NO apologies for leading with a horse, owner and trainer not from D&S land this week, but royal history was made on Tuesday when the Queen had her first jumps winner in 53 years.

Nicky Henderson sent out First Love to win at Folkestone under Mick FitzGerald in the distinctive scarlet and purple colours.

The Queen last had a winner in 1950 when, as Princess Elizabeth, she jointly owned with her mother the Hurst Park winner Monaveen. She later left the National Hunt game to the Queen Mother, concentrating on the Flat until her mother died.

The last jumps winner to wear the royal colours was Ambush, winner of the Grand National in 1900.

Elsewhere, much of the news has been from off the course, not on. Sedgefield supremo Sir Stanley Clarke, head of Northern Racing, announced a surprise bid to create an all-weather track there. He maintains the ground could be made level, but Racing Week thinks that this is not an easy feat and would ruin the current up-and-down course. Our view is that Catterick would be a much better venue, where the gravel workings could be filled and levelled for such a course.

Back on the track, the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday, landed by Valley Henry for Paul Nicholls, saw Robert Ogden's Marlborough fall at the last and Ferdy Murphy's Truckers Tavern in third place.

Murphy, his jockey Davy Russell and fellow pilot Tony Dobbin will be guests at a Cheltenham Festival forum with Attheraces presenter Peter Naughton at the Golden Lion, Ripon, on February 25 at 7.30pm. Tickets at £7.50 can be had from landlord David Waterfield (01765 602598).

In tomorrow's Eider Chase at Newcastle, Murphy's Paris Pike goes unless the ground is bottomless. Donald Forster's Kit Smartie, Mary Reveley's Robbo and Sad Mad Bad, Peter Beaumont's Impertio and Malcolm Jefferson's Clear Dawn are also entered. If Paris Pike stays on his feet, he should take all the beating.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Southwell AW: Noul (trained by K Ryan, at Hambleton), ridden by F Lynch; Mount Royale (N Tinkler, Langton; Langton Partnership), T Culhane; Zero Tolerance (D Barron, Maunby; The Hardliners), M Fenton; Sir Northerndancer (B Ellison, Norton); K Middleton), D O'Neill.

Fri. - Wolverhampton AW: Eastern Dagger (M Johnston, Middleham; ROA Eclipse Partnership), K Dalgleish.

Sat. - Ayr: A Piece Of Cake (M Reveley, Lingdale; Lightbody Celebration Cakes Ltd), F King (5); Wildfield Rufo (K Walton, Middleham; Mrs C Holroyd), R McGrath; Man Murphy (M Reveley; W Manners), F King (5); Baron Monty (C Grant, Wolviston; T Hemmings), R McGrath.

Catterick: Minivet (T Easterby, Great Habton; Oakhill Wood Stud), D O'Meara; Log On Intersky (H Johnson, Crook; Interskyracing.com), J Maguire; Edmo Heights (T Easterby; Edmolift UK Ltd), D O'Meara; Hazel Reilly (S Dent, Billingham; J Makley), Mr L Bates (7); True Rose (J Turner, Norton-le-Clay; R Ellerbeck), B Gison (3).

Haydock: Master Wood (C Grant; trair), Mr T Greenall (7).

Mon. - WolverhamptonAW: Sarraaf (P Johnson, Stanley; G McDowall), T Culhane; Littlemissattitude (K Burke, Coverham; N Shields), D McKeown.

Tue. - Sedgefield: Dionn Righ (H Johnson; G Brown/B Watson), G Lee; St Matthew (G Moore, Middleham; K Nicholson), R Garritty.

Southwell AW: Exclusive Air (D Barron; Garequick Ltd (Air Conditioning)), D McKeown; Differential (B Smart, Hambleton; trainer), P Scallan (3); Mount Royal (N Tinkler; Langton Partnership), K Tinkler.

Wed. - Musselburgh: Major Drive (H Johnson; D Thackeray), G Lee; Far Pavilions (A Swinbank, Melsonby; J D Abell), J Crowley; Nobnratinetta (M Reveley; P D Savill), T Dobbin