ON a dreary afternoon the action at Catterick was highlighted by two cracking battles between representatives from the Howard Johnson and Brian Ellison yards.

The score was one apiece with Ellison’s John Forbes obliging in the Richmond Beginners’ Chase, while Johnson’s Milans Man took the Hipswell Novices’ Hurdle.

John Forbes (5-1) seemed to be fighting a losing battle all the way up the home straight against the odds-on Fortysecond Street.

Denis O’Regan appeared to have every move Keith Mercer made on John Forbes covered, yet when he went to the front Fortysecond Street began to idle.

Mercer refused to give in on John Forbes, who has won on the level, over hurdles and now over fences, and he got back up to win by a length and a quarter.

‘‘He’s hard as nails and is a great battler,’’ said Ellison.

‘‘He jumped well enough and he’s not over-big. It’s definitely ride of the week as he knocked the last out of the ground.

‘‘He doesn’t give up and Keith knew that. He’s underrated and is a great rider.

‘‘The horse is badly handicapped over hurdles and I don’t know how far he can go over fences because he’s small, but he’s game enough to jump them.

‘‘We’ll stick to tracks like this and he’ll probably go on the Flat as well. He’s won under all three codes now.’’ Johnson and O’Regan gained their revenge when the highly-regarded Milans Man (11-10 favourite) saw off former smart Flat performer Tilt.

The pair pulled well clear but this time O’Regan’s mount kept on responding to pressure and saw off the tenacious Tilt, whose jumping was far from fluent and who drifted left after the last.

Johnson’s Drever Route was beaten into second by Carrietau (13-2) in the Come Racing Again On 5th February Handicap Chase.

Donald McCain’s Ballabriggs (13-2) turned the catterickbridge.

co.uk Handicap into a procession and may be given an entry in the Topham Chase.

The Trevor Hemmingsowned nine-year-old had only had one previous run over hurdles in the past 14 months but defied top weight to beat Dark Ben by an eased-down nine lengths.

‘‘It’s been a long road back.

It wasn’t a nasty injury last year but it was time consuming,’’ said McCain.

‘‘We’ve always liked him, he’s a smashing horse. He’s a great big thing and a typical Mr Hemmings horse if you like.

‘‘I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for him and it’s nice to see him come back to something like his best. He might come on again as he’s not had a lot of racing.

‘‘He’s possibly a better horse on better ground being by Presenting, but he’s big so he wouldn’t want good to firm.

‘‘At the third-last, Jason (Maguire) asked him for a long one and that is typical of him. The fences at Catterick might not be big enough for him.

‘‘It was nice to see him enjoy himself and if he wins again, we might give him an entry in the Topham.’’ Sarah Humphrey’s Carpincho (9-2) made the 209-mile trip from West Wrating in Cambridgeshire worthwhile by landing the closing Leyburn Maiden National Hunt Flat Race in fine style.

■ Brian Ellison is eyeing a crack at the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival for his runner Bothy.

Trained on the Flat by Ralph Beckett, the son of Pivotal made the long trip from Ellison’s North Yorkshire base to Taunton on Thursday to win in workmanlike style.

‘‘He only does enough, that’s just him, he would never do anything very flash,’’ said Ellison. “He’ll have one more run and then go to the Fred Winter.

‘‘We sent him down there because he needs three runs to qualify.

‘‘He’s only a young horse and he needs time between races so we’ll give him another run and then go to Cheltenham.”