IRISH eyes, along with Yorkshire eyes and Lakeland eyes, were certainly smiling as Ferdy Murphy won the big one at Fairyhouse in his native country on Monday, Granit d'Estruval taking the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National under a fine Brian Harding ride.

Owner Walter Gott, a retired poultry producer from the Lake District, was thrilled, as was the West Witton trainer, who has had a thin time this season.

Granit d'Estruval, at 33-1, was a surprise winner to many, but, as Murphy pointed out, the horse is best going right-handed. That rules out tomorrow's Scottish National, which in any case, he said, was too soon.

He was pleased for Mr Gott, a "tremendous supporter," who had Addington Boy, winner of the Mumm Melling Chase, his biggest success until Monday. Murphy also praised the jockey, "a seriously good rider."

He blamed the relatively 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.

Howard Johnson and Graham Lee continued their tremendous form with a Sedgefield win to add to their Saturday Carlisle double, including one for Graham and Andrea Wylie. This was Flownaway, bred by Guy Reed out of his Warpath mare, No More Rosies, and by Polar Falcon.

Guy Reed's Pablo, another he bred, made up for not recapturing the Lincoln when winning the West Midlands Conditions Stakes at Warwick on Easter Monday.

Mark Johnston's early-season successes give hints of what's to come and, with his string and Patrick Haslam's hopeful, Kinnaird, Middleham has a good chance in both Guineas.

Scott's View fulfilled the promise seen in Dubai during the winter and Stanley Chin partnered him to a good Kempton Listed win in the Magnolia Stakes on Monday. The winner has been invited to Hong Kong for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on April 25, the first leg of the World Series.

Chin, 29, who won on the horse twice in Dubai, is back in Middleham now, but travels to Hong Kong to partner Scott's View. He was champion apprentice in the country in 1991 and knows Sha Tin well.

Royston Ffrench had won at Musselburgh on Thursday last on Master Marvel and Joe Fanning added a Sunday double at the Scottish course for the Kingsley House supremo, on Joseph Henry and Gran Dana.

Keith Dalgleish crowned the week for the team when Gateman landed the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday.

ALL THE WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Bath: Time To Relax (trained by J Quinn, at Settrington; owned by G Liles), ridden by R Quinn.

Musselburgh: Bold Marc (K Burke,Wensley; Market Avenue Racing Club 1), D Williams; Master Marvel (M Johnston, Middleham; Maktoum Al Maktoum), R Ffrench.

Ludlow NH: Prince Of Persia (R Guest, Brancepeth; Ddb Racing), H Oliver (sold after for 13,000gns to R Brookhouse).

Saturday. - Haydock: Zero Tolerance (D Barron, Maunby; The Hornsey Warriors Racing Syndicate), M Fenton; Imperialistic (K Burke; Homebred (Hb) Bigwigs Bloodstock), D Williams; Benbyas (D Carroll, Warthill; Hb, C H Stephenson & Partners), D Todhope (claiming 7lbs allowance).

Carlisle NH: Robbo (M Reveley, Lingdale; The Scarth Racing Partnership), F King (5); Moonlit Harbour (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; S Hull), Mr T Greenall (7); Grattan Lodge (H Johnson, Crook; W M G Black), G Lee; Flownaway (H Johnson; A & G Wylie), G Lee.

Sunday. - Musselburgh: Joseph Henry (M Johnston; Hb, J Brown & M Dennis), J Fanning; Gran Dana (M Johnston; Mrs I Bird), J Fanning.

Monday. - Kempton: Scott's View (M Johnston; Great Escape Partnership), S Chin.

Redcar: Up Tempo (K Ryan, Hambleton; Yorkshire Racing Club & D Blackhurst), N Callan; Bigalos Bandit (J Quinn; I Buckley), R Winston; Grey Cossack (P Midgley, Westow; Hb, R E Cook), G Parkin; Perfect Balance (N Tinkler, Langton; A & P Findlay), K Tinkler.

Fakenham NH: Golden Thunderstorm (H Alexander, Hanging Grimston; Lever, A Dallas), J Byrne (3).

Huntingdon NH: Gracilis (A Swinbank, Melsonby; M H Watt), J Crowley.

Sedgefield: Sir Night (J O'Keeffe, Coverham; Highbeck Racing), A Dempsey; Looking Forward (F Murphy, West Witton; Mrs G Handley), B Keniry; Anshan (G Tuer, Great Smeaton; G Tuer), Mr G Tuer (3); Teme Valley (H Johnson; C Heron), G Lee.

Fairyhouse: (Irish National) Granit D'Estruval (F Murphy; W J Gott), B Harding.

Wednesday. - Newmarket: Gateman (M Johnston; Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds V), K Dalgleish.

Beverley: Open Handed (B Ellison, Norton; Mrs A M Mallinson), T Eaves (5); Proud Boast (D Nicholls, Sessay; P D Savill), T Culhane; Calatagan (M Jefferson, Norton; Mr & Mrs J M Davenport), P Hanagan.