who now trains in Lancashire.

Young Elliott returned to his native Wensleydale four weeks ago to join Karl Burke and the 7lb claimer opened his riding account on Romil Star at Southwell on Tuesday.

His father chose a young Middleham apprentice, Leanne Kershaw, next day and she conjured a tune out of Petana to win at 25-1 at Wolverhampton. Owner Stella Barclay said this was a mare who did not like to be hurried and needed to do things in her own time. Obviously, the tender touch of Leanne worked the oracle.

David Barron had a Southwell double with Forfeiter and Pawn In Life, but the first was claimed after the race for £18,000. Apprentice Philip Makin partnered one and Chris Catlin the other.

Catlin is in good form and also won this week for Andrew Turnell.

Neil Callan, whose three winners at Wolverhampton on Wednesday included one for his boss, Kevin Ryan, ended last year on 126 and is already in double figures this year. Robert Winston has also set off well, winning for Linda Stubbs and David Barker at two Wolverhampton meetings this week.

But jockey story of the week goes to Paul Mulrennan. He won the Flat Ride of the Year award at the annual Lesters for riding Blue Spinnaker to win the Zetland Gold Cup last May.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Wolverhampton AW (all-weather): Zoom Zoom (trained by L Stubbs, at Malton; owned by H Conlon), ridden by R Winston.

Friday. - Musselburgh: World Vision (F Murphy, West Witton; R & M J Partnership), B Harding.

Towcester: Longstone Lass (R Guest, Brancepeth; P Beck), Miss C Metcalfe (claiming 5lb allowance).

Saturday. - Sandown: Boy's Hurrah (H Johnson, Crook; Woolpack Farm Partnership), P Carberry.

Uttoxeter: Basilea Star (F Murphy; B J O'Rourke), K Mercer (5).

Monday. - Newcastle: Recent Edition (J Wade, Mordon; permit holder), K Johnson; Julius Caesar (H Johnson; J Coupe), P Robson (3).

Wolverhampton AW: Dower House (A Turnell, Malton; Mrs C Hollowood), C Catlin; Whinhill House (D Barker, Scorton; J J Crosier), R Winston.

Tuesday. - Sedgefield: La Perrotine (H Johnson; Mrs M W Bird), T Dobbin; Longstone Lass (R Guest; P Beck), K Mercer (sold after for 8,000gns); Devil's Run (J Wade), J Crowley.

Southwell AW: Romil Star (K Burke, Wensley; Mrs E M Burke), A Elliott (7); Forfeiter (D Barron, Maunby; I Armitage), P Makin (3) (winner claimed for £18,000 afterwards); Pawn In Life (D Barron; L O'Kane), C Catlin.

Wednesday. - Wolverhampton AW: Arran Scout (K Ryan, Hambleton; Thamer O A Al Dalhani), N Callan