OUR Armageddon and Tyneandthyneagain both came through New Year's Day gallops on former trainer Denys Smith's gallops to please their handler, Richard Guest, and show they were on course for their early year and spring campaigns.

Guest said that Our Armageddon, winner of last year's Cathcart at the Cheltenham Festival, is now set to try to take it again under its new name, The Daily Telegraph Festival. The Brancepeth stable star may have a prep race first.

Tyneandthyneagain needs soft ground, of course, but the trainer is optimistic he can run at Uttoxeter. Red Striker is now cantering again after foot problems and Guest thinks he can make the Grand National - to repeat his brother Red Marauder's success in 2001. Striker, too, needs cut in the ground.

Guest landed a good handicap hurdle at Wetherby on Monday with Donovan, again on testing ground.

Tomorrow, noted entries who could go well include Ballinclay King (Ferdy Murphy, Keith Mercer) at Uttoxeter (3.35), Transit (Brian Ellison, Wilson Renwick) and Middlethorpe (Mick Easterby, Tom Greenall), both at Sandown. The Wylies' Astronomic (Howard Johnson, Tony Dobbin) should land the Tolworth Hurdle (2.35) at the Esher course, despite being just a novice.

New Year's Eve at Sedgefield was popular. Chris Grant sent out Minster Shadow, partnered by Richard McGrath, to win the novice hurdle. Brian Ellison's Hope Sound improved from its Catterick run the week before to land the beginners' chase.

King Of The Arctic was prominent throughout the handicap chase of just over two miles and won under Brian Harding for local permit holder John Wade, who then scored at Wetherby on Monday with Devil's Run, Jim Crowley up.

Howard Johnson started the year in the north with a win for owners Graham and Andrea Wylie, Wilson Renwick in the saddle, with Galero at Catterick. Keith Reveley's Time Marches On won the selling hurdle, with no bid afterwards, another Richie McGrath success.

Tom Dreaper won his first since joining Ferdy Murphy as amateur, on Has Scored in the beginners' chase. Over at Cheltenham, Europa was running well under Jason Maguire in the valuable Unicoim Homes Chase, but slipped on landing three out when in contention.

Dreaper has a long way to go to catch fellow amateur Tom Greenall, who partnered another Mick Easterby winner, Real Shady. He added another on Monday at Wetherby for Easterby when partnering Narciso.

Tim Easterby also won at the track by the A1 when Russ Garritty, again in the Ryedale Partners colours, partnered Pay Attention, bred by the trainer's father, Peter Easterby.

Keith Mercer added to his tally when partnering Brompton on Swale permit holder Sharon Watt's Top The Bill. Geoff Harker took another good bumper, this time with Notaproblem, ridden by Niall Hannity. On the all-weather, Sir Nod, bred by owner Brian Nordan and Sue Camacho and trained by daughter Julie Camacho, won a Wolverhampton maiden on New Year's Eve.

David Barron started 2005 with a winner at Southwell on New Year's Day, when Philip Makin partnered Old Bailey. Tony Hamilton, another 3lb claimer, won for Noel Wilson on Air Mail and Bryan Smart was another quick off the blocks with Creskeld, Chris Catlin up.

David 'Dandy' Nicholls won there next day with Susiedil, son Adrian taking the ride.

At Lingfield on Tuesday, both Kevin Ryan and jockey Neil Callan, and David Barker with Robert Winston, looked set to continue this year as last, winning with Spence Appeal and Whinhill House respectively.

Wednesday saw Richard Fahey's first win of the year, Sir Sandrovitch taking the seller.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Friday. - Sedgefield: Minster Shadow (trained by C Grant, at Wolviston; owned by A Cairns & partners), ridden by R McGrath; Hope Sound (B Ellison, Norton; R Wagner), W Renwick; King Of The Artic (J Wade, Mordon; permit holder), B Harding.

Wolverhampton AW: Sir Nod (J Camacho, Norton; Hb (homebred by owner or connection), B Nordan), D Allan.

Saturday. - Catterick: Galero (H Johnson, Crook; A & G Wylie), K Renwick; Time Marches On (K Reveley, Lingdale; Hb, Mrs M B Thwaites), R McGrath; Has Scored (F Murphy, West Witton; The Has Scored Partnership), Mr T J Dreaper; Real Shady (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Lord Daresbury), Mr T Greenall (5).

Southwell AW: Old Bailey (D Barron, Maunby; J Baggot), P Makin (claiming 3lb apprentice allowance); Air Mail (N Wilson, Malton; I W Glenton, J Watson, S Downes) T Hamilton (3); Creskeld (B Smart, Hambleton; Creskeld Racing), C Catlin.

Sunday. - Southwell AW: Susiedil (D Nicholls, Sessay; Dream On), A Nicholls.

Monday. - Wetherby: Top The Bill (S Watt, Brompton on Swale; permit holder), K Mercer (5); Pay Attention (T Easterby, Great Habton; Ryedale Partners No 6), R Garritty; Donovan (R Guest, Brancepeth; Concertina Racing), L McGrath (3); Narciso (M W Easterby), Mr T Greenall (5); Devil's Run (J Wade; J Wade), J Crowley; Notaproblem (G Harker, Wensley; J J Maguire), N Hannity.

Tuesday. - Lingfield AW: Spence Appeal (K Ryan, Hambleton; R Peel), N Callan; Whinhill House (D Barker, Scorton; J J Crosier), R Winston.

Wednesday. - Southwell AW: Sir Sandrovitch (R Fahey, Musley Bank; R W G Moore & G Winton), T Hamilton (3).