FOR a change, instead of leading on a winning horse, trainer, jockey or owner, Racing Week takes you to the Blue Lion, East Witton, to join the Middleham trainers and their hosts Skybet, the Harrogate-based internet betting firm.

The media day dinner there was held to introduce more southern-based journalists to the facilities of the northern racing town - well known, indeed, to us up here.

But the fun part, to share with you, was that Skybet and the after-dinner speaker John Sexton asked each trainer present, and his or her partner, wife, husband or dinner guest, to give a tip for the 12 months ahead.

Chairman James Bethell named his good Redcar debutante, Scotland The Brave, while his wife Sally picked Sambucan Days. Sally Hall named a recent runner at Thirsk and fiance Colin Platts, a homebred.

Mark Johnston recommended a three-year-old, The Persuader, who had won on Friday, while wife Deirdre chose a youngster who shone at York. For the full list, see below - some for the Flat, some for jumps.

The final day of the Chester Cup meeting saw Brian Ellison land the closing handicap with Court Of Appeal, beating Mick Easterby's Sporting Gesture and John Quinn's Aleron, a one-two-three for D&S land runners. Tim Easterby's Santisima Trinidad was a good second to Sir Michael Stoute's Green Line earlier.

Lingfield's Group 3 Derby Trial on Saturday saw a fine run by Shanty Star, third under Kevin Darley for Johnston, but Helm Bank was disappointing in the Dante at York on Wednesday.

Sporting Gesture filled the runner's-up spot again on Tuesday at York, behind Clive Brittain's useful Muhareb. Pearl Of Love was a debutant second under Dalgleish for Johnston on Wednesday, to David Loder's Botanical, ridden by Frankie Dettori.

David Nicholls attacked both the Beverley conditions sprint and the Dick Peacock sprint at Thirsk that night, but only the first came off. Funfair Wane, bred and owned by Kevin Keegan's wife Joan, scooted home under son Adrian Nicholls at the East Yorkshire track.

Up in Thirsk, it was Scorton handler David Barker who won the race in memory of the Middleham trainer, Tyrone Williams partnering standing dish Tancred Times.

Mick Easterby's Blessingindisguise and Kevin Ryan's Desraya filled the minor berths, while the nearest from Peacock's own town was Hout Bay in fifth for Jedd O'Keeffe, with his landlady Sally Hall's Katy O'Hara just behind in sixth.

THE TRAINERS' PICKS

The horse named by the trainer appears first, the choice of their wife, husband or dinner guest second.

Katy O'Hara, Charlotte Lamb (Sally Hall), Garde Bien, Riothamus (Ferdy Murphy), Beau Ariste, Saratoga Splendour (Jedd O'Keeffe), Blue Sky Thinking (Karl Burke), Rino, Quicks The Word (Chris Thornton), Royal Charter, Billy John (Kate Walton), The Persuader, Pearl Of Love (Mark Johnston), Springaway, Danteco (Kate Milligan), Charlotte Vale, Fair Spin (Micky Hammond), Rosti, Soleil D'Hiver (Patrick Haslam), Scotland The Brave, Sambucan Days (James Bethell).

HOW THEY FARED

Thursday last week. - Chester: Court Of Appeal (trained by Brian Ellison, at Norton; owned by Spring Cottage Syndicate), ridden by Tony Hamilton (claiming 5lbs).

Southwell (turf): Peartree House (David Chapman, Stillington; J M Chapman), Tony Culhane; Mai Tai (George Moore, Middleham; Keith Nicholson), Tom Eaves (5); Market Avenue (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; Market Avenue Racing Club), Tony Culhane.

Friday. - Carlisle: Pays D'Amour (David Nicholls, Sessay; The Inglenookers), Alex Greaves; Inch Island (John Quinn, Settrington; Birdstown Syndicate), Liam Keniry (3); Supreme Salutation (David Chapman; trainer), Tony Culhane.

Nottingham: The Persuader (Mark Johnston, Middleham; D J & F A Jackson), Keith Dalgleish.

Hamilton ev: Parkview Love (Mark Johnston; C Nicholson), Kevin Darley.

Sat. - Beverley: Sir Night (James Bethell, Middleham; Marcus Johyn Lund), Philip Robinson; Funfair Wane (David Nicholls; Hb, Mrs Joan Keegan) Adrian Nicholls; Grey Cossack (Ian McInnes, Leavening; Hb, Robert E Cook), Gyles Parkin.

Thirsk ev: Tancred Times (David Barker, Scorton; trainer), Tyrone Williams; Gralmano (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Coleorton Moor Racing), Fergal Lynch.

Hexham NH ev: Copplestone (Wilf Storey, Muggleswick; B P Bradshaw), Graham Lee; Tee-Jay (Micky Hammond, Middleham;T J Equestrian Ltd), Tony Dobbin.

Mon. - Redcar: Waterpark (Ray Craggs, Sedgefield; trainer), Paul Fessey; Encounter (James Hetherton, Malton; Qualitair Holdings Ltd), David Allan (3); The Gambler (Ann Duffield, Constable Burton; Turf 2000 Ltd), George Duffield; Dubai Tower (Mark Johnston; Mrs S J Brookhouse), Joe Fanning.

Wolverhampton AC: Nimello (Kevin Ryan; Platinum Racing Club Ltd), Fergal Lynch.

Tue. - No DST area winners.

Wed. - Newcastle ev: Stallone (Noel Wilson, Painsthorpe; Mrs N C Wilson), T Hamilton (5); Chipsey Brook (Don Enrico Incisa, Coverham; trainer), Kim Tinkler.

Perth NH ev: Overtrand (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; F F Racing Services), Paddy Aspell (3); Shaffishayes (Mary Reveley; P Davidson-Brown), Paddy Aspell (3).