TOUGH and well-travelled describes Zindabad, winner of Saturday's John Porter Stakes for Mark Johnston - and his globetrotting looks set to continue.

Kevin Darley partnered the six-year-old to land the Newbury Group 3 event in battling style.

Zindabad was third in the Canadian International at Woodbine last September, but was disqualified and placed sixth, and the same race may be his target this year, the Middlham trainer said.

In December the gutsy stallion was only tenth in the Hong Kong Vase, so missed the Dubai Sheema Classic and had a break. His next target is the Yorkshire Cup on May 16, Johnston said.

At Catterick, another of his possible stars for the year returned to the track and won. Fashionable Man, also partnered by Darley, beat the Newmarket hot-pot In Disguise in the mile and a half conditions race to please his trainer.

At the end of his two-year-old season, Fashionable Man injured his knee in a fall from the horsebox, but the winter's rest has seen him heal, grow and improve. This is certainly one to follow.

David Nicholls won a valuable Newmarket handicap a week last Thursday with Fire Up The Band, ridden by son Adrian.

Nicholls went on to take a Catterick double on Wednesday. Apprentice Pat Dobbs was unshipped by Blackheath on the way to post in the first, but hung on tight to his mount to be reunited and win the race.

Tony Hamilton, another claimer, rides out Noble Nick every day, so was given the mount by Dandy to scoop the maiden race later.

Lynda Ramsden won at Ripon with Kristensen and at Catterick with Kangarilla Road. Kevin Ryan had a first juvenile success for the year with Yarrita at Catterick.

Ripon also saw Mick Easterby on form, while Yorkshire winners at Thirsk's Friday meeting were Andy Turnell, Karl Burke and David Barron, with Michael Dods the only local success on the Saturday.

David Barker has high hopes for his Grey Cossack, who added a Pontefract win to an earlier Newcastle success. He is thinking about the Victoria Cup at Ascot.

On the jumps front, Paris Pike disappointed, pulled up in the Scottish National, but Ferdy Murphy fans were rewarded at Perth when Alan O'Keeffe won at 25-1 on What A Wonder.

At Ayr, Fiona Needham on Last Option were only sixth, but the pair looked badly hampered twice by fallers. She and her trainer father Robin Tate took two in the week with Primitive Satin and Joint Account.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Newmarket: (6f hcp) Fire Up The Band (trained by D Nicholls, at Sessay; owned by P Crane, A Barker & S Short), ridden by A Nicholls.

Ripon: (5f clmr) Elvington Boy (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Hb, K Hodgson & Mrs J Hodgson), T Lucas; (12f hcp) Kristensen (L Ramsden, Sandhutton; trainer), J Egan.

Fri. - Thirsk: (8f hcp) Six Pack (A Turnell, Malton; D Murray), F Lynch; (7f hcp) Golden Brief (K Burke, Coverham; Hb, J Kelsey-Fry), F Sweeney; (6f mdn) Impressive Flight (D Barron, Maunby; Hb, C McHale), D McKeown.

Ayr NH: (hcp chs) Star Jack (J FitzGerald, Norton; Mr & Mrs R Anderson Green), Mr P Robson.

Sat. - Newbury: ( 12f Group 3) Zindabad (M Johnston, Middleham; A Buhaleeba), K Darley.

Thirsk: (7f mdn) Smith N Allan Oils (M Dods, Piercebridge; Smith & Allan Racing), J Fanning.

Wolverhampton AW*: (6f hcp) Xaloc (K Burke; Dee Racing Syndicate), D Williams.

Mon. - Pontefract: (6f hcp) Grey Cossack (D Barker, Scorton; Hb, R E Cook), F Lynch.

Hexham NH: (nov hdl) The Manse Brae (M Jefferson, Norton; Ashleybank Investments Ltd), G Lee; (mdn hunter chs) Primitive Satin (R Tate, Boltby; trainer), Mrs F Needham.

Tue. - Wetherby NH: (nov chs) Guilsborough Gorse (T Walford, Sheriff Hutton; Hb, Mrs E C York), R Walford; (hcp hdl) Dix Bay (M Easterby; Mrs E J Wright & Mr A D Bairstow), R McGrath; (hcp chs) Joint Account (R Tate; K Needham), Mrs F Needham.

Wed. - Catterick: (6f clsfd appr) Blackheath (D Nicholls; Middleham Park Racing Xx & Streamhill), P Dobbs; (5f sllr) Yarrita (K Ryan, Hambleton; T G Holdcroft), F Lynch (no bid after); (12f cndns) Fashionable Man (M Johnston; A Saeed), K Darley; (7f mdn) Noble Nick (D Nicholls; Lucayan Stud), T Hamilton; (5f hcp) Kangarilla Road (L Ramsden; Manor Farm Stud (Rutland)), R Winston.

Perth NH: (mdn hdl) Santa Lucia (M Dods; J A Wynn-Williams), R McGrath; (amtr hcp hdl) What A Wonder (F Murphy, West Witton; The Sheepscar Syndicate), Mr A O'Keeffe