A TRIO of northern lights landed the spoils at Newmarket - two of which could have been expected, one less so - as Bollin Nellie, Riberac and Soller Bay scored on Friday and Saturday.

Tim Easterby trains Bollin Nellie for her breeders, Sir Neil and Lady Westbrook, and the tough filly now looks set to go to the paddocks (become a brood mare) after her fifth career win over the mile and a half at headquarters. She won at a rewarding 12-1.

Sir Neil said she had suffered from sinus problems, but had won well at Ripon in August. Kevin Darley was her successful partner, another win notched in his fight to keep the jockeys' title.

He was also aboard Riberac, another game mare, who landed the Listed Gist Ben Marshall Stakes over a mile in front-running fashion next day. She will run for the last time in Rome in the Premio Ribot, a Group race, before also retiring. Her followers were rewarded with a starting price of 9-4.

The mile showcase handicap later went to Karl Burke for the second year in a row, Soller Bay surprising many at 33-1 having finished fourth to last year's winner Greenaway Bay at Nottingham four days earlier.

Neil Pollard rode a well-timed race on the Spigot Lodge runner to win by a length and a half.

In the Darley-Fallon duel, Redcar saw a double by Kevin - then on 155 - bring him within eight of Kieren. One of the wins was on Tim Easterby's tough filly Pipadash, her fourth in two months. She may go to the December sales and would be another superb brood mare possiblity.

The same afternoon at Nottingham, Nigel Tinkler's two-year-old Quantica won a second race in a week - following up Redcar's nursery success - again partnered by trainer's wife Kim Tinkler. The Sri Pekan gelding will now be saved for next year.

Catterick saw Fallon claw one more back as Darley drew a blank. Locals were represented by Joe Fanning, in arguably his best ever year, on Mark Buckley's High Esteem, getting the Helmsley trainer off the mark after a lean three-month spell. And young David Allan took his tally to 14 when winning for Mel Brittain on Consensus.

The fight continued at Musselburgh on Wednesday where Darley, winning for Mark Johnston on Celtic Style, pulled another one back as Fallon failed to score.

Young Keith Dalgleish, who may well be seen in years to come fighting for the seniors' championship if continuing his present form, opened a Johnston double when winning on Xellance.

This brought up the apprentice's 50th win of the year, only two behind Chris Catlin, who leads the lads' championship race.

The Flat season is drawing to a close and attention turns to National Hunt. Mary Reveley already dominates the early picture, with a Wetherby four-timer just one of her success stories this week.

Watch October Mist, who beat the great Barton in their chasing debut, and Northern Native, a promising bumper winner at Sedgefield.

Alan Dempsey rode most, but spare a thought for his fellow stable jockey Anthony Ross, who underwent knee surgery on Saturday after a schooling accident. He faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Ferdy Murphy's team has started well and Mick Easterby is flying, while Middleham winners were sent out by Kate Milligan and Karl Burke.

The Week's Winners

Key: All racing is on turf & on the flat, except AW = all-weather flat racing; NH = jumps (National Hunt); * = evening meeting; f = furlong (8f = 1 mile); chs = steeplechase; hdl = hurdle; NHf = National Hunt flat race (bumper); Hb = homebred by owner (or one of the owners).

Thursday last week. - Sedgefield NH: (chs) Man On The Hill (trained by Ferdy Murphy, at West Witton; owned by D A Johnson), ridden by JP McNamara; (chs) Young Tomo (Howard Johnson, Crook; Michael Thompson), Adie Smith; (NHf) Northern Native (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; W J Smith, M D Dudley, C Raines, M J Hutton), Tom Eaves.

Friday. - Newmarket: (12f) Bollin Nellie (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Hb, Lady Westbrook), Kevin Darley.

Wetherby NH: (chs) October Mist (Mary Reveley; Mrs E A Murray), Andrew Thorton; (hdl) Double Blade (Mary Reveley; The Mary Reveley Racing Club), Alan Dempsey; (chs) Time Of Flight (Mary Reveley; Andy Peake & David Jackson), Jim Crowley; (hdl) Pentuntse (Mary Reveley; Chicken Kiev Syndicate), Alan Dempsey.

Saturday. - Newmarket: (8f) Riberac (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Hb, Mr & Mrs G Middlebrook), Kevin Darley; (8f) Soller Bay (Karl Burke, Coverham; Mrs Melba Bryce) Neil Pollard.

Wetherby NH: (chs) Colourful Life (Mary Reveley; Andy Peake & David Johnson), Alan Dempsey; (chs) Banker Count (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Mrs H Brown), John Kavanagh; (hdl) Benbyas (Les Eyre, Hambleton; Hb, C H Stephenson & Partners), Alan Dempsey.

Kelso NH: (chs) Super Nomad (Mick Easterby; T A Hughes & B Hutchinson), Richard McGrath; (hdl) Moss Harvey (Malcolm Jefferson, Norton; Hb, J R Salter). Graham Lee; (chs) Minster Glory (Mick Easterby; Mrs P A H Hartley), Richard McGrath; (hdl) Tender Touch (Kate Milligan, Middleham; J D Gordon), Tom Scudamore.

Wolverhampton AW: (8f) China Castle (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Middleham Partk racing I & Others), Paul Mulrennan; (6f) Mallia (David Barron, Maunby; H T Duddin), Dean Mernagh.

Monday. - Nottingham: (5f) Quantica (Nigel Tinkler, Langton; Quantica Owners Group), Kim Tinkler.

Redcar: (6f) Pipadash (Tim Easterby; T H Bennett), Kevin Darley.

Tuesday. - Catterick: (6f) Consensus (Mel Brittain, Warthill; Northgate Lodgers), David Allan; (5f) High Esteem (Mark Buckley, Upper Helmsley; Mrs N W Buckley & G N Buckley), Joe Fanning.

Wednesday. - Musselburgh: (16f) Xellance (Mark Johnston; T T Bloodstock), Keith Dalgleish; (8f) Celtic Style (Mark Johnston; Hb, T McDonagh), Kevin Darley.

Kempton NH: (chs) Arctic Challenge (Karl Burke; I & Mrs A Russell), Jason Maguire