AFTER last year's famine comes the feast, as we have racing on both the Flat and over the sticks.

Early successes on the level have come as expected from David Nicholls, Mark Johnston, Patrick Haslam, Kevin Ryan, Tim Easterby and Richard Fahey - and they all look to have more to come.

Nicholls had winners on Thursday, Friday and Saturday thanks to his son Adrian, his wife Alex Greaves and champion jockey Kieren Fallon respectively. Alex's partner, Pax, was a rewarding 20-1 - you'll not get those odds again!

Mark Johnston's Simeon looked an impressive Haydock winner under Kevin Darley, while fellow stable jockey Joe Fanning pleased Piercebridge handler Michael Dods at Musselburgh.

Kevin Ryan had a winner at Southwell and at Beverley, where Richard Fahey took a double with Altay and Akeesha, the latter homebred by him. Tim Easterby looked to have another good filly when Patavium Princess won a Southwell maiden, while Patrick Haslam's standing dish Flambe won too under Paul Mulrennan.

Both Mel Brittain and Nigel Tinkler look to have good youngsters, landing the first and second divisions of the Beverley sprint maiden with Dasar and Razotti respectively.

Others on the mark at this early stage were Richard Whitaker and Noel Wilson, the latter well remembered from his point-to-point days. His wife, Nicky, won the amateur race at Southwell on their own Nifty Norman at 33-1 and not unbacked by their connections.

Alan Swinbank won at Musselburgh and added the Hexham bumper later.

Thirsk tomorrow afternoon sees several entries by Dandy Nicholls in the Thomas Lord Stakes, from Awake to Zuhair, and whichever runner he sends has strong chances.

But Kevin Ryan is also represented, along with both Easterbys, Tim and uncle Mick. Tim's My American Beauty, if running, could be a leading light. Joe Fanning got on well with her last year.

Meanwhile, back with the jumps, Mary Reveley had a cracking week with winners as far apart as Plumpton, Newcastle and Cheltenham.

Muriel Naughton, who has had a quietish winter, sent out two Gerry Supple-ridden winners, although Mr Muddypaws was only opposed by one other at Newcastle.

Edwin Tuer and Ferdy Murphy have both had good seasons and continued winning ways.

The West Witton trainer reported Paris Pike as 100pc for tomorrow's Ayr Scottish National, a real race to savour. JP McNamara rides and hopes to repeat Pikey's 2000 victory in the race.

Among the opposition are the Tate/Needham family's Last Option, fourth in the event last year. Jim Turner is checking the weather and going before Adie Smith rides Inn At The Top in this - he may go for the shorter Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase today instead.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Key: Meetings 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; clfd = classified stakes, a limited hcp; amtr = amateur riders; appr = apprentice riders; cond = conditional (jumps apprentice) riders; Hb = homebred by owner (or one of the owners).

Thursday last week. - Musselburgh: (8f hcp) Mister Rambo (trained by David Nicholls, at Sessay; owned by Middleham Park Racing XXV), ridden by Adrian Nicholls; (5f fillies mdn hcp) Sally Traffic (Richard Whitaker, Scarcroft; J Barry Pemberton), Franny Norton; (9f mdn) Pearson Glen (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; The Pearl Divers), Roddy Lappin; (14f hcp) One Domino (Michael Dods, Piercebridge; North Briton Racing), Joe Fanning.

Friday. - Southwell (turf): (7f mdn) Frank Mor (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Hokey Cokey Partnership), Fergal Lynch; (6f hcp) Pax (David Nicholls; trainer), Alex Greaves.

Carlisle NH: (hcp hdl) Haikal (Edwin Tuer, Great Smeaton; trainer), Graham Lee; (hcp chs) Just Strong (Muriel Naughton, Richmond; Mrs J M Thompson), Gerry Supple; (NHf) Joes Edge (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; Chemipetro Ltd), JP McNamara.

Saturday. - Haydock: (10f hcp) Simeon (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Jumeirah Racing), Kevin Darley.

Pontefract: (6f sllr) Mizhar (David Nicholls; J H Knight), Kieren Fallon (no bid after).

Hexham NH: (nov chs) Silent Snipe (Lynn Siddall, Colton; Mrs D Ibbotson), Tom Siddall; (hcp hdl) It's All A Chance (Howard Johnson, Crook; trainer), Mr Paul Robson; (NHf) The Masareti Kid (Alan Swinbank; Wart and Gartzen), Jim Crowley.

Market Rasen NH: (hcp chs) Ernest William (Ferdy Murphy; Exors of the late G A Hubbard), Josh Byrne; (hco chs) Nephite (Norman Mason, Brancepeth; permit holder), Henry Oliver.

Monday. - Plumpton NH: (nov hdl) Peartree House (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; P D Savill), Alan Dempsey.

Southwell AW: (6f amtr clmr) Nifty Norman (Noel Wilson, Painsthorpe; Mrs N C Wilson), Mrs Nicky Wilson; (5f mdn) Patavium Princess (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Middleham Park Racing XV), Robert Winston; (8f clfd) Flambe (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Mrs B M Hawkins and Marquess of Downshire), Paul Mulrennan.

Tuesday. - Newcastle NH: (hcp chs) Mr Muddypaws (Muriel Naughton; trainer), Gerry Supple; (nov chs) Henrianjames (Mary Reveley; Hb, K Benson), Alan Dempsey.

Wednesday. - Beverley: (9f sllr) Shamwari Song (Kevin Ryan; Mrs J Ryan), Fergal Lynch (no bid after); (5f mdn div 1) Dasar (Mel Brittain, Warthill; The Dasar Partnership), David Allan; (div 2) Razotti (Nigel Tinkler, Langton; Hb, P D Savill), (10f hcp) Altay (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; Hb, John T Robson), Royston ffrench; (7f hcp) Akeesha (Richard Fahey; Hb, trainer), Paul Hanagan.

Cheltenham NH: (nov hcp hdl) Hidden Bounty (Mary Reveley; M E Foxton), Alan Dempsey.

l Catterick's second meeting on the Flat this season sees SIS Digital support Wednesday's entire seven-race programme.

Racing begins at 2.10, with the feature race being the SIS Digital Your Favourite For Text Conditions Stakes, a contest for three-year-olds with possible Classic aspirations.

This one and a half mile race, which carries prize money of £10,000, has been won in the recent past by horses such as 1994 St Leger winner Moonax and 1993 Italian Derby winner and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up White Muzzle