Willie Carson was on Saturday back in the Ascot winner's circle he visited so regularly as a jockey.

Carson took time out from his duties as a BBC presenter to watch Muja Farewell, whom he bred and owns in partnership, in the Palan Handicap.

And the former Royal rider and five-times champion was all smiles after the filly, trained in Thirsk by David Barron, made all to hold the hot favourite Funny Valentine by half a length.

''She's got a tremendous amount of speed, but you've got to give all the credit to David Barron,'' said Carson, who said that Muja Farewell had just needed the race when fifth to Orientor on her reappearance at York last Saturday.

''David said 'Right, next Saturday'. To be honest I thought that was a bit quick, seven days after her first run,'' he added.

Carson sold three-quarters of Muja Farewell to three friends from Cheshire with whom he goes shooting and has his sights set on the daughter of Mujtahid collecting black type in Pattern company.

Funny Valentine, third at 100-1 in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes on the first day of the Royal meeting, was sent off the 2-1 favourite to capitalise on what looked such advantageous terms.

Although the colt appeared to jink under Richard Quinn entering the final furlong, trainer Terry Mills was not offering excuses.

''Richard said he should have won, but the winner had just got away from him,'' said Mills.

''He was a bit unlucky and you need luck in these races. It's no good being second, winners are what you are after.''

The Whistling Teal, fancied to follow up his victory in last month's Zetland Gold Cup, suffered a luckless run under Darryll Holland, hemmed in on the far rails and finishing fifth.

Pat Eddery's followers were in clover after the 11-times champion delivered a 20-1 beauty in Freefourinternet in the Milcars New Stakes.

Freefourinternet, trained by Brian Meehan, led over a furlong out and held Chianti by a hard-fought neck.

Frankie Dettori again teamed up again with Ed Dunlop, who had supplied his Hunt Cup winner, Surprise Encounter, to take the opening London Clubs Fern Hill Stakes on Independence.

l Mark Johnston was celebrating after Eurolink Artemis jockeyed by former champion Michael Roberts won the Tetley's Bitter Handicap at Redcar on Saturday.

The trainer, based in the Midlands, enjoyed a tremendous Royal Ascot last week with three winners, three seconds and two thirds.

l Kieren Fallon was the man to follow at Pontefract yesterday afternoon, securing a 861/2-1 treble at the West Yorkshire course.

The former champion jockey got on the board in the second race, the L & J Windows Handicap, with Alan Swinbank's Just Murphy, who justified 4-1 favouritism.

He then struck on the same trainer's Gracilis (5-2) in the feature event, the Tote Pontefract Cup, with the pair powering clear for an impressive eight-lengths success.

Fallon was later seen at his strongest when getting Tim Easterby's Clever Girl home in the closing Porters Lodge Fillies' Handicap to win a shade cosily, the filly another to reward punters' faith at odds of 4-1.