EARWIG OH!, as the little insect said...Who can believe another year has passed and the great Cheltenham Festival week looms ahead, full of rich promise.

Clues there have been in plenty and none from hereabouts looks to have more promising chances than Crook trainer Howard Johnson, particularly with the expensive and classy string he has compiled for new owners Graham and Andrea Wylie.

Mr Wylie said at the end of last week that his novice Inglis Drever is likely to bypass the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle on Wednesday.

This would mean he would probably have a runner each day for his first Festival, with Inching Closer a likely contender in the Pertemps on the first day, the race he won last year, and Dalaram in the Triumph on Thursday.

Naturally, Graham Lee is booked for all three and for Johnson's other entries, Log On Intersky (Grand Annual, Thursday) and Another Dude (County Hurdle, Thursday), owned by Maurice Hutchinson.

Lee warmed up by riding winners for other yards this week, notably for Malton men Brian Ellison and James Hetherton at Market Rasen's Sunday meeting, but it was Alan Dempsey on the Johnson-trained Grey Abbey who came back to form in glorious fashion at Doncaster on Saturday.

From our Fifteen to Follow, Richard Guest's Our Armageddon is entered in the Arkle on Tuesday. Biggest danger in the top few is Paul Nicholls' Thisthatandtother. Another of our 15 was in action this week, Geoff Harker's Patriarch Express, who was a decent third in a Kelso race on ground a shade too soft for him.

Ferdy Murphy has several entries, but although his string has been showing a return to form bit by bit, Truckers Tavern would look to be the main hope. Both Dominikus and Granit d'Estruval are in the Fulke Walwyn-Kim Muir the first day and have recently hinted at possible chances.

Inn Antique and Man On The Hill are both out of the handicap proper in the Mildmay of Flete (Wednesday), as is Island Faith in the Grand Annual, but all could run well if confirmed as entries. Truckers Tavern is in the Gold Cup (Thursday) and although most sentimental people will want Best Mate to win, the West Witton runner could be good each-way value - or perhaps a forecast with Henrietta Knight's hero?

Tim Easterby sent out Minivet to win at Doncaster on Friday, where Harry Hogarth showed a return to form with Juralan, ridden by Easterby's lad, David O'Meara.

However, it was at Catterick that the longest-out-of-form trainers regained winning ways. Permit holder Stephen Clark had been nearly two years without a winner and Chris Fairhurst some five or so months, and both took good wins.

Tim Easterby was on the scoresheet too with Doe Nal Rua, and Turgeonev, an excellent second on Saturday in the Vodaphone Chase, turns out again at Cheltenham - with every possibility of success.

Micky Hammond and hunter-chaser Grant Tuer made winning a local affair, as all but two races stayed here in the area, the other two being scooped by Scotsmen, Peter Monteith and Lenny Lungo.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Fifteen To Follow (winners shown as FtF): Altay, A Piece Of Cake, Covent Garden, Europa, Far Pavilions, Gralmano, Hussard Collonges, Jungle Jinks, Moss Harvey, Our Armageddon, Patriarch Express, Ryalux, Silver Knight, Through The Rye, Truckers Tavern.

Thursday of last week. - No DST area winners.

Friday. - Doncaster: Minivet (trained by Tim Easterby, at Great Habton; onwed by Oakhill Wood Stud), ridden by Russ Garritty; Juralan (Harry Hogarth, Stillington; Hogarth Racing), David O'Meara (claiming 3lbs allowance).

Wolverhamton AW: Golden Quest (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Syndicate 2002), Joe Fanning; Mr Mischief (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Middleham Park Racing I & Mrs C Barclay), Rory Moore (7).

Saturday. - Doncaster: Grey Abbey (Howard Johnson, Crook; Ken Roper, Elinor M Roper, Norman Furness), Alan Dempsey.

Sunday. - Market Rasen: Transit (Brian Ellison, Norton; Graeme Redpath), Graham Lee; Valeureux (James Hetherton, Malton; Eureka Racing), Graham Lee.

Monday. - Lingfield AW: Yorkie (Declan Carroll, Warthill; Homebred (Hb) C H Stephenson & Partners), Robbie Fitzpatrick.

Tuesday. - No DST area winners.

Wednesday. - Catterick: Doe Nal Rua (Tim Easterby; The G-Guck Club), Russ Garritty; Rahwaan (Chris Fairhurst, Middleham; Six Iron Partnership), Niall Hannity (3); Shogoon (Micky Hammond, Middleham; The County Set), Brian Harding; Lone Soldier (Stephen Clark, Sutton-on-the-Forest; permit holder), Padge Whelan (3); Golden Chimes (Grant Tuer, Great Smeaton; G Tuer), Mr G Tuer (3)