MARK Johnston hit York with a B-B gun on the first day of the Ebor meeting this week - Bourbonnais and Bandari both winning in fine fashion.

Kevin Darley partnered the two-year-old Bourbonnais, in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed, to land the Paradime Acomb Stakes. Richard Hills was reunited with Bandari, Hamdan Al Maktoum's post-Lingfield Derby trial purchase, to run away with the Great Voltigeur.

Johnston's Maktoum Al Maktoum runner Systematic won well under Kevin Darley at Newbury on Friday to earn a run in the Voltigeur. He was not disgraced in fifth, while Bollin Eric, Tim Easterby's runner, looked a likely Leger winner in third place. The longer trip will suit him.

Johnston's Gateman was pipped by two on Saturday in the Hungerford Stakes, but Melsonby man Alan Swinbank was even nearer in the seven furlong handicap later, when What-A-Dancer went down by a head under young David Kinsella.

Better luck for northern runners was found at Newmarket, where Richard Whitaker's Steel Blue beat Tim Easterby's Golden Nun in the opener.

Later, Easterby's Fayr Jag reared up when David Barron's Impressive Flight left the stalls a beat or two earlier than the rest. Willie Supple was unseated from Fayr Jag, while the Barron runner was steadied then came through to win. Some felt the race should have been void, but the stewards left the placings unaltered.

For the past two years, Tim Easterby has scooped the Ripon Horn Blower Stakes on the Saturday and gone on to win at York on the Wednesday after, but Cumbrian Venture, who took the first, was beaten into second after a brave front-running battle in the Listed Costcutter Roses Stakes.

Lynda Ramsden took Wednesday's closing race with Kangarilla Road.

In the Ebor itself, Johnston's Mana D'Argent failed to shine and Tim Easterby's Bollin Nellie ran a shade too keenly. Mick Easterby was devastated when Sarangani was pulled up and had to be destroyed because of a badly dislocated joint.

Tony Culhane returned to winning ways with Lermentov for Richard Fahey at Beverley last Thursday. Young amateur Sam Beddoes won for George Moore on Mai Tai.

Young apprentice Lisa Jones was praised by trainer David Barron at Catterick on Friday, when she won on Clocking Off. Another youngster, Nicky Tinkler, won the amateur race for Thornton le Clay trainer Bill Tinning on Blenheim Terrace.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Beverley: Lermentov (trained by R Fahey, at Butterwick; owned by L Vettraino), ridden by T Culhane; Mai Tai (G Moore, Middleham; K Nicholson), Miss S Beddoes (3lbs).

Fri. - Newbury: Systematic (M Johnston, Middleham; Maktoum al Maktoum), K Darley.

Newcastle: East Cape (D Enrico Incisa, Coverham; trainer), K Tinkler; Kingsdon (J FitzGerald, Norton, M Browne), J Spencer; Snow Bunting (J O'Keeffe, Coverham; Wetherby Racing Bureau 54), M Dwyer.

Catterick*: Mister Rusbhy (B Ellison, Norton; Miss V Haigh), V Halliday; Clocking Off (D Barron, Maunby; S Knighton & A Kundi), L Jones (7); Chapel Royale (D Nicholls, Sessay; Prospect Estates Ltd), A Greaves.

Newmarket*: Desraya (K Ryan, Hambleton; Pendle Inn Partnership), D Holland.

Sat. - Newmarket: Steel Blue (R Whitaker, Scarcroft; Country Lane Partnership), D McKeown; Impressive Flight (D Barron; Hb, C McHale).

Ripon: Cumbrian Venture (T Easterby, Great Habton; Cumbrian Industrials Ltd), R Winston; Valazar (D Barron; Mrs J Hazell), D Mernagh.

Perth NH: Peartree House (M Reveley, Lingdale; P D Savill), A Dempsey; This Thyne (M Reveley; Hb, G S Brown), P Aspell (5).

Sun. - Pontefract: Academy (A Turnell, Malton; Mrs M R Taylor), K Darley.

Mon. - Nottingham: Happy Camper (D Barron; P D Savill), D Mernagh.

Tue. - York: Bourbonnais (M Johnston; S Mohammed), K Darley; Bandari (M Johnston; H Al Maktoum), R Hills.

Wed. - York: Kangarilla Road (L Ramsden, Sandhutton; Manor Farm Stud), P Hanagan