YES, YES, oh yes! We had only hopes last week, but they came true. Somnus beat the supposedly invincible Oasis Dream in a grinding battle on a rain-softened Haydock turf to land the Group One Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup for Great Habton trainer Tim Easterby on Saturday, a great day there for our area.

Ted Durcan had the ride on this 12-1 winner, which paid £27.40 for the Exacta on the Tote to reward those of us who doubled him with the hot-pot favourite.

For the jockey, this was a welcome return after a lengthy period out with a broken leg, then a broken wrist.

The winner, bred by Lady Ledgard, had been stable star for Easterby last year as a two-year-old and had run well this summer on ground not soft enough for him. Finally, given the soft he needed, Somnus showed again the class of his juvenile days and we look forward to his next outing.

Joe Fanning had a magnificent Haydock treble on Saturday, with two for Mark Johnston and one for David Nicholls. He opened proceedings with Bailey's Dancer in the nursery, another eye-catching youngster from the Kingsley House team. In the distance race, Fanning won for Johnston on The Persuader in a doughty fight.

Keith Dalgleish was on the stable's other runner, Spectrometer, who was only foiled for a one-two for the yard by Star Member. Dalgleish went on to win the Listed mile race on Gateman to complete Johnston's hat-trick, the pair giving a fine front-running display.

Fanning gained his own hat-trick on Dandy Nicholls' Blackheath in the five-furlong sprint and this week has also been seen to good effect for "away" trainers, such as Lambourn's Ian Wood at Carlisle.

Sunday saw him partner James Bethell's King Harson to a surprise 20-1 win at York, a magnificent achievement from the worst draw, as the Middleham pair rushed to the front and maintained the advantage to the line.

Fanning followed up with an even more surprising Middleham win at 50-1, partnering Queen Charlotte for Kate Walton in the mile handicap. This was a first winner with her first runner at the Knavesmire for the Sharp Hill trainer.

Fanning continued partnering Johnston winners through the week, another maiden winner in the shape of Gold History at Leicester and Marinas Park at Doncaster on Wednesday.

Don Enrico Incisa's remarkable Cripsey Brook was third in the latter race and, if running again tomorrow on the Town Moor (2.50), could return to the winner's enclosure.

Royston Ffrench gave Johnston his fourth winner on Saturday at Thirsk, partnering maiden winner Mbosi. The jockey doubled up on Bryan Smart's Familiar Affair.

Ffrench, 28 last Friday, is moving north from Newmarket and is house-hunting in the Middleham area. Other wins this week included Marshallspark for Richard Fahey at Redcar. Fahey's usual jockey Paul Hanagan was in the plate for his Sunday York winner, Philharmonic.

A well-known Middleham family, the Haslams, landed the amateur rider's race on Friday last at Haydock, Ben riding King Revo, trained by his father Patrick.

The trainer also won with Maunby Rocker at Uttoxeter on Sunday, part-owned by Redcar races supremo Peter Hill-Walker of Maunby. The rider was none other than jumps champion Tony McCoy.

The opening day of Doncaster's St Leger meeting also saw a remarkable return by Halmahera to win the Portland for the second year running. Trainer Kevin Ryan chose Frankie Dettori to partner his sprinter and the winner may go on to contest the Ayr Gold Cup a week tomorrow.

Today at Doncaster, we could fancy Lucky Story, Mark Johnston's entry in the Champagne Stakes, with Darryll Holland booked.

Fanning is booked again for Baileys Dancer and Marinas Charm at Goodwood and the latter could well win again, but the former faces a stiffer contest in the Listed race earlier.

We have no local interest in tomorrow's St Leger, but Linda Stubbs has Eastern Pearl entered in the Flying Childers, which could go close.

At Goodwood, the 2.55 sees entries by both Blackheath, Nicholls' Haydock winner, and Safranine, Ann Stokell's Redcar victor - either is a possible - or, of course, whichever Dandy decides to run of his other entries.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Carlisle: 8f, Princes Theatre (trained by Mick Easterby, at Sheriff Hutton; owned by the trainer), ridden by Dale Gibson.

Redcar: 6f, Safranine (Ann Stokell, Brompton on Swale; Mrs Caron Stokell), Pat Mathers (claiming 7lbs); 7f, Marshallspark (Richard Fahey, Malton; J J Staunton), Royston Ffrench.

Friday. - Haydock: 10f, King Revo (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Blue Lion Racing), Mr Ben Haslam (5).

Sedgefield NH: nov hdl, Prize Ring (George Moore, Middleham; Graham Frankland), Richard McGrath; nov hdl, Nandoo (Micky Hammond, Middleham; trainer), Wilson Renwick; nov chs, Virgin Soldier (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; J David Abell), J P McNamara; hcp hdl, In Good Faith (Ron Barr, Seamer; P Cartmell), Robert Walford.

Saturday. - Haydock: 8f, Bailey's Dancer (Mark Johnston, Middleham; G R Bailey Ltd (Baileys Horse Feeds)), Joe Fanning; 14f, The Persuader (M Johnston; D J & F A Jackson), J Fanning; 6f, Somnus (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Homebred (Hb) Legard Sidebottom & Sykes), Ted Durcan; 8f, Gateman (M Johnston; Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds), Keith Dalgleish; 5f, Blackheath (David Nicholls, Sessay; Middleham Park Racing XX & Streamhill), J Fanning.

Thirsk: 8f, Mbosi (M Johnston; A Al-Rostomani), R oyston Ffrench; 7f, Familiar Affair (Bryan Smart, Hambleton; Pinnacle Intikhab Racing), Royston Ffrench; 5f, Raccoon (David Barron, Maunby; Hb, P D Savill), Nicky Mackay (5).

Stratford NH: nov hdl, Hilltime (John Quinn, Settrington; Mrs S Quinn), Russ Garritty.

Wolverhampton AW ev: 7f, Nimello (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Platinum Racing Club), Neil Callan.

Sunday. - York: 7f, King Harson (James Bethell, Middleham; C J Burley), J Fanning; 8f, Queen Charlotte (Kate Walton, Middleham; Paul Colley), J Fanning; 6f, Philharmonic (R Fahey; Hb, Raymond Cowle), P Hanagan.

Uttoxeter NH: juv mdn hdl, Maunby Rocker (Patrick Haslam; P A Hill-Walker & Mrs C Barclay), Tony McCoy; hcp chs, Ceresfield (Richard Guest, Brancepeth; Keith Middleton), D Costello (5)

Monday. - Newcastle: 6f, Flipando (David Barron; Mrs J Hazell), Dean Mernagh; 10f, Ruby Legend (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; Mrs J M Grimston), Tony Culhane; 6f, Bundy (Michael Dods, Piercebridge; A J Henderson), Kevin Darley; 5f, Proud Western (Brian Ellison, Norton; Spring Cottage Syndicate), Tony Hamilton (5).

Tuesday. - Catterick: 14f, Silver Coin (Tim Easterby; C H Stephens), David Allan (3).

Leicester: 7f, Gold History (Mark Johnston; Abdulla Buhaleeba), Joe Fanning.

Wednesday. - Doncaster: 5f, Halmahera (Kevin Ryan; J Duddy), Frankie Dettori; 10f, Marinas Charm (Mark Johnston; Hb, Greenland Park Ltd), Joe Fanning