JUMPS racing returned on Monday and a Doncaster double for Butterwick trainer Richard Fahey brought relief from his recent difficulties on the all-weather tracks.

"This jumping game is a lot less hassle than the Flat," he joked, after landing the two.

Conditional jockeys were responsible for both, Padge Whelan partnering Cash For Questions and David O'Meara steering Dene View home.

Fahey had the rare honour of "winning" two races in one day on Wednesday with the same horse. His appeal against the Lingfield disqualification of Altay was won and his horse reinstated. Jockey Paul Hanagan had his offence downgraded to careless riding and his ban was reduced by one day from six to five.

Altay, Tony Culhane substituting, had earlier won that afternoon, again at the Surrey course, with the trainer watching from the Jockey Club public relations department before his appeal.

Fahey and Hanagan had another controversial time at Southwell on Saturday when Inch Perfect, favourite for the 14-furlong handicap, lost to Mr Gisby, ridden by Dean Mernagh.

Mernagh used his whip with an ultra-high action and hit Inch Perfect on the head three times on the run-in, even breaking his whip during the race. However, his actions were not found to be intentional and the result was allowed to stand. An appeal was planned, but the RSPCA is not taking any action against Mernagh.

For Hanagan, who won the opener for John Weymes on Sharp Gossip, it was all the more ironic as he had been judged to use his whip with excessive frequency in the earlier race and picked up a one-day ban.

Meanwhile, back over the jumps, George Moore took the Doncaster opener with St Matthew, Russ Garritty up, and Mary Reveley's enigmatic Robbo won under Alan Dempsey.

Ayr saw an Andy Crook newcomer, Spainkris, land the maiden hurdle. Purchased from France, this looks to have a good future. Chris Grant took the bumper with Baron Monty.

Newcastle had a quick-fire Mick Easterby double with Super Sammy taking the opener and Nowell House following up in the next. Mary Reveley took the bumper with odds-on Nobratinnetta, bred and owned by Peter Savill. Kate Walton won the last with her homebred Roman Outlaw.

Ferdy Murphy added a new boy to his riding team this week - Neil Mulholland, an Ulster lad who rode 56 winners in Ireland while attached to Aidan O'Brien on the Flat and later Eammon Sheehy. JP McNamara has left the West Witton stable.

Joy, oh joy, our old friend Barton may turn out tomorrow in the Peter Marsh at Haydock - we wish him well on his return after his long lay-off through injury.

ON THE LEVEL

The international classifications were published this week and Tim Easterby's charge, Somnus, is on 118 in the European ratings for two-year-olds. The top spot went to John Gosden's Oasis Dream on 123.

Not far behind is the only other youngster from our area, Monsieur Bond, trained by Bryan Smart, whose rating is 112.

The two were in battle together in the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy last summer, when Somnus beat Tout Seul (second in the ratings on 122) and Monsieur Bond, giving both of them weight. Arguably, Somnus should rate higher than his allotted mark.

In the three-year-olds, Mark Johnston's Bandari is on 118, with Easterby's Bollin Eric on 117. Rock Of Gibraltar was top on 128.

The highest older horse from DST-land is Johnston's Zindabad on 120, with David Nicholls' sprinters Continent and Bahamian Pirate rated 117 and 116 respectively. Marienbard heads the list on 127.

Mark Johnston is the new racing entry in Who's Who, but was reportedly "surprised" to find he had been included for the 2003 edition.

Bryan Smart sent out a Southwell double last Thursday, using apprentice Paul Scallan for the first time. The jockey was at Aidan O'Brien's yard, but is now based over here. The Hambleton trainer praised the lad for winning both divisions of the mile handicap, on Friday's Takings and Brandy Cove.

Proud father Brian Ellison also had words of praise for his jockey, his daughter Lorraine, who won one division of the amateur event. He said it was five wins from about 16 rides for her.

Ann Stokell's remarkable Flying Treaty stepped up in class and won again at Southwell next day under Dominic Fox.

Loyal Tycoon was also in a better race, landing a handicap under apprentice Tony Hamilton, and trainer David Nicholls said he would probably not now run again in claimers.

David Barron is the undisputed king of the course and won with Neven, but jockey Mickey Fenton gained a whip ban for excessive frequency.

Karl Burke and Dean McKeown added to the Saturday successes at the track, with Littlemissattitude. Wolverhampton on Monday saw David Chapman and Tony Culhane win again for the trainer's brother, with On The Trail.

Smart and Barron were responsible for our area's Tuesday winners at Southwell, Beady and Penwell Hill respectively.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Southwell AW: Crunchy (trained by B Ellison, at Norton; owned by the Half Moon Club), ridden by Miss L Ellison; Friday's Takings (B Smart, Hambleton; P Darling), P Scallon (claiming 3lbs appr allowance); Brandy Cove (B Smart; Miss N Jefford), P Scallon (3).

Fri. - Southwell AW: Loyal Tycoon (D Nicholls, Sessay; Michael A J Hall & Mrs Mandy Hall), T Hamilton (5); Flying Treaty (Ann Stokell, Brompton on Swale; R J Buxton), D Fox (7); Neven (D Barron, Maunby; D G Pryde), M Fenton.

Sat. - Southwell AW: Sharp Gossip (J Weymes, Coverham; N Palamountain), P Hanagan; Littlemissattitude (K Burke, Coverham; N Shields), D McKeown.

Mon. - Doncaster: St Matthew (G Moore, Middleham; K Nicholson), R Garritty; Cash For Questions (R Fahey, Butterwick; P S Cresswell), P Whelan (3); Robbo (M Reveley, Lingdale; The Scarth Racing Club), A Dempsey; Dene View (R Fahey; C H Stevens), D O'Meara (3).

Wolverhampton AW: On The Trail (D Chapman, Stillington; J M Chapman), T Culhane.

Tue. - Ayr: Spainkris (A Crook, Coverham; M Wainwright), P Robson (5); Baron Monty (C Grant, Wolviston; T Hemmings), D Elsworth (3).

Southwell AW: Beady (B Smart; trainer), N Chalmers; Penwell Hill (D Barron; Mrs Liz Jones), D Mernagh.

Wed. - Newcastle: Super Sammy (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Whitestonecliffe Racing Partnership), Mr Gino Carenza (5); Nowell House (M Easterby; Tony Swain & John Walsh), Richard McGrath; Nobratinetta (M Reveley; Hb, P D Savill), A Dempsey; Roman Outlaw (Kate Walton, Middleham; Hb, trainer), P Robson (5).

Lingfield AW: Altay (R Fahey; R M Jeffs & J Potter), T Culhane