THE well-known pink and gold silks of Yorkshire owner-breeder Guy Reed were carried to victory in the Lincoln last Saturday, the first time he had landed this valuable race in a career which has seen him take most of the big handicaps.

Pablo, out of a Kris mare, Winnebago, is by Efisio, also the sire of Reed's November Handicap winner Flossy.

Most of us round here will remember the owner's long period at Spigot Lodge, where he had Chris Thornton train for him, but Saturday's winner is trained in Lambourn by Barry Hills, whose jockey son Michael was in the saddle.

There was a strong hint to Saturday's success in the Brocklesby at Doncaster on Thursday when the same team sent out Farewell To Arms, an Efisio filly out of Blow Me A Kiss, to a close-up second.

Bravo, another by Efisio and bred by Guy Reed, won at Huntingdon on Sunday at 33-1, but in different ownership.

The first race of the Flat season went to John Quinn as Archie Babe won well under apprentice Liam Keniry.

This went for a follow up at Newcastle on Monday, but was beaten. Some consolation came for the trainer-rider pairing when Carlton landed the claimer.

Catterick's season on the level started on Wednesday in summery sunshine. The owners of the Nags Head, Pickhill, made their annual awards to the best trainer, jockey and apprentice of last year - Tim Easterby, Fergal Lynch and Paul Hanagan respectively.

Hanagan went on to land the first on Richard Fahey's Fonthill Road, while Tim Easterby later had two in the maiden sprint, hotpot favourite Majestic Times and debutante 33-1 chance Certa Cito, which he bred out of Bollin Dorrothy by Mind Games. Naturally, the long shot upset the form and the favourite could only finish third.

Joe Fanning had a cracking start to his new term, partnering two.

The first, Zietig, was a first winner for nearly two years for Lanchester trainer Tony McWilliams, and the second, Shanook, got Mark Johnston off the mark on the turf.

Dean Mernagh won for Brian Rothwell on Celtic Blaze in the stayers' handicap.

On the jumps front, Mary Reveley succeeded at Kelso on Friday with A Piece Of Cake, now looking a likely prospect for the Scottish National.

The Lingdale trainer this week indicated she will hand over to her son Keith in about 18 months.

Grant Tuer won the Kelso hunter chase with his own Trade Dispute.

Wetherby's Sunday extra meeting proved fruitful for several from our area, including Mrs Reveley, Richard Fahey, Tim Easterby and John Wade.

Maxine Stirk, the permit holder from Ripon way, took the first with Atticus Finch, who had been successful pointing.

Huntingdon the same day saw wins for Ferdy Murphy and Tim Etherington, while Sedgefield saw a Howard Johnson double, both partnered by Graham Lee.

Of our Fifteen to Follow, Barton Dante (Mick Easterby) unseated at Ascot and Exstoto (Fahey) was second at Wetherby.

Tips for this weekend: tomorrow at Carlisle, Xaipete should get his head in front again. Biggest danger: stablemate Red Rampage.

At Ascot, Fire Up The Band or Pax, whichever David Nicholls sends for son Adrian to ride; Albuhera (Mark Johnston, Joe Fanning).

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Doncaster: (12f appr hcp) Archie Babe (trained by John Quinn, at Settrington; owned by Mrs K Mapp), ridden by Liam Keniry (claiming 3lbs weight allowance).

Southwell AW: (8f appr fillies' hcp) Waterpark (Ray Craggs, Sedgefield; trainer), M Worrell; (12f sllr) Favorisio (Julie Camacho, Norton; Hb, Elite Racing Club), Tony Culhane; (7f hcp) Mon Secret (bryan Smart, Pinnacle Monash Partnership), Paul Scallan (3).

Friday. - Kelso NH: (hcp chs) A Piece Of Cake (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; Lightbody Celebration Cakes), Alan Dempsey; (hntr chs) Trade Dispute (Grant Tuer, Great Smeaton), Mr Grant Tuer.

Saturday. - No DST area trained winners at Doncaster, Kempton or Newbury, Bangor, but see report above re: Lincoln.

Sunday. - Huntingdon NH: (hcp hdl) Tufty Hopper (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; Hb, Michael Tufts), Jason Maguire; (Mares' NHf) Thanx Directory (Tim Etherington, Norton; S Calladene), Vinnie Keane (3).

Wetherby NH: (nov hcp chs) Atticus Finch (Maxine Stirk, Aldfield; permit holder), R Walford (3); (mdn hdl) Turn Of Phrase (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; Jacksons Transport (West Riding) Ltd), Padge Whelan (3); (hcp chs) Random Harvest (Mary Reveley; C C Buckley), Alan Dempsey; (hcp hdl) Stormey Lord (John Wade, Mordon; permit holder), Brian Harding; (beginners chs) King's Bounty (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; C H Stevens), Russ Garritty.

Monday. - Newcastle: (6f clmr) Carlton (John Quinn; Mrs Gay Page), Liam Keniry (5).

Tuesday. - Sedgefield NH: (hcp chs) Lord Capitaine (Howard Johnson, Crook; The Scottish Steeplechase Partnership), Graham Lee; (mdn hdl) San Piere (Howard Johnson; Corntake-Welding Engineering Specialists), Graham Lee.

Wednesday. - Catterick: (5f clfd) Fonthill Road (Richard Fahey; Mrs Una Towell), Paul Hanagan; (7f sllr) Zietig (Tony McWilliams, Lanchestger; Peter McWilliams), Joe Fanning; (14f hcp) Celtic Blaze (Brian Rothwell, Musley Bank; Cleaning and Paper Disposables Ltd), Dean Mernagh; (7f hcp) Shanook (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Abdulla Buhaleeba), Joe Fanning; (6f mdn) Certa Cito (Tim Easterby; bred by trainer, owned by K C Partnership II), David Allan (5)