RECORDS were falling for Middleham trainers, the guests heard last Thursday evening at the Blue Lion, East Witton.

Not only the recent great success of Attraction in the 1,000 Guineas, but also Master Wells was James Bethell's 300th winner on the Flat in Britain, Patrick Haslam had sent out a 700th career winner recently and Karl Burke was nearing his 500th career win.

So spoke John Sexton, well-known horse race writer from Cherry Burton, near Beverley, after dinner when the Trainers Association were entertaining the press, thanks to the help of SkyBet and their boss Dale Tempest, who comes from the Harrogate area.

Among those enjoying the evening was Clare Balding of the BBC, as well as a wide range of fellow journalists from London to Yorkshire.

James Bethell, head of the association, thanked the sponsors and welcomed everyone, and Mr Tempest said that his organisation was delighted to support Middleham and Malton.

SkyBet had wanted to help put Middleham on the map, but could not better Mark and Deirdre Johnston's efforts, in particular with Attraction.

The trainers and their wives, partners or guests at the dinner 12 months back had given personal choices of horses from their yard to follow, Mr Tempest said. The winning-most tipster had been Karl Burke with Blue Sky Thinking, so he had been given £1,000 as a prize.

The Spigot Lodge trainer chose to pass this on to the Macmillan cancer nurses appeal.

SkyBet also gave £500 to Deirdre Johnston, whose tip last year of Pearl Of Love had won at the highest grade. She has donated her prize to multiple sclerosis research.

During the evening, Mark Johnston told Racing Week that Attraction was certainly going to the Irish 1,000 Guineas, and the only things he feared were that the course would be watered or that the O'Brien team would put in pacemakers to harry his filly.

Of course, the Haslam-trained Kinnaird is also headed for the race - so Middleham supporters will have their hearts torn.

After the dinner, John Sexton and Dale Tempest called for the trainers and their guests to name this year's horse to follow.

Karl Burke, Blue Power; Elaine Burke, Million Percent (went on to be third at the weekend); Chris Thornton, Savannah River; Antonia Thornton, Intervac Boy; John Weymes, Spinnakers Girl; his fiance Kirsty Buckle, Jeffs Lottery; James Bethell, Twice Nightly (owned in part by Richard Whiteley); Sally Bethell, Mine; Mark Johnston, Badr; Deidre Johnston, Leo's Lucky Star; Patrick Haslam, Restart; Ann Haslam, Air De Mougin; Kate Walton, Pinnacle Ridge; husband Peter Walton, Gay Oscar; Micky Hammond, Parlour Game; his fiance Hannah Watson, Scorpion Sally.