ARCALIS, at a prohibitive 1-5, made it two wins from two outings over hurdles at Newcastle last Saturday and is now aimed at the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Graham and Andrea Wylie's hurdler won by no less than 14 lengths and trainer Howard Johnson was pleased with this, but added that Tony Dobbin said he needed faster ground and a stronger gallop.

"Although he's been learning his trade, he has been frightening the opposition away and they haven't been good enough to give him a proper race. He didn't have anything more than an exercise gallop.

"As for Cheltenham, we'll enter him in a few more races and decide nearer the day." Arcalis is our Boxing Day tip for success in the south.

Keith Reveley is also thinking of Cheltenham after Rambling Minster won the three-mile handicap hurdle and is now eligible for a £100,000 bonus from Betfair if he lands any of the Festival races. The Lingdale trainer is thinking of the new novice three-mile race next March. He also won with Hidden Bounty, both partnered by Richie McGrath.

Ferdy Murphy's lad Keith Mercer, who won at Catterick last Thursday on Basilea Star, kept the team's momentum going by winning on Supreme Developer at Newcastle.

Later, a recovered Kenny Johnson won on Fred Kirby's own Sound Of Cheers. Johnson was off more than four months with six broken ribs, a punctured lung and broken shoulder after a fall at Uttoxeter in June.

Malcolm Jefferson and his rider Fergus King won on Friday at Uttoxeter with Polar Gunner and next day at Haydock with Roman Ark. Don Forster was surprised at the course by the win of Ossmoses on his first outing since February.

Catterick saw a Richard Guest double last Thursday, Stan partnered by Henry Oliver and Tiger Talk by amateur James Moorman, his first winner. Tony Dobbin was injured and missed a Howard Johnson winner, Lord Capitaine, who was ridden instead by Warren Marston.

Amateur rider Tom Dreaper, who has been with Robert Alner for 18 months, is to join Ferdy Murphy's yard at Wynbury, West Witton. The 21-year-old is the grandson of the well-known Irish trainer of the same name.

Let's hope that both Wetherby and Catterick can hold their festive meetings, so much part of the Christmas and New Year fun up here, but as we go to press, the forecast is for frost and snow.

The Rowland Merrick is the highlight of Wetherby's Boxing Day meeting, which is thought by course officials to be just 50-50 to go ahead.

Entries in that chase include Truckers Tavern (Murphy), Lord Transcend (Johnson), Moss Harvey (Jefferson), Cruise Director, trained by Chris Grant, whose string regained form this week, and Ryalux (Andy Crook), one of our 15 to follow.

A fascinating race, with Jefferson's, Grant's and Crook's all course and distance winners, although, unless the top horse comes out, Cruise Director is just out of the handicap. This is pin-picking time, but if running, we would side with Moss Harvey off a handy mark.

Better to back at Kempton if Ferdy Murphy runs either or both Tribal Venture and Your A Gassman in the Kempton novice hurdle and/or Basilea Star in the handicap hurdle (3.45). All have good chances. Andrew Turnell has Kew Jumper in the novice handicap chase later on that card and this might show enough improvement to go close. Perhaps a forecast with Scotch Corner (N A Twiston-Davies) might not go amiss.

ON THE FLAT

Pearl Of Love and five stable-mates were going from Mark Johnston's Kingsley House yard to Dubai, with the Dubai World Cup on the agenda for the colt on March 26. Gateman, Carte Sauvage, Mystical Girl, Wake and Go Padero make up the rest of the Middleham team.

Truckle, one of those sold out of Johnston's yards for 22,000gns in October, took a Wolverhampton maiden on Monday, Joe Fanning riding for trainer Chris Fairhurst and owner William Hill from the Masham area.

Callan took a double for away-from-here trainers and headed the all-weather championship list on 23, four ahead of Eddie Ahern. He added another on Tuesday at Southwell for the in-form Karl Burke.

Philip Makin won on Thursday last for David Barron at Southwell on Forfeiter, completing a double later. He had his apprentice allowance (claim) reduced to 3lb after these successes. Robert Winston won there on Tuesday for Scorton trainer David Barker.

Andrew Turnell was successful for his patrons, the Hollowoods, under both codes, The Names Bond winning at Warwick on Saturday, partnered by amateur Tom O'Brien, and Blue Bajan at Wolverhampton on Monday under Adrian Nicholls.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Catterick: Stan (trained by R Guest, at Brancepeth; owned by P Beck), ridden by H Oliver; Basilea Star (F Murphy, West Witton; B J O'Rourke), K Mercer (claiming 5lb allowance); Lord Capitaine (H Johnson, Crook; The Scottish Steeplechasing Partnership), W Marston; Tiger Talk (R Guest; P Beck), Mr J Moorman (7).

Southwell AW: Forfeiter (D Barron, Maunby; I Armitage); P Makin (5).

Friday. - Uttoxeter: Polar Gunner (M Jefferson, Norton; Mrs M E Dixon), F King (3); Briar's Mist (C Grant, Wolviston; T Hemmings), R McGrath.

Saturday. - Haydock: Roman Ark (M Jefferson; R Collins), F King (3); Ossmoses (D Forster, Heighington; trainer), D Dennis.

Newcastle: The Duke's Speech (T Tate, Tadcaster; The Ivy Syndicate), G Berridge (5); Hidden Bounty (K Reveley, Lingdale; M E Foxton), R McGrath; Arcalis (H Johnson; A & G Wylie), T Dobbin; Supreme Developer (F Murphy; Mrs A N Durkan), K Mercer (5); Rambling Minster (K Reveley; The Lingdale Optimists), R McGrath; Sound Of Cheers (F Kirby, Danby Wiske; permit holder), K Johnson.

Warwick: The Names Bond (A Turnell, Malton; Mrs C Hollowood), Mr T J O'Brien (7).

Monday. - Wolverhampton AW: Truckle (C Fairhurst, Middleham; W Hill), J Fanning; Blue Bajan (A Turnell; Hb (homebred by owners or connections), Dr J Hollowood), A Nicholls.

Tuesday. - Southwell AW: Radiant Bride (K Burke, Wensley; Spigot Lodge Partnership), N Callan; Whinhill House (D Barker, Scorton; J J Crosier), R Winston