Attraction makes it a Classic year for Middleham

Attraction added the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot to scoop the fillies' Triple Crown, an eighth win in a row. Kevin Darley partnered her to all her great successes - of which more below, as we review the year from the lowly all-weather in January to Royal Ascot in June.

Leaving aside Darley, who must by now be an honorary DST-land man, Flat jockeys of the year, as far as we were concerned, were Joe Fanning, Paul Hanagan, Neil Callan, David Allan and apprentices Philip Makin and Paul Mulrennan.

On the jumps side, no one was better than Graham Lee, the Teesside rider, whom we wish a speedy recovery from his shattered, and now plated, arm. He was the National king, having landed the Grand National at Aintree and added the Scottish and Durham marathon events, too.

Keith Mercer, who turned conditional (jumps apprentice) from his amateur state in June, impressed all year, especially on horses trained by his boss Ferdy Murphy.

Story of the year in the National Hunt was the rise and rise of horses owned by former Sage computer software supremo Graham Wylie and his wife Andrea and trained by Howard Johnson. This northern team, with their jockey Lee, have taken the jumps scene by storm since the Wylies' first purchases in October 2003 at Doncaster.

Last spring, Mr Wylie joined Newcastle and Sedgefield racecourses as a non-executive director. About Easter time, he went shopping for more horses and Johnson again took out a Flat licence. In May, Arcalis won on the level at Ayr and in June came the Wylies' first two-year-old winner at Hamilton.

Patrick Haslam and wife Ann were as proud as punch in May when their son, Ben, then aged 19, won one of just 12 places in an assisted student scheme, Darley Stud Flying Start, organised by Sheikh Mohammed. Thousands of young people applied worldwide and he won through. He is now learning all sides of the racing industry in England, Ireland, Australia, the United States and Dubai.

Ben has been riding out for the Haslam team since he was 13 and, after A-levels last year, had been in Newmarket and South Africa working with Joey Ramsden, son of Jack Ramsden, Lynda's husband. Until he started in the new scheme, he assisted his father with the 65 horses in his care, including collecting the award won by Patrick as the Jumping Stable of the Year at Sandown.

JANUARY

Frost and freeze saw emphasis on the all-weather, where the first Regional Racing - banded racing for lower grade horses - took place at Wolverhampton. Declan Carroll was the first trainer to win in this category, with Cleveland Bay.

Jumping returned at Wetherby and Graham Lee started the year meaning business, winning for Alan Lockwood. A Musselburgh treble followed swiftly, including two for Howard Johnson.

Davy Russell also won at the Scottish course, for trainer Ferdy Murphy. Shortly afterwards, the racing world was shocked when Russell and the West Witton trainer split because the Irish rider was riding in Ireland at weekends and not getting back to Wensleydale in time for work on Mondays.

Lee won at Cheltenham for the first time since coming to the UK from Ireland in 1993, landing the valuable Ladbroke Trophy, a Listed handicap hurdle, for Peter Beaumont on Hunters Tweed.

Conditional rider Ross Utley, 20, partnered a first ever winner at Wetherby and Ashley Dempsey, 21, took a first win for his new boss Kate Walton at Musselburgh. Fellow claimer Paddy Aspell, 22, left Mary Reveley's yard and joined Brian Rothwell.

FEBRUARY

Tyneandthyneagain won the Skybet Chase (formerly Great Yorkshire) in a mudbath at Doncaster to raise hopes of another Richard Guest Grand National - remember Red Marauder? The trainer also renewed his riding licence, but kept young Henry Oliver on Norman Mason's homebred young chaser, who went on to land the Tote Eider in fine style at Newcastle later in the month, humping top weight.

Graham Lee and Howard Johnson continued winning for the Wylies, Royal Rosa, Albany, Dalaram and Rayshan adding to the list, and for several of the yard's other supporters. Snow and frost did not stop the team as Johnson drove his own horsebox to Haydock at the end of the month, where Royal Rosa (Lee) won the Grade 2 Red Square Vodka Prestige Novices' Hurdle.

Tim Easterby had another good winner, Edmo Yewkay. At Wetherby, he took his 200th jumps victory, provided by Turgeonev. Patrick Haslam's King Revo made it four from four in the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Haydock.

On Leap Year's Day at Musselburgh Henry Oliver won the John Smith's Handicap Hurdle, a £15,000 race, from the front on Wet Lips, David O'Meara won on the Tim Easterby-trained Silver Coin and 20-year-old Mark Walford, a point-to-point winner, landed his first under rules on Guilsborough Gorse, trained by father Tim at Sheriff Hutton. Ben Orde-Powlett partnered Enzo De Baune to another victory.

On the all-weather scoresheet as usual were Karl Burke, David Barron and Patrick Haslam, whose new jockey Gavin Faulkner landed a brace at Wolverhampton. Don Enrico Incisa also added Middleham successes, as did Mark Johnston. Linda Stubbs got off the seasonal mark, daughter Kirstin riding. David Chapman, Nigel Tinkler and John Weymes were among those taking AW races, too, as well as Mick Easterby and nephew Tim.

MARCH

Peter Beaumont and Russ Garritty won with Sharpastrizam at Leicester early in the month. Tim Easterby sent out Minivet to win at Doncaster, where Harry Hogarth showed a return to form with Juralan, ridden by Easterby's lad, David O'Meara. At Catterick, permit holder Stephen Clark, nearly two years without a winner, and Chris Fairhurst, some five or so months, both took good wins.

The Howard Johnson-Wylies bandwagon rolled onwards and Inglis Drever, Graham Lee up, was second in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. Our only success at the Festival was the win by Our Armageddon in the Cathcart, Richard Guest sending him out two days after being pulled up in the Arkle. Liam McGrath was in the saddle.

Doncaster came and Mick Easterby and apprentice Paul Mulrennan topped the Flat season titles for half an hour, as they took the first turf race of the season. Linda Stubbs took the Brocklesby with Next Time Around. Chris Fairhurst, for whom 2003 saw no winners, quickly got off the mark with Rahwaan, also a recent hurdles winner. Mark Johnston sent out one of his Derby possibles, King Of Dreams, to win.

The Lincoln second, third and fourth were "ours", being Quito (David Chapman), Dark Charm and Wing Commander (both Richard Fahey). Kevin Ryan scooped the sprint spoils with Dario Gee Gee, and hit the turf season at high speed.

At Catterick's first meeting David Barron landed the Gods Solution Handicap for the seventh time, with Nathan Brittles. Others off the mark for the summer at the Yorkshire course were Brian Ellison and Michael Dods. The racecourse stables were to be rebuilt and given flood defence from the nearby Swale so, during the early part of the season, meetings were transferred elsewhere.

APRIL

"It's the best day of my life by a long, long way and I'll probably never experience anything like it again." So said Graham Lee, winning the Grand National on Amberleigh House for Ginger McCain. Lee had begun the Aintree meeting in fine fashion for trainer Brian Ellison, winning the Martell Cognac Beefeater Restaurants Handicap Hurdle, the Listed event, on Zibeline.

Mary Reveley, who played a large part in Lee's early days in the north, won the bumper race on the Saturday, a Grade 2 event, as Diamond Sal beat Young Scotton (Kevin Ryan) in a duel to the line. This was the trainer's 2,000th victory in Britain but no announcement of retirement was made then.

October Mist, her useful hurdler, whose new chasing career had been patchy, returned to the Flat at Newcastle and gave her a daily double, scoring under Seb Sanders. Mrs Reveley had trod on a nail, so she was at neither meeting to mark her remarkable record.

Ferdy Murphy won the big one at Fairyhouse when Granit D'Estruval took the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National. Murphy blamed his quiet season on ringworm - recent signs of returns to form also brought an across-the-sea double, Looking Forward winning a more down-to-earth event at Sedgefield.

A third National came our way, as Lee took his second in a fortnight when Grey Abbey, trained by Johnson, was in the van all the way round Ayr for the Scottish version. Granit D'Estruval was putting up a game fight of it when falling near the end.

It ended on April 24 at Sandown and Perth, and started again on April 25 at Wetherby - the National Hunt season, that is. Lee and Johnson so nearly pulled off a fourth top jumps win for our area, the Betfred (formerly Whitbread) Gold Cup Chase, with Scotmail Boy, who ran well and gave us great hopes, only to be pulled up and found lame. The 11-year-old was retired afterwards to go to owner George Tobbitt's home in Surrey.

The Esher course, with both jumps and Flat, blends the best of British racing at this meeting each year.

The Friday saw Lord Bolton's son, Ben Orde-Powlett, in his best ride ever, coming second on Enzo De Baune, trained at the family's Bolton Park, Wensley, by Geoff Harker. Up at Perth, Harker fared better as Niall Hannity won on Cyborg De Sou.

On the level, Bryan Smart scooped the Group 3 Gladness Stakes at the Curragh with Monsieur Bond. Later in the month, he upset the applecart with a 22-1 winner of the Ripon Silver Bowl Stakes, Bonne De Fleur making most under Fergal Lynch, the filly bred by her owner Nerys Jefford.

Lynda Ramsden has lost no time in big profile wins for owner-breeder David Brotherton. Bishops Court landed a Newbury sprint and Cape Royal followed suit at Epsom, both partnered by Frankie Dettori.

Keith Dalgleish on Gateman landed the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket. This brought the battling gelding's tenth win and a prize money career total of £300,000. Fanning won the Fielden Stakes on Gold History at Newmarket.

Johnston - helped by the Ripon racecourse officials - won all hearts by galloping Attraction between races at the Yorkshire track in preparation for her Guineas run.

Stanley Chin partnered Scott's View in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin, Hong Kong. They were a valiant third after trouble in running.

The last day of the month saw a newcomer follow the Attraction route, as Joseph Henry (Fanning up) won for owner-breeders John Brown and Megan Dennis, landing the Nottingham novice race.

MAY

Attraction won the 1,000 Guineas under Kevin Darley at Newmarket on May 2 to maintain her unbeaten record of five wins and give Mark Johnston his second Classic success a decade after Mister Baileys. The Duke of Roxburghe was delighted with his homebred filly, whom no one wanted as her front legs were not classically shaped. Further, she broke a pedal bone the previous summer and spent a long period of box rest before coming back into training.

Bandari (Fanning) also returned to winning form at Newmarket on May 1. The next day, Fanning was seen at his best in the Maktoum colours landing the Portland Lodge on Master Marvel. Bandari won again at the Chester meeting, Richard Hill up. Systematic added the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes when Kevin Darley was in the saddle, sporting the Maktoum colours.

History was made by Middleham at the Curragh on May 23, when Attraction became the first filly to land both the 1,000 Guineas and its Irish equivalent. Patrick Haslam's Kinnaird nearly landed third under Mick Kinane, just tiring a little in the closing stages to be overtaken and finish fourth, beaten only about four lengths.

Johnston sent Darasim over to Baden-Baden, Germany, and the stalwart won the Group 3 Betty Barclay-Rennen under a fine Joe Fanning ride, another front-running success.

Mick Easterby landed the Thirsk Hunt Cup with Blue Spinnaker. David Nicholls and son Adrian took a Chester seven plus furlongs handicap with Chappel Crescent and Brian Ellison added the mile and a half handicap for a second year, with Court Of Appeal.

The only local story at York's May meeting was Bryan Smart, who sent out Monsieur Bond to Group 2 success on the first day, scooping the Duke of York Stakes for owner Reg Bond. James Bethell's Mine won the Victoria Cup under Richard Quinn at Ascot.

David Barker sent down Peter Asquith's homebred Celtic Mill to win a Windsor Listed race and also won with him at Thirsk.

Graham Lee added yet another National to his tally - the Durham one, run at Sedgefield, on Lord Capitaine, trained by Howard Johnson. Johnson sent out a rare Flat winner, having resumed a dual licence, when the Wylies' Arcalis won at Ayr.

JUNE

Tim Easterby landed the Hilary Needler at Beverley for the fourth time since 1998, with Miss Meggy, unconsidered at 16-1 and partnered by young David Allan. The filly had landed a Thirsk novice event at 20-1 in May.

This race was won the previous year by Guineas heroine Attraction, but whether Miss Meggy - or stablemate Mizz Tee, who finished with tremendous speed after a tardy start to finish a near fifth - can come close to this year's fairytale next summer remains to be seen.

Golden Nun gave Irishman Robert Winston a first win on his native soil. Tim Easterby's runner landed the Kerry Group Ballyogan Stakes at Cork on June 12, a Group 3 race, to earn her trainer's accolade of "one of the gamest and soundest fillies I've ever trained."

Mick Easterby landed the Zetland Gold Cup in fine style when Paul Mulrennan swooped late and fast with Blue Spinnaker.

Mark Johnston was in irrepressible form and among his top-notch successes was a win by Bandari in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, Willie Supple partnering the revived northern hero, one of a Sandown three-timer as Stanley Chin won on Musical Girl and Joe Fanning on Golden Quest.

David Nicholls sponsored a race at York in memory of his late secretary, Sarah Lunn, and fittingly won it with Pax. Sarah had a share in the horse and her parents, Geoff and Jackie Lunn, presented the prize afterwards to her brother Nick.

David Barron pulled off the Scottish Sprint Cup with Peter Savill's Raccoon. Epsom, Doncaster - all came alike for consistent northerner Uhoomagoo. On Oaks day at the Surrey track, Kevin Ryan's charge won the Vodafone Mile despite his 5lb penalty for his win the Saturday before on the Town Moor. On Derby day, Robert Winston won the Vodafone Dash on Caribbean Coral for John Quinn.

David Barron said his string had not been well, with ringworm in the yard, but he landed an apprentice-ridden treble on Oaks day, one from Philip Makin at Thirsk plus two at Wolverhampton thanks to Laura-Jayne Crawford and Paul Mulrennan.

At Hamilton, Graham and Andrea Wylie saw their first two-year-old romp home in the maiden stakes. Abraxas Antelope, under Robert Winston and trained by Howard Johnson, trounced a strong field.

At Royal Ascot, Johnston won the Ascot Stakes with Double Obsession. Attraction, the wonder filly, in her eighth unbeaten race landed the Coronation Stakes.

James Bethell's Mine landed the Royal Hunt Cup. Tim Easterby won the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes with Fayr Jag. David Nicholls had an emotional first Royal Ascot winner when Lafi landed the Wokingham to celebrate his tenth wedding anniversary with wife Alex Greaves