THE Tote Northern National at Newcastle on Saturday was an epic battle and the sight of three of our best horses all abreast as they beat off the rest of the field turning for home was a real thriller.

Last year's winner Scotton Green, trained by Tim Easterby, the young pretender Narrow Water (Ferdy Murphy) and the enigmatic Seven Towers (Mary Reveley) were all in contention. As the drama unfolded, the first two drew away from Peter Niven's mount and began to battle it out.

Adrian Maguire was proved right, as his boss had asked which of his four entries should contest the four miles-plus race, and the Irishman hit the front.

Tony Dobbin still fought hard on Scotton Green, but Niven - still frustratingly short of his 1,000th winning ride - galvanised Seven Towers and was just beaten a short head for second. None deserved to lose, but Narrow Water, still a novice, was a worthy winner.

The West Witton trainer also sent Hindiana down for a fine Ascot win and followed up on Carlisle's Monday card when Mulligan Express won.

At Gosforth Park, Micky Hammond sent out Heidi III to land the 2.5-mile chase, Adrian Maguire deputising for the injured Brian Harding. Also on the scoresheet were Peter Beaumont with Pendle Hill and Chris Grant with One More.

Wetherby saw wins for Jimmy FitzGerald's Ballad Minstrel and Mick Easterby with Meadowbank.

The Sheriff Hutton handler was successful at Sedgefield with Nowell House and sent out Silver Socks to a third all-weather win the same afternoon. Richard Fahey won at the County Durham course with Dook's Delight, second at Newcastle on Saturday.

Norman Mason had wins with Emperor's Magic (Carlisle) and hunter-chaser Mr Bossman (Sedgefield).

Eric Elliott from Rushyford had a win for his Darlington solicitor wife Anne when Ballyvaughan landed a Kelso race. Heighington owner-trainer Donald Forster praised Xavier Aizpuru, who won for him on Gus Berry at Sedgefield.

Brian Ellison's Latalomne landed his Sedgefield chase and the Malton trainer also sent out Batswing to the same course for a battling short-head hurdles win.

David Barron had winners at all three all-weather courses with Carrie Pooter, White Plains and Spanish Star, while Don Enrico Incisa's consistent Pickens took another stayers' race.

Today at Kempton, the first race is fascinating, with entries from Richard Fahey, Dhaudeloup heading the weights, Xaipete for Norman Mason, and Mary Reveley's Whistling Dixie, which is most likely to pull off this big win.

Tomorrow the main interest is at Haydock, where we take Streamstown (Ferdy Murphy) to land the De Vere Gold Cup Chase.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Key: All UK racing is now National Hunt (jumps), except for all-weather flat racing (AW). f=furlong (8f=1mile); chs=steeplechase; hdl=hurdles race; NHf=National Hunt flat race (bumper). Hb=homebred by owner.

Thursday last week. - Wolverhampton AW: (6f) Carrie Pooter (trained by D Barron, at Maunby; owned by S Woodall), ridden by D Mernagh.

Friday. - Kelso: (chs) Ballyvaughan (E Elliott, Rushyford; Mrs A E Elliott), B Crowley.

Southwell AW: (16f) Pickens (D Enrico Incisa, Middleham; trainer), K Tinkler.

Saturday. - Ascot: (hdl) Hindiana (F Murphy, West Witton; P Green), D Gallagher.

Newcastle: (hdl) Pendle Hill (P Beaumont, Stearsby; N W A Bannister), R Johnson; (chs) Heidi III (M Hammond, Middleham; Intercity Partnership), A Maguire; (chs) Narrow Water (F Murphy; Getjar Ltd), A Maguire; (hdl) One More (C Grant, Wolviston; the Hon Mrs M Faulkner), L Vickers.

Wetherby: (chs) Ballad Minstrel (J FitzGerald, Norton; Mrs E Shouler), B Storey; (chs) Meadowbank (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Lord Manton), R Garritty.

Lingfield AW: (10f) White Plains (D Barron; N Shields), D Mernagh.

Monday. - Carlisle: (hdl) Mulligan Express (F Murphy; P Mulligan), A Maguire; (chs) Emperor's Magic (N Mason, Crook; permit holder), P Ryan.

Southwell AW: (12f) Spanish Star (D Barron; N Shields), N Callan.

Tuesday. - Sedgefield: (chs) Latalomne (B Ellison, Malton; T Alderson, K M Everitt and T Robson), V Keane; (chs) Gus Berry (D Forster, Heighington; trainer), X Aizpuru; (hdl) Dook's Delight (R Fahey, Butterwick; M Caulfield), Mr P Whelan; (hunter chs) Mr Bossman (N Mason), Mr L McGrath; (hdl) Nowell House (M Easterby; B Bargh & J Walsh), A Dempsey.

Wolverhampton AW: (12f) Silver Socks (M Easterby; trainer), S Hitchcott.

Wednesday. - Doncaster: (hdl) Double Bid (T Tate, Tadcaster; Mrs S Clegg), R Garritty; (hdl) Batswing (B Ellison, Malton; A Carr), J A McCarthy.