BROTHERS-IN-LAW they are, but rivals on the course: Richard Fahey and Tim Easterby had a great weekend and were well worth backing.

Both won at Newbury, Fahey with Definite Guest and Easterby with his smart Somnus, who took the Listed race. Easterby also won with Forever Times at Newmarket on Friday night and with Good Girl on Saturday. Definite Guest may go for the Cambridgeshire now.

Mark Johnston had another cracking week, but not everything went to plan. Delsarte still ran a bit green in the Scottish Derby at Ayr, finishing third, and has some learning yet to do.

Leo's Luckyman belied his name at Frankfurt on Sunday, broke out of the stalls and did not run in the 10f Group 3 event there. Also, Keith Dalgleish failed to make it to Ayr next day from his German trip.

But the trainer passed the 90 winners mark at Ayr with Carte Sauvage, Frankie Dettori deputising for Dalgleish. And Johnston scooped a total of eight in the week, with doubles at Ayr and Pontefract.

New trainer Iona Craig sent out her first winner from Sandhutton, where she leases part of the Ramsdens' yard. Formerly an assistant to Lynda Ramsden, having earlier worked for Nicky Henderson and Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse, she celebrated her 27th birthday two days before Nellie Melba won. However, she is due to move next Friday to the South.

Lynda Ramsden herself was in double form at Pontefract, where Johnny Murtagh rode for her. David Barron, who trains not far away at Maunby, sent out five winners, including a Hamilton double. David Nicholls sent out more Sessay winners, including Blackheath in a dead heat at Carlisle.

Geoff Harker, whose training base is on Lord Bolton's estate across the valley, gained five horses last week from Leeds-based owner Jordan Lund who moved them from Newmarket so that he could see them more often. Micky Hammond has taken over Oakwood Stables on his own at Middleham as his former backers, Sunstar Racing, have gone into liquidation.

On the jumps front, David Thompson, formerly right hand man to Denys Smith, sent out his first winner as a trainer the Sunday before last at Stratford. His father-in-law Alan Moore's Sovereign State obliged. The team at Bolam has about ten in at present, mostly jumpers, and two new ones were bought last week from Ascot sales.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Hamilton: Poppys Footprint (trained by K Ryan, at Hambleton; owned by K Barfly), ridden by J Carroll; Apache Point (N Tinkler, Langton; P Drinkall), K Tinkler; Neckar Valley (R Fahey, Butterwick; G Morrill), P Hanagan.

Leicester: Loveisdangerous (N Tinkler; E A Brook), P Eddery; Nellie Melba (I Craig, Sandhutton; Hb, Countess of Lonsdale), D McKeown; Fiore Di Bosco (D Barron, Maunby; Miss P Laycock), D Mernagh.

Cartmel NH: Howaboys Quest (F Murphy, West Witton; Winlow Brothers), D Russell; Ceresfield (R Guest, Brancepeth; K Middleton), Mr L McGrath.

Doncaster ev: Baltic Wave (D Barron; Mrs J Hazell), K Darley; Sualda (R Fahey; J H Tattersall), C Poste (claiming 7lbs).

Friday. - Carlisle: Dispol Katie (D Barron; W B Imison), D Mernagh; (dead heat), Blackheath (D Nicholls, Sessay; M C Whatley), A Greaves; Efidium (N Bycroft, Brandsby; Hambleton Racing Partnership), S France (7); Lunar Leader (L Stubbs, Malton; D M Smith), R Winston.

Southwell NH (turf): Gatorade (R Guest; The Cider Sauce Partnership), H Oliver; Pharbeitfrome (N Wilson, Painsthorpe; W Stone), D Russell; Feanor (S Watt, Brompton-on-Swale; Major E J Watt), Miss T Jackson (7); Cameron Jack (K Milligan, Middleham; The Aunts), R Johnson.

Hamilton ev: Mallia (D Barron; Harrowgate Bloodstock Ltd), N Mackay (3); Axis (D Barron; Mrs J Hazell), D Mernagh; Celtic Mill (D Barker, Scorton; Hb, P Asquith), Coolbythepool (M Johnston, Middleham; J S Morrison), J Fanning.

Newmarket ev: Forever Times (T Easterby, Great Habton; Hb, Times of Wigan), W Supple.

Pontefract ev: 6f, New Mexican (L Ramsden, Sandhutton; J Musgrave), J Murtagh; Hiccups (L Ramsden; J M Ranson), J Murtagh; Investment Force (M Johnston; Hb, M Graff), R ffrench.

Saturday. - Newbury: Definite Guest (R Fahey; G H Leatham), F Norton; Somnus (T Easterby; Hb, Legard Sidebottom & Sykes), K Darley.

Newmarket: Good Girl (T Easterby; P C Bourke), J Fortune.

Ripon: Lets Get It On (J Quinn, Settrington; The Usual Suspects), D Williams; Mr Lear (D Barron; C Townley & Ms L Townley), D Mernagh; Conquering Love (B Ellison, Norton; K Middleton), T Hamilton (5); Cut Ridge (J Wainwright, Kennythorpe; Hb, Mrs C Harrington), P Bradley (5); Rookwith (J Bethell, Middleham; Clarendon Racing.Com), T Hamilton (5).

Warwick: Safranine (A Stokell, Brompton on Swale; Ms C Stokell), D Fox (5).

Market Rasen NH: Blue Venture (P Haslam, Middleham; Blue Lion Racing), A Thornton; Gue Au Loup (B Ellison; C E Sherry), G Lee.

Haydock ev: Kahyasi Princess (M Johnston; S Kimberley), R ffrench.

Monday. - Ayr: Carte Sauvage (M Johnston; Mr & Mrs Heywood & Mr & Mrs Bovingdon), F Dettori; Uhoomagoo (K Ryan; Platinum Racing Club Ltd), F Lynch; Million Percent (K Burke, Wensley; Platinum Racing Club Ltd), F Lynch.

Beverley ev: Hello Roberto (R Bastiman, Cowthorpe; trainer), D McKeown; Bond May Dat (B Smart, Hambleton; The Bond Girls Partnership), R Winston; Border Artist (D Nicholls; F F Racing Services Partnership V), A Nicholls; Market Avenue (R Fahey; Market Avenue Racing Club), A Nicholls.

Tuesday. - Ayr: Munaawashat (M Johnston; Hamdan Al Maktoum), W Supple; Shayadi (M Johnston; B Wilson), W Hogg (7); Little Tobias (A Turnell, Malton; Mrs C Hollowood), R Winston; Gem Bien (A Turnell; Mrs C Hollowood), F Lynch.

Sedgfield NH: Oneforseven (P Haslam; J Roundtree), A Thornton; Gone Too Far (M Dods, Piercebridge; P J Carr), P Aspell; Ramblees Holly (S Wood, Nawton; Hb, trainer), M Foley; Billie John (K Walton, Middleham; Mrs P M Wilson), J Crowley.

Wednesday. - Catterick: Gone To Ground (K Ryan; T G & Mrs M E Holdcroft), R Winston; Allegedly (P Haslam; Blue Lion Racing II), L Enstone (3); Zarzu (K Burke; N Shields), N Callan.

Leicester ev: Pantone (M Johnston; Hertford Offset Ltd), J Fanning; Tedeska (M Johnston; R Fabrizius), J Fanning