SIMEON was a gallant third under Frankie Dettori in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday, well clear of the remainder if somewhat behind winner Sulmani and second-placed favourite Act One.

This gives top hopes to Mark Johnston's Vodaphone Derby duo, Bandari and Fight Your Corner.

Half an inch of rain over Epsom on Wednesday and likely thunder showers as we go to press have altered the going to good/good to soft in places.

Richard Hills, successful throughout the week and none less than for Johnston himself on Akbar - of which more anon - said on Wednesday of his mount, Bandari: "He has won on the soft, too, so conditions will be to his liking. Not only that, it will put a greater emphasis on stamina and that might not be good for the favourite (Ireland's Hawk Wing)."

Akbar landed the Group 3 Bonusprint Henry II Stakes at Sandown under a well-judged ride by Hills on Monday, but Johnston's other three - the unpredictable Royal Rebel (Eddie Ahern, seventh), young pretender And Beyond (Kevin Darley, eighth) and Murghem (Keith Dalgleish, last of 11) - were disappointing.

But the stable had three other useful winners during the week, so the signs are good for tomorrow.

Fergal Lynch has a first ride in the Derby, as he is booked to partner outsider Jelani for Andrew Turnell. This ran well in the Dante when Lynch was serving a suspension. He said: "It's obviously great to get the ride on him at Epsom."

Tim Easterby is in a purple patch. He entered two in the Hilary Needler Trophy on Wednesday evening at Beverley for owner-breeders Mr and Mrs Terry Holdcroft.

On The Brink won under Robert Winston, with Golden Nun third under Dale Gibson. The winner may go to Royal Ascot for the Queen Mary Stakes, which was won by the same owner-breeder-trainer team with Romantic Myth two years ago.

Linda Stubbs is in great form since her return north and she sent out winners for her owner T C Chiang at both Ayr and Sandown, while daughter Kristin partnered Smarter Charter to win.

Allan Dickman had his first Chester winner on Wednesday night, having moved from Malton to Upper Helmsley.

There are more changes afoot, as Jimmy Etherington is putting Wold House Stables on the market with its five-bedroom Georgian house. Son Tim Etherington will use the bottom yard vacated by Dickman.

Finally, after the weekend of national celebrations, Sally Hall has some royal connections to celebrate.

Her great race mare, Caroline Lamb, born in Silver Jubilee year, foaled her last offspring last week, a bay filly foal.

The dam, mother of seven winning offspring - including Sir Lamb at Hexham on Saturday - is now as silver as her birth year. Her baby is presently a dark golden colour and will hopefully carry on the line. It would be great if she were named Jubilee Lamb!

And Middleham apprentice Leanne Kershaw rode a winner bred by the Queen on the Flat at Doncaster on Saturday when she won on Snow Bunting for trainer Jedd O'Keeffe, whose yard is at Sally Hall's Brecongill.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Ayr: (6f nov) Helm Bank (trained by Mark Johnston, at Middleham; Hb, owned by Mr & Mrs G Middlebrook), ridden by Keith Dalgleish.

Wetherby NH*: (hcp hdl) Commanche Wind (Edwin Tuer, Great Smeaton; trainer), Tony Dobbin; (nov chs) Hallyards Gael (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; G M Mair), Paddy Aspell; (hcp hdl) Percy Beck (P Needham, Marwood; P Needham), Calvin McCormack.

Friday. - Ayr: (6f mdn) Eastern Magenta (Linda Stubbs, Malton; T C Chiang), Darryll Holland; (10f hcp) Pasithea (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Hb, Lady Legard), Ted Durcan; (13f clfd) Collier Hill (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; R H Hall), Kevin Darley.

Catterick: (5f fillies' mdn) Quick Flight (John Weymes, Coverham; Mrs N Napier), Gary Hind; (14f sllr) Blair (Alan Swinbank; Leading Star Racing), Roddy Lappin; (5f hcp) Blessingindisguise (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; A G Black), Sam Hitchcott; (6f clmr) Al Muallim (David Nicholls, Sessay; Nell Smith), Alex Greavesl (6f hcp) Loughlorien (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Pendle Inn Top Partnership), Fergal Lynch.

Saturday. - Doncaster: (7f appr hcp) Snow Bunting (Jedd O'Keeffe, Coverham; Wetherby Racing Bureau 54), Leanne Kershaw; (6f clfd) Surprised (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; Hb, D R Brotherton), Gary Carter.

Musselburgh: (5f mdn) We're Stonybroke (David Barron, Maunby; Larry Byrne), Dean Mernagh.

Hexham NH: (mdn chs) Danteco (Kate Milligan, Middleham; Hb, Mrs J M L Milligan), Brian Storey; (hcp hdl0 From Little Acorns (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; Hb, Mrs A T B Kearney), Graham Lee; (nov hdl) Sir Lamb (Sally Hall, Coverham; Hb, Colin Platts), Alan Dempsey; (hcp chs) Silent Snipe (Lynn Siddall, Colton; Mrs D Ibbotson), Tom Siddall; (hunter chs) Wynyard Dancer (Mrs Gillian Sunter, Ferryhill; trainer), Mr Chris Dawson.

Market Rasen NH*: (hntr chs) Father Rector (Fiona Needham, Thirsk; William Lamarque), Mr Chris Denny; (mdn hdl) Sea Mark (Chris Grant, Wolviston; AKV Cladding Fabrications Ltd), Tony Dobbin; (hcp chs) Pharbeitfrome (Noel Wilson, Painsthorpe; G Griffin), Calvin McCormack; (NHf) Tickton Flyer (Mick Easterby; Hb, T D Rose & A P Foreman), Mr Gino Carenza.

Monday. - Sandown: (Gp 2) Akbar (Mark Johnston; Markus Graff), Richard Hills; (7f hcp) Eastern Hope (Linda Stubbs; T C Chiang), Darryll Holland.

Leicester: (12f appr hcp) Smarter Charter (Linda Stubbs; O J Williams), Kristin Stubbs.

Cartmel NH: (nov hcp chs) Elvis Reigns (Ferdy Murphy; A G Chappell), Tony Dobbin.

Uttoxeter NH: (sllr hcp hdl) Mill Emerald (Mary Reveley; Hb, Rodney Meredith), Mr Fergus King (bought in for 6,400gns afterwards).

Tuesday. - Leicester: (8f clmr) Olivia Rose (Mark Johnston; C G Maybury), Joe Fanning; (5f fillies' mdn) San Luis Ray (Lynda Ramsden, Sandhutton; N J F Robinson), Eddie Ahern.

Redcar: (6f fillies' mdn) Miss Mirasol (Kevin Ryan; Mrs Margaret Forsyth), Fergal Lynch; (9f hcpo) Oscar Pepper (David Barron; Ian Armitage), Gary Faulkner; (14f mdn hcp) Decoy (Mark Johnston; The Middleham Partnership), Keith Dalgleish; (6f amtr mdn hcp) Ridicule (Tim Easterby; Bycule Thoroughbreds), Mr Nicky Tinkler.

Hexham NH: (hcpo hdl) Fishki's Lad (andy Crook, Middleham; Sunstar Racing Ltd), Graham Lee.

Wednesday. - Newcastle: (5f mdn) Roman Mistress (Tim Easterby; W G Ponsonby), K Dalgleish; (8f hcp) Cat's Whiskers (Mick Easterby; The Four Legged Friends), Dale Gibson; (12f appr clfd) Collier Hill (Alan Swingank; R H Hall), David Allan.

Cartmel NH: (mares' nov sllr hdl) Mercede (Nowl Wilson; Josef Fusenich), Calvin McCormack.

Beverley*: (filles' Lstd) On The Brink (Tim Easterby; Hb, T G & Mrs M E Holdcroft), Robert Winston.

Chester: (5f mdn) Inter Vision (Allan Dickman, Upper Helmsley; Thge Milan Partnership),George Duffield; (5f hcp) Paddywack (David Chapman, Stillington; T S Redman), Darryll Holland