THE Quads succeeded at Cheltenham in the Sporting Index Cross-Country Chase when David Russell rode a patient, waiting race until the last before driving Ferdy Murphy's runner to a ten-lengths win.

The trainer said that The Quads was like a lot of older chasers, sometimes jaded, and the unique quality of this event-style race over unusual obstacles reminded the horse of the stone walls and banks around West Witton: "He feels like he is at home."

The race was not without controversy. Tim Easterby's Scotton Green, the favourite, fell at the second and three jockeys were disqualified for taking the wrong course, outside the bushes marking the route, and not pulling up.

All three - Andrew Thornton, Warren Marston and Jason Maguire - were given ten-day suspensions which rules them out for the whole Christmas period.

Latalomne, Brian Ellison's entry in our Fifteen to Follow, was a disappointing seventh under Vinnie Keane in the showcase handicap hurdle later.

Tim Easterby had some consolation elsewhere as Loopy Linda won the Doncaster bumper.

Saturday at the Yorkshire course saw a sad flop for Direct Route, another of our 15, and Howard Johnson said afterwards the stable star would be retired. Graham Lee pulled up the 11-year-old when tailed off in the Sea Pigeon Handicap. We shall therefore substitute Covent Garden from his stables in our list - and we had decided to do so before its Musselburgh win on Tuesday.

Ironically, it was one of last year's list, Benbyas, formerly with Les Eyre and now with Declan Carroll at Warthill, who landed the spoils in Direct Route's Doncaster race.

Tom Tate won with his consistent Europa earlier, Jason Maguire having the ride.

Howard Johnson had left Crook at 5.30am to drive his horsebox to Huntingdon last Thursday with Chevet Girl, who disappointed, but veteran My Shenandoah succeeded under Graham Lee.

Alan Dempsey came in for great praise when winning on Rigadoon for Mick Easterby, as he switched his mount to the inside at the last fence, avoiding the mid-air collision of the two leaders.

At Haydock on Saturday, Tim Easterby won with Edmo Heights, while Peter Beaumont's Bobby Grant was a valiant second in the Tommy Whittle, a race he has won twice before. Beaumont took the last with novice hurdler Atlantic Crossing.

Laurence McGrath was praised by Ferdy Murphy after landing the amateurs' chase on Amerrettoforanna at Fakenham. The young man then partnered Red Rampage, homebred by Norman Mason, to land the Newcastle opener on Monday.

The Brancepeth permit holder had a double, assistant cum jockey Richard Guest winning later on Our Armageddon.

Mary Reveley won with Man Murphy, useful claimer Fergus King in the saddle, while Fifteen to Follow choice Sea Drifting (Ferdy Murphy) was in third behind. He will win in due course.

Mrs Reveley's October Mist, also on our list, was fourth at Haydock on Saturday, so the honours are even.

Alan Shearer, the Newcastle footballer, is one of the Ada Partnership which owns Covent Garden. It was the striker's first chance to see his horse run when it won at Musselburgh to give Howard Johnson his 20th win this term.

Jockey Graham Lee, who has been a revelation during the year, doubled up on Gralmano for Kevin Ryan. Padge Whelan won for boss Richard Fahey on Altay.

SANDY STORIES

Apprentice Lee Enstone has gone from strength to strength throughout the year and on Friday last had a Wolverhampton double for Brompton on Swale trainer Ann Stokell and Stanley dentist-cum-trainer Paul Johnson.

If you wonder why he only claimed 3lbs on Flying Treaty for the former, but 5lbs on Howards Hero for the latter, it is because Ann Stokell's winner came in an apprentice race, while Johnson's success was in an open handicap.

Senior pilot Ian Mongan has an enviable record on all-weather tracks and he partnered Bryan Smart's Bond Royale, another of Reg Bond's winners, to take the first.

Enstone won again for Paul Johnson at Wolverhampton's afternoon and evening meeting on Saturday. The 19-year-old lost two pounds of his claim, now only allowed 3lbs, as this was his 50th winner.

Joe Fanning won for Mark Johnston on Big Luciano, while Paul Fessey rode a double for Kevin Ryan and Jimmy Quinn won for David Barron, the rider's third of the day, having had a Lingfield double earlier.

Enstone and Ann Stokell paired up again at Dunstall Park on Monday to win with sprinter Percy Douglas and Enstone won for his guv'nor Patrick Haslam on Precaster on Tuesday. Brian Ellison with Great As Gold in the stayers' race and David Barron with Neven were also on the mark.

Karl Burke won at Lingfield on Wednesday as expected with Golden Brief. The Spigot Lodge trainer has sent some of his string to Dubai, as has fellow Middleham man Mark Johnston, and now plans a satellite yard in Marlborough. He is taking over Mark Usher's former White Barn Racing Stables base.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Huntingdon: My Shenandoah (trained by Howard Johnson, at Crook; owned by Gordon Brown/Bert Watson), ridden by Graham Lee; Rigadoon (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; C Buckon, K Mercer & A Ford), Alan Dempsey.

Friday. - Cheltenham: The Quads (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; John Duddy), David Russell.

Doncaster: Loopy Linda (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Ron George), John Kavanagh.

Wolverhampton AW: Bond Royale (Bryan Smart, Hambleton; R C Bond), Ian Mongan; Flying Treaty (Ann Stokell, Brompton-on-Swale; R J Buxton), Lee Enstone (claiming 3lbs); Howards Hero (Paul Johnson, Stanley; Gordon McDowall), L Enstone (5).

Saturday. - Doncaster: Europa (Tom Tate, Tadcaster; B T Stewart-Brown), Jason Maguire; Benbyas (Declan Carroll, Warthill; Hb, CH Stephenson & Partners), P J Brennan (5).

Fakenham: Amerettoforanna (F Murphy; R J V Partnership), Mr Laurence McGrath (5).

Haydock: Edmo Heights (T Easterby; Edmolift UK Ltd), Fergus King (3); Atlantic Crossing (Peter Beaumont, Stearsby; N W A Bannister), Russ Garritty.

Wolverhampton AW: Cash (P Johnson; Dr P and Mrs D M Johnson), L Enstone (5); Big Luciano (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Miss Elizabeth Tulliani), Joe Fanning; Supreme Salutation (David Barron, Maunby; J Baggott), Jimmy Quinn; Noul (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; John Duddy), Paul Fessey; Legalis (K Ryan; Sunpak Potatoes), P Fessey.

Monday. - Newcastle: Red Rampage (Norman Mason, Brancepeth; Hb, permit holder), Mr L McGrath (5); Man Murphy (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; W Manners), F King (5); Our Armageddon (N Mason), Richard Guest.

Wolverhampton AW: Percy Douglas (A Stokell; Ms Caron Stokell), L Enstone (3).

Tuesday. - Musselburgh: Covent Garden (H Johnson; Ada Partnership), G Lee; Gralmano (K Ryan; Coleorton Moor Racing), G Lee; Altay (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; R M Jeffs & J Potter), Padge Whelan (3).

Southwell AW: Great As Gold (Brian Ellison, Norton; Mrs Andrea M Mallinson), Dane O'Neill; Precaster (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Mrs S V Milner), L Enstone (3); Neven (D Barron; D G Pryde), Mark Fenton.

Wednesday. - Lingfield AW: Golden Brief (Karl Burke, Middleham; Hb, John Kelsey-Fry), D Sweeney.