Howard Johnson celebrated the opening of his new all- weather gallop in style at Sedgefield yesterday.

He teamed up with Graham Lee to land both divisions of The Northern Echo Novices Hurdle with the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned duo, Cotty's Rock and Astronomic.

Lee had Cotty's Rock travelling and jumping well throughout and, taking the lead two out, went on score by five lengths from Wing Commander.

Bought in Ireland in the spring, Cotty's Rock had an eventful trip over to the Crook stable, as Johnson explained.

"This one and The Reverend came over in a wagon with 500 dead pheasants," he said.

"They were crammed tight and were in a terrible state when they got here. That's why it has taken us a while to get them right - I was furious and we are not letting the matter lie."

Astronomic, bought out of Andre Fabre's French stable, has not had things easy off course either. Another showing the benefit of the confidence Lee instils into his mounts, he won by 3 lengths.

Johnson went on: "He had a bad time when he was castrated and took a long time to get over it, then sustained a tendon injury, but he has really been showing us something in the last six weeks - Graham Lee loves him."

Wylie and his wife have 83 horses in training, including 40 jumpers and a dozen yearlings and the new gallop is going to be a boon to them and the rest of the team.

Johnson said: "We used our seven-furlong wax gallop for the first time this morning. It is up a nice gradient and the lads said it rides very well. We can really get going now, as we have some lovely horses waiting to run and we just want the right ground for them."

Ferdy Murphy's horses are running well too, and Fashions Monty put up a fine staying performance under Keith Mercer in the Newcastle Brown Ale Handicap Chase.

It was a timely success as Fashions Monty is owned by Brian Mullholland, father of conditional jockey Neil Mullholland, who started riding out again for Murphy yesterday, 7 months after breaking a leg at Wetherby.

The East Witton trainer said: "Fashions Monty is a super little mare."

Darlington jockey Dougie Costello is proving very good value for his 7lb allowance and brought Appleby permit-holder Evelyn Slack's Mighty Fine home in front in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap Chase.

Mrs Slack said: "Dougie comes to ride work for us, but it is becoming harder to get him because everyone seems to want him now."

Shifnal trainer Heather Dalton vowed not to come back to Sedgefield after L'Orage Lady fell when favourite at the previous meeting, but changed her mind and her Test Of Friendship, ridden by conditional jockey Alan O'Keeffe, landed the totesport.com Maiden Chase by a head.