IT'S been a week of firsts for many, in particular at Newcastle's Saturday meeting. Tees Components won impressively there in his first hurdles race, having been so consistent on the Flat.

Mary Reveley's stable star was ridden by Alan Dempsey in the three-mile novice event, but connections may drop him back to a mile or a half-mile shorter, using his natural speed. The target is the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

The trainer also had successes at Carlisle with Totally Scottish, partnered by young Fergus King, and at Catterick with Florida Rain, Dempsey up.

Two young riders had first time successes at Gosforth Park. Amateur Tom Greenall rode his first jumps winner, his second under Rules, when partnering Gudlage for Mick Easterby. However, both he and Nicky Tinkler gained bans for using their whips in this "hands and heels" only race, and both cannot ride in later events in this series.

Ben Orde-Powlett, 21, has only recently turned professional and works for George Moore. Just less than a year ago, the son of Lord Bolton had his first win as an amateur at Ayr and on Saturday he took his first as a conditional jockey when piloting Patrick Haslam's 16-1 shot Red Flyer.

Harry Hogarth, farmer, breeder and owner from Stillington, had his first winner as a permit holder in October at Sedgefield and doubled his tally at Newcastle when Keiran won under David O'Meara: the horse and jockey have provided both Hogarth's wins thus far.

Kit Smartie won at Haydock to give Heighington handler Don Forster a first win for some time.

Graham Lee, whose purple patch continues, had a first treble at Catterick's Wednesday meeting when partnering Calatagan (Malcolm Jefferson), Copplestone (Wilf Storey) and Log On Intersky (Howard Johnson).

Ann Duffield had her first winner for the best part of two years as Charming Admiral did the business. Husband George Duffield said the string had had a sort of "farmer's lung" from hay, diagnosed by an Irish vet, but the couple were pleased the horses were running better. Their last success was 505 days and 175 runners ago.

Alan Swinbank had two winners this week, both partnered by JP McNamara. His Catterick success was with the pricey ex-Lynda Ramsden horse and hurdling debutant, Far Pavilions.

HOW OUR 15 FARED

Moss Harvey disappointed in the Grade 2 novice chase at Newbury last Friday but should not be written off yet.

On Saturday, the Hennessy saw Hussard Colonges in a brave front-running effort, but hitting the second from last did not help his final effort and he was beaten into fifth, not disgraced. Peter Beaumont did better with his Carlisle runner the day before, Atlantic Crossing, who won the novice hurdle.

Red Striker, Norman Mason's runner, beat only one and was reported to have finished distressed. His turn will come.

October Mist was fourth in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, but Mary Reveley's grey will run better next time.

Ryalux found one too good at Kelso, but still beat Ferdy Murphy's stable star Truckers Tavern (not in the 15), who will have come on for the run.

* Apologies for the brainstorm which caused us to mention Direct Access (trained in Scotland by Lenny Lungo), who did run in the Hennessy but was pulled up, rather than Howard Johnson's Direct Route, one of our FtF.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Carlisle: (hcp hdl) Totally Scottish (trained by Mary Reveley, at Lingdale; owned by the Pheonix Racing C O), ridden by Fergus King (claiming 7lbs appr allowance); (NH nov hdl) Atlantic Crossing (Peter Beaumont, Stearsby; N W A Bannister), Russ Garritty; (amtr hcp hdl) Grattan Lodge (Howard Johnson, Crook; W M G Black), Miss Pauline Robson.

Uttoxeter: (hcp chs) Sabi Sand (Norman Mason, Brancepeth; Hb, permit holder), Mr Liam McGrath (7).

Friday. - Wolverhampton AW: (5f hcp div 2) Sharp Hat (David Chapman, Stillington; Miss N F Thesiger), Tony Culhane.

Saturday. - Haydock: (hcp chs) Kit Smartie (Donal Forster, Heighington; trainer), John Kavanagh.

Newcastle: (amtr hcp hdl) Gudlage (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Lord Daresbury), Mr Tom Greenall (7); (juv nov hdl) Red Flyer (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Mrs C Barclay), Ben Orde-Powlett (7); (nov chs) Keiran (Harry Hogarth, Stillington; Hogarth Racing), David O'Meara; (nov hdl) Tees Components (M Reveley; Tees Components Ltd), Alan Dempsey.

Wolverhampton AW (inc ev): (7f hcp) Sir Northerndancer (Brian Ellison, Norton; Keith Middleton), Dane O'Neill (5f hcp) Cash (Paul Johnson, Stanley; Dr P & Mrs D M Johnson), Lee Enstone (5); (6f mdn) Ronnie From Donny (B Ellison; Keith Middleton), D O'Neill; (9f hcp) Katiypour (David Barron, Maunby; Nigel Shields), L Enstone (5); (9f sllr) Supreme Salutation (D Barron; J Baggott), Dean Mernagh.

Monday. - Kelso: (mdn hdl) Midnight Creek (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; M G Luong), JP McNamara,

Wolverhampton AW: (8f nrsy) Mr Mischief (Patrick Haslam; Blue Lion Racing), Lee Enstone (5); (5f mdn) Beauvrai (John Quinn, Settrington; G A Roberts), Tony Culhane.

Tuesday. - No DST area winners.

Wednesday. - Catterick: (juv nov hdl div 1) Calatagan (Malcolm Jefferson, Norton; Mr & Mrs J M Davenport), G Lee; (sllr hcp hdl) Copplestone (Wilf Storey, Muggleswick; B P Bradshaw), G Lee; (NH nov hdl) Florida Rain (M Reveley; Andy Peake & David Jackson), Alan Dempsey; (hcp chs) Charming Admiral (Ann Duffield, Constable Burton; The Old Spice Girls), Michael Naughton; (juv nov hfl div 2) Far Pavilions (A Swinbank; J David Abell), JP McNamara; (hcp chs) Log On Intersky (H Johnson; Interskyracingcom), G Lee; (cond hcp hdl) Dene View (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; C H Stevens), Padge Whelan.

Southwell AW: (8f mdn div 1) Bond Mirage (B Smart, Hambleton; R C Bond), T Culhane; (11f clmr) Supreme Salutation (D Barron; J Baggott), M Fenton; (5f sllr) Proud Victor (P Haslam; Mrs B M Hawkins), L Enstone (5) (winner sold afterwards for 7,000gns); (8f mdn div 2) Rock Concert (Ian McInnes, Malton; Peter Mee), Leanne Kershaw (7)