THERE is no finer trainer of fillies than Tim Easterby - except maybe his father before him - and the Great Habton handler landed the Hilary Needler at Beverley on Wednesday evening for the fourth time since 1998, but not with the expected filly.

The favourite Mizz Tee virtually sat down in the stalls and Willie Supple had to bustle her along to recover, while young David Allan on Miss Meggy, unconsidered at 16-1, was always travelling well.

In a battling finish, the longer-priced Easterby filly just beat brother-in-law Richard Fahey's runner, Tagula Sunrise. The Exacta paid £233 plus.

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

Fahey had compensation, though, when newcomer Bolton Hall beat a hot field of two-year-olds later.

Mick Easterby, brother of Peter and uncle of Tim and Richard, landed the Zetland Gold Cup in fine style on Monday when Paul Mulrennan swooped late and fast with Blue Spinnaker. Tuesday evening saw him land a valuable Sandown handicap with Acomb, Kieren Fallon up.

Mark Johnston is in irrepressible form and among his top-notch successes this week was a win by Bandari in Tuesday night's Brigadier Gerard Stakes, Willie Supple partnering the northern revived hero.

This was only one of a Sandown three-timer for the Kingsley House team, as Stanley Chin won on Mystical Girl earlier and Joe Fanning on Golden Quest later. Fanning had partnered Penrith to a Pontefract Friday win, too.

Stanley Chin misses the ride at Epsom today on Scott's View, as he has a ban for an earlier expense, so Kieren Fallon has been booked, while Kevin Darley has the mount on stablemate Systematic. Both are in the Vodafone Coronation Cup and it is hard to split the pair.

Johnston's Pearl Of Love goes to Chantilly on Sunday for the Prix Jean Prat as part of his preparation for Royal Ascot. Attraction is reported by the trainer as being in excellent form, bucking and kicking, and may reappear in Ascot's Coronation Stakes in a fortnight's time.

The Middleham trainers' charity tips contest is going to be a hot thing this year. Already, three of the trainers' spouses have succeeded. Last week, Sally (wife of James) Bethell's choice, Mine, and Peter (husband of Kate) Walton's tip, Gay Oscar, both won. On Thursday at Ayr, it was the turn of Deidre Johnston, when Leo's Lucky Star won under Joe Fanning.

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

ALL THE WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Ayr: Another Bottle (trained by T Tate, at Tadcaster; owned by J Hanson), ridden by D Gibson; Leo's Lucky Star (M Johnston, Middleham; Mrs S J Brookhouse), J Fanning.

Wetherby NH ev: Agnese (G Moore, Middleham; Homebred (Hb) Mtd H I S Calzini), B Keniry.

Huntingdon NH ev: Karajan (G Moore; J R F (Management Consultants) Ltd), R Garritty.

Fri. - York: Mix Chicaf (J Wainwright, Kennythorpe; A D Cooley), K Fallon; Smiddy Hill (R Bastiman, Cowthorpe; Hb, I B Barker), R Ffrench; Efidium (N Bycroft, Brandsby; Hambleton Racing Partnership), C Catlin; Pax (D Nicholls, Sessay; trainer), L Treadwell (claiming 7lbs allowance).

Pontefract ev: Bailieborough (D Nicholls; Middleham Park Racing XVIII), A Greaves; Grey Clouds (T Easterby, Great Habton; Vintage Partners), W Supple; Penrith (M Johnston, Middleham; Sheikh Mohammed), J Fanning.

Sat. - Doncaster: Hiccups (L Ramsden, Sandhutton; J M & Mrs E E Ranson), R Winston; Uhoomagoo (K Ryan, Hambleton; J Duddy & T Fawcett), N Callan; Jubilee Street (A Duffield, Constable Burton; D W Holdsworth & J A McMahon), S Golam.

Musselburgh: Raccoon (D Barron, Maunby; Hb, P D Savill), S Saunders; Theater Of Dreams (D Nicholls; trainer), A Nicholls; Catch The Cat (J Wainwright; T W Heseltine), G Parkin.

Hexham NH: Why The Big Paws (R Guest, Brancepeth; Blaydon Racers Partnership), P Griffiths (7); Polished (R Guest; The Cherry Blossom Partnership), H Oliver; Ottoman (R Guest; L J Garrett), H Oliver; Vitelli (A Swinbank, Melsonby; Scotnorth Racing Ltd), J Crowley; Middleway (K Milligan, Middleham; Hb, Mrs J M L Milligan), B Keniry.

Cartmel NH ev: Sovreign State (D W Thompson, Bolam; J Greenbank), C Rafter (3); Littleton Valar (J Weymes, Coverham; Sporting Occasions), K Mercer (7).

Sun. - Uttoxeter NH: Talama Lady (A Swinbank; Mrs B Watson), J Crowley.

Mon. - Chepstow: Always Waining (M Johnston; The Always Trying Partnership), K Dalgleish.

Redcar: Bold Marc (K Burke, Wensley; Market Avenue Racing Club), D Williams; Blue Spinnaker (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; G Sparkes G Hart S Curtis & T Dewhirst), P Mulrennan (5); Sedge (P Midgeley, Westow; P Mee), R Fitzpatrick; Best Port (J Parkes, Upper Helmsley; M Wormald), M Lawson (5).

Tue. - Leicester: Times Review (T Easterby; Times of Wigan), K Darley.

Redcar: Archirondel (M Hammond, Middleham; The Archi Partnership), T Culhane; Nocatee (P Haslam, Middleham; Middleham Park Racing & Middleham Turf), G Faulkner.

Sandown ev: Mystical Girl (M Johnston; T T Bloodstocks), S Chin; Bandari (M Johnston; Hamdan Al Maktoum), W Supple; Acomb (M Easterby; G W Pritchard-Gordon), K Fallon; Golden Quest (M Johnston; Syndicate 2002), J Fanning.

Hexham NH ev: Mr Christie (L Siddall, Colton; Lynn Siddall Racing), J Crowley.

Wed. - Newcastle: Soaked (D Chapman, Stillington; trainer), T Culhane; Rotuma (M Dods, Piercebridge; Denton Hall Racing Ltd), L Enstone (3).

Beverley ev: Miss Meggy (T Easterby; D W Armstrong), D Allan; Bolton Hall (R Fahey, Malton; J J Staunton), P Hanagan.