ROBERT WINSTON'S career is firmly back on track following a 21-1 double at Thirsk yesterday.

The former champion apprentice jockey was badly injured in an ugly fall at Haydock just over a year ago and ever since he has struggled to re-establish himself as one of the north's leading riders.

But Winston is far too good a jockey to be confined to the sidelines for long and his talent shone through on the first two winners on the card, Busted Flush and Laawaris, both of whom are trained by the former top jump jockey, Lambourn-based Jamie Osborne.

In two totally contrasting styles, Robert firstly made virtually every yard of the running to claim the opening six furlong Esk Selling Stakes. Winston then produced Laawaris with superb finesse to collar the long-time leader and hot favourite Whispering Promises in the closing stages of the Bet 365 Maiden Auction Stakes.

"I never lost my confidence, it was more a case of not having any decent horses to ride," reported Robert after he had partnered the second of Osborne's two winners.

David Nicholls might have been out of luck at Royal Ascot, however that didn't stop him having a one-two in the seven furlong handicap via Shift and Sir Don.

Sir Don looked all over the winner when he struck for home over two furlongs out - that was until Shifty caught his stable-mate right on the wire under a superbly-judged ride from David's wife, Alex Greaves.

"Shifty was unlucky at Beverley last time when he was nearly brought down.

"It was on the nod this time, although I thought I had just got there," revealed Alex after her nail-biting success in the £5,200 event.

Only four went to post for The Anthony Fawcett Memorial Fillies Handicap in which Richard Quinn propelled Freya's Dream to a convincing win for in-form trainer Tim Easterby.

"They didn't go much of a gallop and it seemed to suit my filly," said Quinn after his comfortable one-and-a-half-length triumph.