THIRD time lucky or third time shrewd? David "Dandy" Nicholls made his annual border raid in reverse, scooping the Ayr Gold Cup for the third year in a row.

This year's cup hero was Funfair Wane, partnered by son Adrian Nicholls in the lad's second success in the race.

The 16-1 shot was one of Nicholls' four entries in the event, which was won by Bahamian Pirate in 2000 and by Continent last year. For the record, the stable-mates this year were Hurricane Floyd (12th), Estoinguisher (16th) and Space (26th and last).

The winner was homebred by Jean and Kevin Keegan, who formerly had the horse with Mick Channon. They had agreed with their former trainer that a change to a smaller, quieter yard would do Funfair Wane good and the excitable horse moved to Sessay mid-season. Nicholls had him in top condition for Saturday.

He is the first trainer to achieve the Gold Cup hat-trick since Jack Jarvis in 1937, 1938 and 1946 (the war years intervening, with no races run). The win also put Nicholls through the £1m mark for the year.

Also in fine form for the race were Abbajabba, Chris Fairhurst's runner, in third, and one of Tim Easterby's entries, Forever Times, in fifth. Some bookmakers paid places to fifth for this big contest.

The hints were on the card on Friday that a centre front-runner would take the Gold, as Michael Dods took the Silver Cup "consolation" event with John O'Groats, a splendid run by this consistent sprinter.

The Nicholls father and son combination warmed up with a win in the claimer by Sawwah, while Tim Easterby landed the conditions event with Go Tech Babodan, well partnered by Robert Winston.

We were delighted to see Carol Williams back to winning ways after recovering from her injuries sustained in an accident on the gallops. She took the amateur riders' race on Thursday last, Ayr's opening day. Linda Stubbs was also on the scoresheet with Eastern Magenta, Eddie Ahern up.

Saturday's card saw Richard Fahey, brother-in-law Tim Easterby and Alan Swinbank all winning good races. Swinbank also scored on Catterick's busy card the same afternoon, while John Quinn and Karl Burke were also on the right lines there.

Mark Johnston landed a valuable Newbury double, Keith Dalgleish partnering Legal Approach in the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial and Desert Deer in the Conditions Stakes.

Johnston sent Dalgleish to Cologne on Sunday for valuable places, Love Regardless coming a close fourth in the group 2 mile race and Yavana's Pace third in the Group 1 event later over 12 furlongs. Pie High disappointed earlier, though.

David Nicholls had begun his good week at Pontefract last Thursday when Eton won the apprentice race, while Mick Easterby also put his lad, Sam Hitchcott, up to win on Beau Sauvage. Nicholls sent out Eton to a second win in the week at Beverley, son Adrian riding on this occasion.

Richard Fahey with General Hawk, winning under Paul Hanagan, and Micky Hammond with a rare Flat winner, Late Arrival, partnered by Joe Fanning, were also on the mark at the East Yorkshire course.

On the jumps front, Mary Reveley had a useful Perth double on Wednesday, both Henrianjames and Double Blade landing their races well under Paddy Aspell and Alan Dempsey respectively.

Her stable star Tees Components, a loser on the Flat at Ayr on Saturday, is still ante-post favourite for the Cesarewitch. The outing behind Swinbank's Collier Bay was the gelding's first run since May and, under young Tom Eaves, the Reveley runner was not far off the winner.

THIS WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last. - Ayr: (6f nrsy) Eastern Magenta (trained by Linda Stubbs, at Malton; owned by T C Chiang), ridden by Eddie Ahern.

Pontefract: (10f appr hcp) Eton (David Nicholls, Sessay; V Greaves), R L Moore; (8f sllr hcp) Beau Sauvage (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; K Wrigglesworth), Sam Hitchcott (appr claiming 5lbs) (no bid after).

Yarmouth: (8f mdn hcp) Qualitair Wings (James Hetherton, Malton; Qualitair Holdings Ltd), D McGaffin (3lbs).

Friday. - Ayr: (7f cnds) Go Tech Babodan (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Ryedale Partners No 4), Robert Winston; (6f hcp Silver Cup) John O'Groats (Michael Dods, Piercebridge; J A Wynn-Williams), Fergal Lynch; (9f clmr) Sawwah (David Nicholls; Fayzad Thoroughbred Ltd), Adrian Nicholls.

Saturday. - Ayr: (8f hcp) Lady Bear (Richard Fahey, Butterworth; J A & Kay Campbell), Paul Hanagan; (6f hcp Gold Cup) Funfair Wane (David Nicholls; Hb, Mrs Jean Keegan), Adrian Nicholls; (13f hcp) Collier Hill (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; R H Hall), Darryll Holland; (7f hcp) Santisima Trinidad (Tim Easterby; Chris & Antonia Deuters), David Allan (5lbs).

Newbury: (11f Lstd) Legal Approach (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Maktoum Al Maktoum), Keith Dalgleish; (9f cnds) Desert Deer (Mark Johnston; Jaber Abdullah), Keith Dalgleish.

Catterick: (6f mdn) Eiger (John Quinn, Settrington; Dwayne Woods), Wendyll Woods; ( 14f sller) Branston Nell (Alan Swinbank; J David Abell), Roddy Lappin; (7f fillies hcp) Sophies Symphony (Karl Burke, Coverham; Mike & Claire Wilson), Darren Williams (3lbs).

Monday. - No DST area winners.

Tuesday. - Beverley: (7.5f hcp div 1) Generla Hawk (Richard Fahey; J E M Hawkins), Paul Hanagan; (10f hcp) Eton (David Nicholls; D Metcalf), Adrian Nicholls; (7.5f hcp div 2) Late Arrival (Micky Hammond, Middleham; The Adbrokes Partnership), Joe Fanning.

Wednesday. - Perth NH: (nov chs) Henrianjames (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; Hb, K Benson), Paddy Aspell (5lbs); (clmr hdl) Double Blade (Mary Reveley; The Mary Reveley Racing Club), Alan Dempsey.