SILVER KNIGHT gave us our Boxing Day present as he smoothly took the novice chase at Wetherby by 21 lengths under Russ Garritty. Tim Easterby said afterwards, "He loves jumping but he's still a bit green." He will probably stay in novice chases this season.

Meanwhile, down at Kempton, Howard Johnson and the Wylies' new pricey purchase, Valley Henry, was prominent in the King George VI when falling at the 13th, looking every bit a possible winner.

Sedgefield's festive fare included wins by Howard Johnson's stable stalwart Teme Valley, who loves the course. Owned by Chris Heron, whose wife Ann was celebrating her birthday, Teme Valley has won at Sedgefield eight times in his nine successes.

It was a first win for young Peter Buchanan, who joined the Johnson team three months back, having been a good Irish point-to-point rider. Alan Swinbank's Touch Closer also won well under Jim Crowley.

Kevin Ryan's Petrula made his flat class tell in the Wetherby novice handicap hurdle, speeding away from the rest. Micky Hammond sent former classy flat horse Maniatis to Uttoxeter to contest, and win, the seller.

Formerly with Amanda Perrett, Maniatis had been fifth in the Sefton Stakes, but had problems since. However, the Hammond winner was sold at the auction after the hurdle race for 8,800gns and did not return to Middleham.

Richard Guest took two at Market Rasen, where Jim Turner and Tim Easterby also had successes.

Silver Knight's two wins at Wetherby so far have added to the lustre of our Fifteen to Follow, but we were not so fortunate with the Rowland Merrick there on Saturday. Four of our 15 were head to head - and none won. Best of the bunch was A Piece Of Cake (Mary Reveley) who was fourth in the race won by Gunner Welburn under man-in-form Richard McGrath for Hampshire trainer Andrew Balding.

Truckers Tavern (Ferdy Murphy) fell five out but looked likely to take a hand, Hussard Collonges (Peter Beaumont) was still to the fore when falling a fence earlier, but Jungle Jinks (George Moore) looked as if something was amiss and was pulled up when losing touch.

Patrick Haslam with King Revo, Chris Grant with Cruise Leader and Mick Easterby with Middlethorpe were all on the scorecard at the West Yorkshire course. Andrew Turnell won at Leicester with Six Pack.

McGrath went on from his Wetherby double to land Monday's distance hurdle at Haydock on 33-1 shot Star Council for Brian Rothwell. The Nawton trainer said he had bought the mare to chase, but she didn't like the fences: "She wins when she's in good humour - and she was in good humour today!"

The frost has hit again and Catterick's New Year's Eve meeting was cancelled. Michael Dods sent Smith N Allan Oils down to Lingfield where the all-weather track was fine on Tuesday, and the northern raider duly won under Robert Winston.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Friday last week. - Wetherby: nov chs, Silver Knight (FtF) (trained by Tim Easterby, at Great Habton; owned by C H Stevens), ridden by Russ Garritty; nov hcp hdl, Petrula (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Mr & Mrs Peter Foden) Mr M Seston (claiming 7lbs allowance).

Market Rasen: mdn hdl, Ottoman (Richard Guest, Brancepeth; Leslie John Garrett), Larry McGrath (5); sllg hcp hdl, Vulcan Lane (Richard Guest; Miss C Metcalfe), Larry McGrath (5); nov hcp chs, Rosie Redman (Jim Turner, Norton-le-Clay; Miss S J Turner), David O'Meara; mdn hdl, Barton Hill (Tim Easterby; Homebred (Hb) Sir Stanley Clark), David O'Meara (3).

Sedgefield: hcp hdl, Touch Closer (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; C N Barnes), Jim Crowley; hcp hdl, Teme Valley (Howard Johnson, Crook; Chris Heron), P Buchanan (7).

Uttoxeter: sllg hdl, Maniatis (Micky Hammond, Middleham; Andy Peake), J P Byrne (3).

Saturday. - Leicester: nov hcp chs, Six Pack (Andrew Turnell, Malton; J J Canny), Paul Flynn.

Wetherby: juv nov hdl, King Revo (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Dick Renwick & Mrs C Barclay), Graham Lee; nov hcp chs, Cruise Leader (Chris Grant, Wolviston; Trevor Hemmings), Richard McGrath; hcp hdl, Middlethorpe (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Hb, J H Quickfall & A G Black), Gino Carenza (5).

Monday. - Haydock: hcp hdl, Star Council (Brian Rothwell, Nawton; Mrs Liz Hunt), Richard McGrath.

Tuesday. - Lingfield AW: 7f, Smith N Allan Oils (Michael Dods, Piercebridge; Smith & Allan Racing), Robert Winston