A DANDY double at headquarters was the Tuesday action as David Nicholls and jockey Darryll Holland pulled off a remarkable two timer at Newmarket's July meeting.

Arpeggio, at the rewarding odds of 25-1, opened the proceedings in the colours of His Eminence Lhendup (Lennie) Dorji. When Nicholls was still riding, he had ridden for the owner in Calcutta, and the winner had come to his yard from Richard Hannon's.

Brave Burt, the second for the Nicholls-Holland pair, was formerly trained by both Jack Berry and Jeremy Noseda. Like many a sprinter in the Sessay yard, the change of scenery has done him good and he won well for the Lucayan Stud. He was cut from 40-1 to 20-1 for the Vodafone Stewards' Cup but more urgent, he is to run today in the Ascot five-furlong.

Mark Johnston, continuing his remarkable run, sent out his only runner at Haydock last Thursday to a deserved win when Keith Dalgleish partnered Forum Finale. At Southwell's mixed turf and all-weather meeting, veteran Star Rage won the two-mile handicap under Kevin Darley. This was David Abell's 21st win on the level and 28th overall, including his seven jumps wins, the highlight being the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Riberac, one of the stable's most consistent runners, could only manage third at Sandown on Friday, close up behind Ulundi and Thundering Surf. However, the Sunday meeting at the course saw the classy Desert Deer complete a hattrick under Darley. This Cadeaux Genereux colt, a half-brother to Branston Abby, is improving and Joe Mercer, representing owner Jaber Abdullah, said there was no rush with him, but that it would not surprise if he ends up in Group company.

Alan Swinbank, in his first season training in his own right at Melsonby, took a valuable Sandown race on Saturday when Kieren Fallon partnered Gracilis in the two-miles plus race.

Tim Easterby won at Beverley with Tedstale and had a Musselburgh double, both Pertemps FC and Little Pearl going in. John Weymes was also on the mark at Beverley, while at Newcastle's Sunday meeting, both Mary Reveley and David Barker scored. Mrs Reveley had a Musselburgh winner in the shape of Radanpour while Les Eyre sent out Zechariah to win there and good old Nigrasine to a good Pontefract win.

Andy Crook opened proceedings at Ripon's evening meeting, where Richard Whitaker took a good double, thanks to Dean McKeown. Doncaster saw both Nigel Tinkler and James Bethell on the mark, rounding up a good week for the area.

Nearer home, Sedgefield stages the first of its three summer jumps evenings next Thursday from 6.35. The feature is The Northern Echo Handicap Chase, sponsored by our sister paper and in which The Northern Echo, the horse trained by Michael Dods, may take part. The other two fixtures will be on July 26 and August 2.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Key: All meetings are Flat on turf, except: NH = National Hunt (jumps) meetings; and AW = all-weather flat racing. * = evening meeting. f = furlong (8f = 1mile); chs = steeplechase; hdl = hurdles race; NHf = National Hunt flat race (bumper). Hb = homebred by owner.

Thursday last week.- Haydock: (12f) Forum Finale (trained by Mark Johnston, at Middleham; owned by Mrs Jacqueline Conroy), ridden by Keith Dalgleish.

Southwell (mixed turf & AW): (6f turf) Lady Rock (Robin Bastiman, Cowthorpe; New Kids On The Rock Ltd), Willie Ryan; (16f turf) Star Rage (Mark Johnston; J David Abell), Kevin Darley.

Friday. - No D&S area winners.

Saturday. - Sandown: (161/2f) Gracilis (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; K Elliott), Kieren Fallon.

Beverley: (11/2f) Tedstale (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; M J Dawson), Ted Durcan; (10f) Impulsive Air (John Weymes, Coverham; Don Raper), J Bramhill.

Sunday. - Sandown: (8f) Desert Deer (Mark Johnston; Jaber Abdullah), Kevin Darley.

Newcastle: (10f) Petuntse (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; Chicken Kiev Syndicate), John Carroll; (5f) Tancred Times (David Barker, Scorton; trainer), Fergal Lynch.

Monday. - Musselburgh: (8f) Zechariah (Les Eyre, Hambleton; John R Ashcroft), Dale Gibson; (5f) Pertemps FC (Tim Easterby; The Pertemps Professionals), John Carroll; (16f) Radanpour (Mary Reveley; The Mary Reveley Racing Club), Tony Culhane; (12f) Little Pearl (Tim Easterby; T H Bennett), Sam Hitchcott.

Ripon*: (10f) Hard Lines (Andy Crook, Middleham; Intercity Partnership), George Duffield; (5f) Encore Ma Fille (Richard Whitaker, Scarcroft; Country Lane Partnership), Dean McKeown; (8f) Servceable (Richard Whitaker; G F Pemberton), Dean McKeown.

Tuesday. - Newmarket: (8f) Arpeggio (David Nicholls, Sessay; H E Lhendup), Darryll Holland; (5f) Brave Burt (David Nicholls; Lucayan Stud), Darryll Holland.

Pontefract: (6f) Nigrasine (Les Eyre; Sunpak Potatoes), Fergal Lynch.

Wednesday. - Doncaster: (6f) Falcon Goa (Nigel Tinkler, Langton; Racingclubcouk), Kim Tinkler; (8f) Mine (James Bethell, Middleham; M J Dawson), John Reid.