SIX nail-biting photo finishes in row provided a thrilling afternoon of action for owners, jockeys, and spectators alike at Catterick yesterday.

The most valuable contest on the card, the mile-and-six-furlong handicap, presented judge Alastair Stewart with his most difficult decision of the day when Graham Island nosed past Football Crazy right on the wire to score by the width of a cat's whisker.

Having seen off the close attentions of Crathorne, Football Crazy appeared to have matters well under control, however the latter hadn't reckoned with Newmarket raider Graham Island, whose late lunge under Royston French was enough to snatch the £10,000 event.

Next best in terms of drama came via Taboor's 12-1 last-gasp victory in the Redcar Handicap.

Robert Winston and Taboor seemed to have no chance at the halfway stage of the five-furlong dash, but as the leaders began to tread water the in-form jockey conjured up a stunning surge to force Taboor ahead in the shadow of the post.

The hard-fought triumph meant Winston maintained his 96-90 advantage over main rival, Jamie Spencer, at the top of the jockey's championship. "My agent Richard Hale is the man behind the scenes doing a lot of the hard work. He's very intelligent and much of my success is down to him, he knows all the right people and the game inside out, between us we make a great team," said Winston.

Spencer had earlier pegged back Winston's lead by virtue of a whirlwind finale which saw his mount, High Command, narrowly catch Mark Johnston's newcomer, Lightning Affair, as the two traded blows inside the final 25 yards.

Tom Eaves was all smiles after Court Of Appeal nabbed long-time leader Tomasino in the dying strides of the Wetherby Claiming Stakes.

"That's only Tom's second day back following a seven-week lay-off. He broke his wrist after a two-year-old reared up and threw him in a stalls accident," reported Court Of Appeal's trainer, Malton-based Brian Ellison.

"Tom's a good honest rider and he does particularly well to keep his weight down," added Ellison, who continues to harvest low-grade affairs with Court Of Appeal, seeing as the gelding is now too high in the weights to make his presence felt in handicaps.

There was a major shock to the outcome of the Janadriyah Selling Stakes when 20- shot, Alani, just got the better of second favourite, Esquillon, in yet another desperate final furlong tussle.

Much of the credit for the victory must go to Joe Fanning, who rode a canny race aboard the winner, dictating the speed at the head of affairs and then re-galvanising Alani when she was briefly headed in the home straight.

"Alani's a good filly on the gallops but has been a bit frustrating on the track. Joe rode an outstanding race on her and she was suited by the more relaxed pace over the longer trip," revealed Middleham trainer Jedd O'Keeffe's wife, Andrea.

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