KEVIN Darley has been acclaimed the champion jockey after taking his 150th win of the season at Musselburgh on Wednesday.

Although there are still a couple of days of the season left, no-one can catch the northern jockey now and he is the first to bring the title to the region since 1905.

Darley's winner was for Oxfordshire trainer Gerard Butler, but many of his wins have been for trainers nearer his Yorkshire home.

Mark Johnston took a double on the card with horses partnered by Darryll Holland, although the trainer was in Kentucky preparing Fruits Of Love for the Breeders Cup.

Middleham neighbour Patrick Haslam made 40 for the year when You're Special gained a rapid hat-trick, having scored twice last week.

Malcolm Jefferson, on the other hand, took his first flat winner this term when Clarich Claymore won under apprentice Paul Hanagan.

Last Thursday on the Scottish course, Johnston, Andy Turnell and James Hetherton were on the scorecard.

Turnell moves to Malton soon and the Ramsdens will return to their former Sandhutton yard. This week, it was reported that Robert Winston will join them as stable jockey.

Much of the week has been devastated by the weather with Catterick and many other meetings falling to the soft going.

Attention now turns to jumps racing and Sedgefield stages a competitive seven-race card on Tuesday, weather permitting. Racing starts at 1pm and a highlight is the £10,000 Sanyo Hurdle Race.

Already going well are the strings of Mary Reveley, Tim Easterby and George Moore, while Mick Easterby and Ferdy Murphy are also in flying form.

Tomorrow, the turf season on the flat has its final fling at Doncaster, where we expect Flossy to take the November Handicap to end Chris Thornton's time at Spigot Lodge in glory.

Today at Doncaster, we see that Black Ice Boy is some 100-1 early doors in the 1.30. Robin Bastiman's runner - he also sends out The Castigator at similar odds - can win if in the right frame of mind, but it is not one to put your shirt on.

In the 2.00, try Les Eyre's Diamond Zoe for a modest each-way flutter. The 2.30 sprint features Mark Johnston's Harryanna, which should win under Michael Hills, while there are each way chances at the bottom of the handicap for Regal Song, trained by Tim Etherington, which might just go close or even give popular northern jockey Joe Fanning another winner.

Last Saturday at Newmarket, Atlantic Rhapsody (Johnston) found only Greenaway Bay too good.

Karl Burke, who takes over Spigot Lodge on New Year's Eve, it was reported, trains this and could win the ladies' race today at Doncaster. But Mary Reveley's Penny's Pride should go close for Pauline Robson.

ALL THE WINNERS

National Hunt (jumps) meetings are indicated by NH, all-weather flat, by AW. Other meetings are all flat meetings, turf. Evening meetings marked by an asterix *. Chs = steeplechase; Hdl = hurdles race; NHf = NH flat race/bumper. Hb = Homebred by owner.

Thursday last week. - Musselburgh: Gem Bein (trained by Andrew Turnell, at Sandhutton; owned by Mrs Clare Hollowood), ridden by Paul Fessey; Aura Of Grace (Mark Johnston, Middleham; R N Bracher), Darryll Holland; Ace Of Trumps (James Hetherton, Malton; C D Barber-Lomax), Neil Kennedy.

Sedgefield NH: (hdl) Macintosh (Norman Mason, Crook; permit holder), Paul Ryan; (hdl) Mr Christie (Lynn Siddall, Colton; David Mann), Mr R Duoro; (hdl) Fireside Girl (Donald Forster, Heighington; D M Forster), Richard Guest; (hdl) Altapeter (Peter Beaumont, Stearsby; Mrs J Hey), Russ Garritty; (NHf) Double Timer (Bill Haigh, Melsonby; Alan Swinbank), Mr T Doyle.

Friday. - Wetherby NH: (hdl) Belisario (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Paul G Jacobs), Paul Flynn; (chs) Ballinclay King (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; I Guise B Leatherday & N L Spence), Adrian Maguire; (hdl) Boogy Woogy (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Mrs P D Croft), Russ Garritty.

Saturday. - Kelso NH: (chs) Master Wood (Chris Grant, Wolviston; Hb, Roy Robinson), Calvin McCormack; (hdl) Camaraderie (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; The Mary Reveley Racing Club), Tony Ross; (hdl) Bit O Magic (Ferdy Murphy; Geoff Adam0, J P McNamara.

Wetherby NH: (chs) Time Of Flight (Mary Reveley; Andy Peake & David Jackson), Peter Niven; (hdl) Truckers Tavern (Ferdy Murphy; Mrs M B Scholey), Adrian Maguire.

Monday. - No UK racing; no DST area winners.

Tuesday. - No DST area winners.

Wednesday. - Musselburgh: Albuhera (Mark Johnston; D J & F A Jackson), Darryll Holland; Clarinch Claymore (Malcolm Jefferson, Norton; John Donald), Paul Hanagan; You're Special (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Les Buckley), Celtic Mission (Mark Johnston; C H Racing Partnership), Darryll Holland