LEGAL Approach earned a quote of 25-1 for next year's 2000 Guineas after a smooth win on Sunday at the Ascot Festival of Racing.

Mark Johnston has perhaps his best-ever team of two-year-olds and Darryll Holland brought this one late on the scene to take the Singapore Turf Club Conditions race by a neck.

Sir George Turner, winner of the valuable £400,000-added Tattersalls Houghton Sales Stakes at Newmarket on Tuesday, was quoted at 33-1 by William Hill for next year's Vodafone Derby.

Paul Dean's colours, made famous by Bouncing Bowdler (fifth in a Listed race in Dortmund, Germany, on Sunday) and Deano's Beeno, were worn by Kevin Darley.

Johnston said that this son of Nashwan was likely to go "the Dante-Derby route, although there is also the Fielden back here (at Newmarket) if I can't wait until then."

Haydock saw Johnston's Celtic Mission win well under Joe Fanning last Friday, while Middleham neighbour Karl Burke ended a long run without success as Countrywide Star took the 7f maiden.

Next day, despite increasingly heavy going, Johnston won another for Mick Doyle with Lots Of Love, partnered by good young apprentice Keith Dalgleish. Dalgleish lost his right to claim on Sunday when partnering Double Gamble in the colours of Ron Huggins.

John Quinn sent down Fantasy Believer to Ascot on Friday to land the 6f sprint. Next day, the 7f showcase went to David Barron's Downland at 40-1.

David Chapman's Sharp Hat deservedly won at Newcastle, where Darryll Holland also won for Les Eyre on Amaranth. Tim Easterby took his 68th winner of the year with Roland Hope's homebred Fangio's Quest.

On the jumps front, George Moore, who passed the 500 winners mark last week, made it 501 at Perth last Thursday, where Great Smeaton permit holder Edwin Tuer had a double with Bula Rose and Simlet.

Jockeys, trainers and racegoers honoured senior pilot Peter Niven on his retirement. The Scot, who has premises in the Malton area, hopes to train soon. His long-time boss, Mary Reveley, had winners at Huntingdon and two at Sedgefield, partnered by her younger riders, Alan Dempsey and Anthony Ross.

Also off the mark was Wilf Storey, while Alan Swinbank had a good win with Sunshade.

The Week's Winners

Key: All meetings are Flat on turf, except: NH=National Hunt (jumps) meetings; and AW=all-weather flat racing. *=evening meeting. f=furlong (8f=1mile); chs=steeplechase; hdl=hurdles race; NHf=National Hunt flat race (bumper). Hb=homebred by owner or one of owners.

Thursday last week. - Perth NH: (hdl) Karajan (trained by G Moore, at Middleham; owned by J R F (Management Consultants) Ltd), ridden by R Garritty; (hdl) Bula Rose (E Tuer, Great Smeaton; permit holder), G Lee; (hdl) Simlet (E Tuer; permit holder), T Dobbin.

Friday. - Ascot: (6f) Fantasy Believer (J Quinn, Settrington; The Fantasy Fellowship), P Fitzsimmons.

Haydock: (10 f) Celtic Mission (M Johnston, Middleham; C H Racing Partnership), J Fanning; (7f) Countrywide Star (K Burke, Coverham; Countrywide Steel & Tubes Ltd), I Mongan.

Saturday. - Ascot: (7f) Downland (D Barron, Maunby; Miss S Kelly & Ms J Rainer-Thomas), D Kinsella.

Haydock: (7f) Lots Of Love (M Johnston; M Doyle), K Dalgleish.

Sunday. - Ascot: (7f) Legal Approach (M Johnston; Maktoum Al Maktoum), D Holland.

Musselburgh (meeting abandoned after 5 races): (12f) Double Gamble (M Johnston; Hb, R W Huggins), K Dalgleish.

Huntingdon NH: (hdl) Mill Afrique (M Reveley, Lingdale; Hb, R Meredith), A Dempsey.

Monday. - No DST area winners.

Tuesday. - Newmarket: (7f) Sir George Turner (M Johnston; P Dean), K Darley.

Sedgfield NH: (hdl) Terdad (M Reveley; Tremousser Partnership), A Dempsey; (chs) What A Tale (M Reveley; Jemm Partnership), A Ross; (chs) Weaver George (W Storey, Muggleswick; Regent Decorators Ltd), G Lee; (hdl) Sunshade (A Swinbank, Melsonby; E Crankshaw & G Allan II), J Crowley.

Wednesday. - Newcastle: (6f) Fangio's Quest (T Easterby, Gt Habton; Hb, R Hope & M Sanderson), R Winston; (5f) Sharp Hat (D Chapman, Stillington; Miss N F Thesiger), D Holland; (7f) Amaranth (L Eyre, Hambleton; M Gleason), D Holland.