WHO DIDN'T read the script, then? Didn't Mark Johnston know that the Irish, in particular a certain Aidan O'Brien, were supposed to sweep the board at Royal Ascot?

Instead, the Middleham trainer topped the score by landing four Royal winners including one on the extra day for Jubilee year, Saturday.

Following Helm Bank's success in the Chesham, The Bonus King (Kevin Darley), well fancied for the Norfolk, was edged out just a head in second by Richard Hannon's Baron's Pit - but the two of them beat O'Brien's hotpot Marino Marini.

Then roll on the Gold Cup, Ascot's marathon over two and half miles. Johnston had the enigmatic Royal Rebel running, in British Horseracing Board supremo Peter Savill's colours, last year's winner of this valuable Group 1 event. Johnny Murtagh had the ride again.

In 2001 Royal Rebel had battled with popular veteran Persian Punch to land the spoils near the finish, but has not won since. Sent off at 16-1, with the Dermot Weld Irish-trained favourite Vinnie Roe, Rebel did not look a likely winner beforehand. But nobody told him - or Murtagh - that.

The pair beat Vinnie Roe by a neck in a battling finish, with Wareed (Dettori) a length behind. Alas, the stewards took exception to Murtagh's whip use and he gained a four-day ban which means he misses the Irish Derby.

The King George Stakes was next on the card and again, Mark Johnston sent out the winner, in the shape of 9-1 shot Systematic, under a fine Kevin Darley ride.

Friday saw several of our northern runners in good prize money - which spills down as far as sixth place. Vintage Premium (Richard Fahey) was 6th in the opener, Bollin Eric (Tim Easterby) a valiant runner-up in the King Edward VII Stakes and Scotty's Future (David Nicholls) 6th in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.

However, the week certainly belonged to Johnston, who on Saturday, the Queen's extra day, sent out Zindabad to land the Hardwicke, a Group 2 race over a mile and a half, another grand Darley ride.

First prize was more than £84,600 and stablemate Yavana's Pace in 6th under Keith Dalgleish still earned more than £2,000. Dandy Nicholl's Continent, 5th in the Golden Jubilee Stakes afterwards, took home some £6,750 but Mick Easterby's favourite, Doctor Spin, could only manage 8th in the Wokingham, out of the prize money.

Johnston was in irrespressible form all week, with five further winners from Ayr in the north to Windsor in the south. His Redcar winner, Ela D'Argent, was partnered by John Carroll, who had a treble day, while his others were ridden by Joe Fanning, Darley or Dalgleish.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Key: Meetings as shown are Flat on turf, except AW = Flat on all-weather, or NH= National Hunt (jumping); * = evening meeting; f = furlong (8f = 1 mile); chs = steeplechase; hdl = hurdle; NHf = National Hunt flat race (bumper); mdn = maiden; nov = novice; juv = juvenile; clmr = claiming race (entries can be claimed by sealed bid tenders); sllr = selling race (winner auctioned after race, other runners can be claimed); hcp = handicap; cnds = conditions race; clfd = classified stakes, a limited hcp; ltd = limited hcp; lstd = a Listed race; Gp = Group race (1, 2 or 3 shown); amtr = amateur riders; appr = apprentice riders; cond = conditional (jumps apprentice) riders; Hb = homebred by owner (or one of the owners).

Thursday last week. - Royal Ascot: (20f Gp 1) Royal Rebel (trained by Mark Johnston, at Middleham; owned by P D Savill), ridden by Johnny Murtagh; (12f hcp) Systematic (Mark Johnston; Maktoum Al Maktoum), Kevin Darley.

Ripon: (5f hcp) Tommy Smith (John Wainwright, Kennythorpe; T W Heseltine), Darren Williams (appr claiming 3 lbs).

Southwell AW: (5f fillies mdn) Bonkers (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Jonathan Gill), Sam Hitchcott (5); (7f appr sllr hcp) Noble Locks (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Paul J Dixon), Joan Flynn (no bid after).

Friday. - Ayr: (8f clmr) Ela D'Argent (Mark Johnston; Hb, D Cooper, G Hosle, D Ward & Co), Joe Fanning (winner claimed for £6,000 by Peter Monteith); (6f mdn) Spiritual Air (John Weymes, Coverham; Hb, T A Scothern), Gary Hind; (13f appr mdn hcp) Oriental Express (Chris Thornton, Middleham; Hb, Mrs C Wilson), Tom Eaves.

Redcar: (10f clmr) Arpeggio (David Nicholls, Sessay; H E Lhendup), Alex Greaves; (14f mdn) Activist (George Moore, Middleham; John Robson), Lee Enstone (5); (7f hcp) Blythe Spirit (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; Mrs Janis Macoherson), Royston ffrench.

Saturday. - Royal Ascot: (12f Gp 2) Zindabad (Mark Johnston; Abdulla Buhaleeba), Kevin Darley.

Ayr: (7f mdn) Edmo Yewkay (Tim Easterby; Edmolift UK Ltd), John Egan.

Redcar: (6f mdn) Katina (Mark Johnston; M P Burke), John Carroll; (14f hcp) Blair (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; Leading Star Racing), Roddy Lappin; (10f hcp) Gralmano (Kevin Ryan; Coleorton Moor Racing), John Carroll; (6f hcp) Forever Times (Tim Easterby; Times of Wigan), Paul Hanagan (3); Timeless Touch (Chris Fairhurst, Middleham; Whittle Racing Partnership), Paul Goode (3); (7f clfd) Platinum Duke (Kevin Ryan; Platinum Racing Club), John Carroll.

Market Rasen NH: (MHf) Gods Token (Gerry Kelly, Sheriff Hutton; Hb, C J Ratcliffe), David Crosse (3).

Monday. - Musselburgh: (12f hcp) Knavesmire (Mark Johnston; The Knavesmire Partnership), Kevin Darley; (8f hcp) Pepper Road (Robin Bastiman, Cowthorpe; Peter Julian), Dean McKeown.

Pontefract*: (10f hcp) Polish Corridor (Michael Dods, Piercebridge; Russ Mould), Tony Culhane; (18f hcp) Thewhirlingdervish (Tim Easterby; Major I C Straker), Richard Quinn.

Windsor*: (111/2f hcp) Scott's View (Mark Johnston; Great Escape Partnership), Joe Fanning.

Tuesday. - Beverley: (12f clmr) Nichol Fifty (Noel Wilson, Painsthorpe; Mrs N C Wilson), Clare Roche (7); (10f hcp) Swynford Pleasure (James Hetherton, Malton; Qualitair Holdings), Kieren Fallon; (71/2f hcp) Parting Shot (Tim Easterby; C H Stevens), Kieren Fallon; (5f appr hcp) Le Meridien (John Wainwright; trainer), Jacqueline Harrison (4).

Wednesday. - Carlisle: (6f mdn) Logsdail (Lynda Ramsden, Sandhutton; W J Gredley), Darren Williams (3); (7f hcp) Uhumagoo (Kevin Ryan; Platinum Racing Club Ltd), Fergal Lynch.

Warwick: (7f nov) Dancinginthestreet (Mark Johnston; the 4th Middleham Partnership), Kevin Darley; (16f hcp) Decoy (Mark Johnston; the Middleham Partnership), Keith Dalgleish.

Hamilton*: (6f nov) Devious Boy (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Blue Lion Racing), Lee Enstone (5); (9f hcp) Miss Opulence (Brian Ellison, Norton; Miss V Haigh), Paul Hanagan (3); (5f fillies hcp) Safranine (Ann Stokell, Brompton-on-Swale; Ms Caron Stokell), Carl Lowther.