A REMARKABLE Wetherby four-timer, worth 55,964-1, gave the new National Hunt season all the sparkle of a Guy Fawkes day rocket, as Graham Lee showed the world at large what we in the north have known for some time, that he is an amazing jockey.

The biggest shock of the day for the pundits was his win at 40-1 on Ballybough Rasher in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall chase, beating hot-pot Marlborough, owned by Yorkshireman Sir Robert Ogden, but trained in the south by Nicky Henderson (Mick FitzGerald up).

For Lee, this was the biggest success of his career to date. He rode to perfection on Howard Johnson's charge, taking a breather part-way round, before passing Marlborough again to land the spoils. Some carpers say that matters would have been different had Paul Nicholls' Valley Henry not fallen early on, but the northern winner is a sound jumper.

Johnson, who has been spending big money at the Newmarket sales and who will now have a formidable string, including Flownaway, from the yard of William Jarvis, the Cambridgeshire winner Chivalry and Inglis Drever, may send Ballybough Rasher back down the A1 to contest the Rowland Meyrick over the same course and distance at Christmas.

Lee's first win was most fitting when taking the opener, the Arthur Stephenson novice handicap chase, named after the late great trainer, as the winner was Eric Elliott's own Dream On Willie. Barrister Elliott's late father, Alan Elliott, was a great friend of 'WA' and was instrumental in Stephenson setting up as a trainer.

Eric Elliott sometimes uses the Stephenson gallops himself as a permit holder, and described the win as 'unbelievable'.

Lee had a third for George Moore and went on to partner Javelin to victory for Warwickshire trainer Ian Williams, rounding off his four-timer for Kevin Ryan on the remarkable Gralmano in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle. Ryan's winner has now won on the Flat on turf and sand, over hurdles and fences: this was his 19th victory for owners Alan Holmes, Martin Higson, Norman Collier and Alan Henson.

Graham Lee did not have a ride in the two and a half mile handicap chase, dominated by Tim Easterby, when Turgeonev beat stablemate Barton, to delight the trainer.

Lee had taken a good win the day before, too, for Wilf Storey on Fly Kicker, but his fifth ride on Saturday brought him down to earth, literally, as Petrula fell at the last.

On the Level

Joe Fanning has had his best ever season this summer, partnering more than 75 winners, but he, too, was brought down to earth with a bump - but figuratively - on Monday, Redcar's last day of the season. He became the second jockey to fail a random breath test for alcohol since they were introduced in July.

Fanning has partnered more than 48 winners for Johnston, whose other main jockey Keith Dalgleish was the first rider to fail a breath test and is now facing a disciplinary hearing at a date yet to be set.

Fanning missed a Redcar winner, as Go Padero was partnered by Robert Winston. The jockey is nearing his first century and has vowed to ride on the all-weather until the end of the year to achieve the ton.

The Middleham rider Fanning fared better next day at Catterick, its last Flat meeting, when winning on King Harson for James Bethell,.

Bethell said that he was pleased for Joe to have a winner after the shock news of Monday. He added, 'I know that at the beginning of the season he bought a brand new car, and it how has 43,000 miles on the clock. He is in danger of burn-out.'

The season on turf ends tomorrow and trainers galore are trying to get wins out of their charges before the close of play. Kevin Ryan and David Chapman were among those who did achieve another win, with CD Europe and Sharp Hat respectively, who have been consistent throughout.

Today at Doncaster Alan Swinbank has Far Pavilions entered, probably as a warm-up for the jumps season, but he could go close.

The amateur ladies' race should go to Carol Williams on the Haggas-trained Del Mar Sunset, but we would love to see Kelly Harrison win and she would be in with a squeak on course-and-distance winner Locombe Hill, trained by David Nicholls.

Tomorrow, it is unlikely that Scotts View, Johnston's runner up in a Musselburgh Listed race on Wednesday, will turn out for the November Handicap (or the Listed race beforehand - he's entered in both).

Likeliest of 'our' entrants would be Mick Easterby's Nowell House (Dale Gibson), on a decent low weight. If getting a run, each-way backers could also pick George Moore's La Sylphide, with Royston Ffrench booked.

For those who like a list to back, this is Racing Week's Fifteen To Follow for the season - and those with long memories may see some who were there last year, but who are still as good as then:

Altay (Richard Fahey), A Piece Of Cake (Mary Reveley), Covent Garden (Howard Johnson), Europa (Tom Tate), Far Pavilions (Alan Swinbank), Gralmano (Kevin Ryan), Hussard Colonges (Peter Beaumont), Jungle Jinks (George Moore), Moss Harvey (Malcolm Jefferson), Our Armageddon (Richard Guest), Patriarch Express (Geoff Harker), Ryalux (Andy Crook), Silver Knight (Tim Easterby), Through The Rye (Edwin Tuer), Truckers Tavern (Ferdy Murphy).

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - No D&S area winners.

Friday. - Wetherby NH: hcp chs, Minster Glory (trained by Mick Easterby, at Sheriff Hutton; owned by Mrs P A H Hartley), ridden by Tony McCoy; hcp hdl, Fly Kicker (Wilf Storey, Muggleswick; Hb, M D Townson), Graham Lee.

Saturday. - Kelso NH: inter chs, Our Armageddon (Richard Guest, Brancepeth; Leslie John Garrett), Larry McGrath (claiming 5lbs).

Wetherby: nov hcp chs, Dream On Willie (Eric Elliott, Rushyford; permit holder), Graham Lee; Gd 2 chs, Ballybough Rasher (Howard Johnson, Crook; Comtake-Welding Engineering Specialists), Graham Lee; Gd 2 hdl, Gralmano (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Coleorton Moor Racing), Graham Lee; hcp chs, Turgeonev (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; D F Sills), David O'Meara (3).

Sunday. - Carlisle NH: nov hdl, One Day (Richard Guest; Paul Beck), Henry Oliver; hcp hdl, Red Rover (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; J F Mernagh), Mr Ollie Nelmes (7).

Monday. - Redcar: 7f, Go Padero (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Pagodero Partnership), Robert Winston; 6f, CD Europe (Kevin Ryan; L Neill & G Flitcroft), Neil Callan

Tuesday. - Catterick: 7f, King Harson (James Bethell, Middleham; C J Burley), Joe Fanning; 5f, Sharp Hat (David Chapman, Stillington; Miss N F Thissiger), Tony Culhane.

Wednesday. - No D&S area winners.