THE 2000 Guineas tomorrow sees the north with a rare runner, Mark Johnston sending Love Regardless to contest this Classic race under Kevin Darley.

As we went to press, 22 colts stood their ground in the contest, including Adian O'Brien's well-regarded Hawk Wing, ante-post favourite.

Johnston is not without a chance of scooping the spoils to judge by his continued good form. He sent out Simeon to land the Classic Trial at Ascot and now connections are considering supplementing the winner for the Derby.

On the same day, and in rather more lowly company, Collard won the Wolverhampton seller.

Joe Fanning landed the conditions stakes over a mile and a half at Ripon on Saturday, partnering Swiss owner Markus Graff's Darasim. The jockey went on to land the Pontefract handicap over a similar trip on Hearthstead Pride on Wednesday.

Fanning is riding particularly well at present and also won for the in-form Michael Dods at Nottingham on Gone Too Far. Dods had a miserable year last season when his string were not on par, but has already notched up several successes. This week's tally included Rotuma at Beverley, Tyrone Williams up.

Lynda Ramsden was another trainer to have a quiet 2001, but the tide has turned for her and this week a Pontefract double showed the well-being of her string at present. Both were ridden by Robert Winston, another jockey showing good form of late.

He partnered Fayr Jag for Tim Easterby to land Ripon's opener. The Great Habton trainer also had a Market Rasen jumps winner the same day, as Russ Garritty partnered Stone Cold to add to a Flat win at Beverley last Thursday when Willie Supple rode Tough Love.

Uncle Mick Easterby surprised punters by landing the C B Hutchinson Memorial race at Ripon, Sarangani taking the spoils.

But surprise of the week came from David Nicholls, who made his usual many-pronged attack, this time in the Victoria Cup at Ascot. At 33-1, Scottys Future perplexed even his trainer, who gave Ian Mongan the ride.

Dandy was also on the mark with Pax again, son Adrian up, at Leicester on Saturday at a rewarding 8-1, and took the ladies' race at Ripon when wife Alex Greaves partnered Hormuz.

The jumps season ended officially on Saturday and the new term began on Monday. Brian Ellison sent Batswing over to Ireland to win and his Sedgefield specialist Fatehalkhair took the Durham National at his favourite course.

Andy Crook won at last with Ryalux at Perth, some consolation for losing his useful Stormin' Native with a broken knee at the same course last Wednesday.

Ferdy Murphy continued winning ways with Monkey Island, but JP McNamara is injured and will be missing for a while.

l Former Ripon trainer and verterinary surgeon Peter Calver collapsed at York railway station on Tuesday evening and died at the age of 68. Racing Week's condolences go to his family and friends.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Beverley: (10f clmr) Rotuma (trained by Michael Dods, at Piercebridge; owned by Denton Hall Racing Ltd), ridden by Tyrone Williams; (7f hcp) Tough Love (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; The Gordon Parthership), Willie Supple; (10f fillies' hcp) Brian Rothwell, Musley Bank; J T Brown), Michael Fenton.

PerthNH: (hcp chs) Sharpastrizam (Peter Beaumont, Stearsby; Trevor Hemmings), Russ Garritty.

Friday. - Sandown: (10f Gp 3) Simeon (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Jumeirah Racing), Kevin Darley.

Wolverhampton AW: (12f sllr) Collard (Mark Johnston; ROPA Eclipse Partnership), D Corby (bought in by Dave Nevison for 7,500gns).

Perth NH: hcp chs) Ryalux (Andy Crook, Middleham; William Lomas), Andrew Thornton.

Punchestown (Ireland) NH: (hcp chs) Batswing (Brian Ellison, Norton; Ashley Carr), Barry Geraghty.

Saturday. - Leicester: (6f hcp) Pax (David Nicholls, Sessay; trainer), Adrian Nicholls.

Ripon: (6f hcp) Fayr Jag (Tim Easterby; T E F Freight (Scarboroough) Ltd), Robert Winston; (16f hcp) Sarangani (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Mrs Jean Turpin), Terry Lucas; (10f sllr) Kingsdon (Jimmy FitzGerald, Norton; Mike Browne), Jimmy Fortune (no bid afterwards); (8f ladies' hcp) Hormuz (David Nicholls; The Knavesmire Alliance), Alex Greaves; (12f cnds) Darasim (Mark Johnston; Markus Graff), Joe Fanning.

Market Rasen NH: (nov hcp chs) Stone Cold (Tim Easterby; Six Diamonds Partnership), Russ Garritty.

Sedgefield NH: (hcp chs) Fatehalkhair (Brian Ellison; H Wagner), Vinnie Keane.

Monday. - Wolverhampton AW: (5f sllr) Yarrita (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; T G Holdcroft), Fergal Lynch.

Windsor*: (11f hcp) ZarZA Bay (Karl Burke, Coverham; Mrs Melba Bryce), Jamie Mackay.

Newcastle NH*: (nov hunters' chs) Minden Rose (Peter Maddison, Skewsby), Mr Clive Mulhall.

Tuesday. - Nottingham: (14f hcp) Gone Too Far (Michael Dods; P J Carr), Joe Fanning.

Hexham NH: (NH nov hdl) Ta Ta For Now (Peter Beaumont; Mrs V M Stewart), David O'Meara; (intermediate chs) Monkey Island (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; The Monkey Island Partnership), Tony Dobbin.

Wednesday. - Ascot: (7f hcp) Scottys Future (David Nicholls; Lucayan Stud), Ian Mongan.

Pontefract: (5f mdn) Sanbenito (Lynda Ramsden, Sandhutton; J M Ranson), R Winston; (10f hcp) Lingo (Lynda Ramsden; Swisspartners), Robert Winston; (12f hcp), Hearthstead Pride (M Johnston; Hearthsetad Homes Ltd), J Fanning; (10f appr hcp) Perchancer (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Middleham Park Racing & N P Green), Mark Savage.

Kelso NH*: (hcp chs) Jowoody (Edwin Tuer, Gt Smeaton; Tagwood Syndicate), Mr Paul Robson