WATERLOGGING everywhere and frost at Kelso were expected and duly decimated race meetings this week, but the irony was losing the "all-weather" meeting at Southwell because of fog!

Over the jumps, only two winners came our way in the thin week and they were at Newcastle, where Scottish trainer Lenny Lungo and hot-stuff jockey Tony Dobbin scooped a four-timer.

Malcolm Jefferson sent out Dibea Times to land the juvenile hurdle under Graham Lee. Formerly trained in France, Ray Anderson Green's youngster was having his first run in the UK and went off favourite.

He looks one to follow and Green and Jefferson are eyeing a valuable novice event at Kelso in March.

Micky Hammond's jockey Brian Harding was successful on Luzcadou in the 2m4f hurdle, used as a prep race for the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby after the runner had struck into himself in the Edward Hanmer last time out.

Harding was not so lucky on Joe Di Capo, not only beaten by Lungo's Sioux Raider, but also gaining a one-day suspension for careless riding.

This time last week, Goretski made a return to racing on the Southwell sand following his broken pelvis in the summer. Peter Savill's winner, trained by Nigel Tinkler, should follow up again.

David Barron claimed another AW victory, this time at Wolverhampton, when Lynsey Hanna earned her boss's praise on Frilly Front. The young apprentice gets on well with this filly and is following the path taken some years ago by Alex Greaves, another then claimer at the Barron yard, by earning her reputation on the sand.

Kevin Ryan's charge, Foreign Editor, seems to like the winter game and came good again under Paul Fessey after an 11-month lean spell. This time last year, the winner gained four AW victories when trained by Richard Fahey.

Christmas presents on Boxing Day might, but only might, come from Direct Route at Kempton in the King George VI chase. Trainer Howard Johnson said his star will only run if the ground is right.

Robert Ogden's Marlborough is not likely to run - he is more likely to appear in the Rowland Meyrick - and Jonjo O'Neill's Legal Right, winner of the Tote Silver Cup at Ascot on Saturday, will not be fit enough. If Direct Route goes, he holds a very good chance.

Wetherby holds its traditional two-day Christmas Meeting on Boxing Day and Wednesday with prize money in excess of £126,000. The Castleford and the Rowland Meyrick chases are the feature races on each day.

Acknowledged as a trial for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the Castleford Chase is a limited handicap Grade 2 contest for steeplechasers over the minimum distance of two miles and has been won in the recent past by horses such as Viking Flagship, Katabatic and Waterloo Boy.

Also on Boxing Day is the Supermaster Handicap Chase, named after a former course specialist of the 1970s.

This race is over the extended two and a half miles and could include a modern-day Wetherby favourite, Cumbrian Challenge, who has recorded ten victories at the course.

The principal race on Wednesday, the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase over 3m1f is held in memory of a former clerk of the course, who officiated between 1919 and 1947.

The George Gregory Novices Chase over two miles remembers a former senior clerk of the scales and much-respected racing official, while the Tony Dickinson Novices Handicap Chase (extended 2m4f) commemorates the former Dunkeswick trainer, whose son Michael is now a leading trainer in the United States.

Racegoers can experience the thrills and spills of riding in the Grand National by having a go on the spectacular Aintree Simulator on both days, while children's attractions in the course enclosure include face painting.

Musical entertainment is provided by the Yorkshire Volunteers Brass Band on Boxing Day and the Spennymoor Town Band on Wednesday, while Irish band Napper, Le Faux and Boyle will be strutting their stuff in the Saddling Up Bar on the opening day.

Racing on Boxing Day begins at 12.30, while the action on Wednesday starts at 12.50.

Sedgefield also promises a Christmas cracker on Boxing Day when its most popular meeting of the year will start at 1pm.

Racegoers should note that if one of the novice events is divided, the first race will come forward to 12.30.

Highlights include the £5,000 Rent Roll Cup Handicap Chase over 3m3f, one of the longest established races at the County Durham track, and the Ken Bright Memorial Novices Chase (2m5f) in memory of the popular racecourse photographer who worked at the course and other northern venues for more than 30 years until his death last May.

ALL THE WINNERS

All meetings in the UK are now National Hunt (jumps) meetings except for all-weather flat, AW. Chs = steeplechase; Hdl = hurdles race; NHf = NH flat race/bumper. Hb = Homebred by owner.

Thursday last week. - No UK racing.

Friday. - Southwell AW: (6f) Goretski (trained by Nigel Tinkler, at Langton; owned by P D Savill), ridden by Tony Culhane.

Saturday. - No DST area winners.

Monday. - No DST area winners.

Tuesday. - Wolverhampton AW: (5f) Frilly Front (David Barron, Maunby; M Dalby), Lynsey Hanna; (7f) Foreign Editor (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Pride of Yorkshire Racing Club), Paul Fessey.

Wednesday. - Newcastle: (hdl) Dibea Times (Malcolm Jefferson, Norton; Mr & Mrs Raymond Anderson Green), Graham Lee; Luzcadou (Micky Hammond, Middleham; A G Chappell), Brian Harding.