NOT one, but two Group 2 races were the holiday weekend tally for Middleham trainer Mark Johnston, with wins at the Curragh in Ireland and at Deauville in France.

Pearl Of Love landed the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday under a fine front-running ride by Darryll Holland, who said afterwards: "This is a proper 2,000 Guineas horse. There was a fifth gear that I didn't have to use."

The Johnston colt immediately earned a 16-1 quote for next year's Classic and may go back to Ireland to contest the National Stakes on September 14 in a clash with O'Brien hotpot and Guineas favourite, One Cool Cat.

Joe Fanning was aboard Darasim, who was never headed next day at Deauville, landing the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay in good fashion and at odds of some 16-1. Fanning has been in sparkling form of late and on Saturday had won for the Kingsley House team at Beverley on the Middlebrooks' homebred Penny Cross.

Fanning also won on Red Romeo later in the week at Newcastle for Melsonby trainer Alan Swinbank, who had his first Goodwood winner at the weekend, Kieren Fallon riding for him on What-A-Dancer.

Johnston's Sunday Beverley runner, Masterpoint, partnered by Royston Ffrench, was claimed for £12,000 after the race by Bryan Smart. The Hambleton handler turned this winner out again in rapid time to win at Ripon on Tuesday, again Ffrench doing the business. The young jockey was seen to good effect for Richard Fahey at Musselburgh and for David Barker at Thirsk.

Johnston sent out another debutant winner in Fort at Epsom, when Keith Dalgleish was again seen at his driving best, though it cost him a two-day ban for whip force. This young colt holds a Derby entry next year.

David Nicholls provided the winner of the amateurs' Derby on the same card, the Swedish amateur champion Henrik Engblom, 20, partnering the trainer's Eton. Nicholls' son Adrian rode a treble at Catterick on Wednesday (two for his dad, one for Eric Alston), to add to the family's good week.

Tim Easterby sent out an excellent one-two on the Newmarket July Course last Friday, Fayr Jag winning the Hopeful Stakes, a Listed race over six furlongs.

But stable-mate Somnus (Ted Durcan) was hemmed in on the rail until late and the neck difference between them might have been much closer, or the other way about, had the second been more lucky.

The Great Habton trainer followed up with winners at Beverley and Ripon, while uncle Mick Easterby pulled off a betting coup for connections of Hills Of Gold at the former track.

Tim's apprentice, David Allan, continues to ride well and took wins for outside yards, including for Robin Bastiman and Scott Cunningham.

Lynda Ramsden landed a valuable handicap at Newmarket on Saturday with Arcalis, Jimmy Quinn taking the ride. Nigel Tinkler's horseboxes must be well travelled this week, with winners coming at Thirsk and Folkestone.

On the jumps front, David Thompson, formerly right-hand man to Denys Smith, sent out his father-in-law Alan Moore's Sovereign State to win again, this time at Cartmel.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Musselburgh: Angel Isa (trained by R Fahey, at Malton; owned by), ridden by R Ffrench; Tuscan Flyer (R Bastiman, Cowthorpe), D Allan (claiming 3lbs allowance).

Fri. - Newmarket: Fayr Jag (T Easterby, Great Habton; J Gill), W Supple.

Thirsk: Summerise (D Barker, Scorton; trainer), R Ffrench; Blue Sky Thinking (K Burke, Wensley; Triple Trio Partnership), D Williams; Mary Jane (N Tinkler, Langton; The Penniless Partnership), P Mathers (5).

Newcastle ev: Prince Tara (J Quinn, Settrington; Tara Leisure), T Eaves (5); Good To Go (P Haslam, Middleham; P Brough), L Enstone (3); Playful Dane (S Cunningham, Hutton Rudby; A & D Bell), D Allan (3)

Sat. - Curragh: Pearl Of Love (M Johnston, Middleham; M Doyle), D Holland.

Newmarket: Arcalis (L Ramsden, Sandhutton; P R C Morrison), J Quinn.

Beverley: Hills Of Gold (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; G Hart & D Scott), G Duffield; Penny Cross (M Johnston; Hb, Mr & Mrs G Middlebrook), J Fanning; Ruthie (T Easterby; Hb, Lord Halifax), D Allan (3).

Cartmel NH: Bobanvi (J Wainwright, Kennythorpe; S Pedersen), R Hobson; Sovereign State (D Thompson, Bolam; J Greenbank).

Sun. - Deauville, France: Darasim (M Johnston; M Graff), J Fanning.

Goodwood: What-A-Dancer (A Swinbank, Melsonby; A Barnes), K Fallon.

Beverley: Masterpoint (M Johnston; M Broke), R Ffrench; Dispol Katie (D Barron, Maunby; W B Imison), D Mernagh; Swynford Pleasure (J Hetherton, Malton; Qualitair Holdings Ltd), D Gibson.

Mon. - Epsom: Fort (M Johnston; Highclere Thoroughbred Racing IX), K Dalgleish; Eton (D Nicholls, Sessay; trainer), Mr H Engblom.

Folkestone: Henry Windsor (N Tinkler; Hb, W J Cooper), R Mullen; Bailieborough (D Nicholls; Middleham Park Racing XVIII), S Whitworth.

Newcastle: Red Romeo (A Swinbank; J Yates), J Fanning.

Ripon: Inter Vision (A Dickman, Dunnington; The Milan Partnership), T Beech (3); Jeepstar (T Easterby; Miss E Jeggs & Partners), W Supple.

Cartmel NH: Moscow Leader (R Guest, Brancepeth; Miss P Overy), H Oliver; Dilsaa (K Ryan, Hambleton; Yorkshire Racing Club), M Seston (7).

Tue. - Ripon: Masterpoint (B Smart, Hambleton; R C Bond), R Ffrench; Cripsey Brook (D Enrico Incisa; trainer), K Tinkler; Mind Alert (T Easterby; T H Bennett), K Darley.

Wed. - Catterick: Divine Spirit (M Dods, Piercebridge; A Mallen), R Winston; Bannister (D Nicholls; Montague Racing), A Nicholls; Ballybunion (D Nicholls; I Blakey, M Gosse, D Nicholls), A Nicholls