ROYAL Ascot beckons for yet another from the Tim Easterby stable, now that Artie has landed a good maiden stakes at Chester.

Kevin Darley, who has an agreement with the Great Habton handler to partner his runners when available, rode the colt, which is named after the owner Alf Arton's son.

The previous day at the Roodee, uncle Mick Easterby pronounced himself "astounded" by the win of Pension Fund in the hands of Jimmy Fortune, substituting for an unwell Terry Lucas.

At Newmarket's Guineas meeting, Mark Johnston took wins with Robandela and Zindabad, while Nigel Tinkler's Sugarfoot was a near thing under Willie Ryan on Friday, finishing second in the Leicestershire Stakes, a Group 3 contest. More will come from the stable star.

Nigel and wife Kim Tinkler won at Redcar with Apache Point and another riding Tinkler nephew has joined the winners, 16-year-old Adrian Tinkler riding his first.

The brother of fellow amateur Nicky, he is the son of Colin Tinkler, a leading jumps jockey of the 1980s until injured at Newcastle, and Carol.

Kevin Ryan and his jockey Fergal Lynch are great form at present, as witness his tally in the results list below.

Story of the week came as late as Wednesday evening when Peter Niven finally bagged his 1,000th career win. The popular Scotsman, 36, is only the sixth jumps jockey to ride this many winners in Britain and the first from north of the border.

More normally associated with Mary Reveley's yard, Niven's landmark was reached aboard new trainer Andy Crook's inmate, Colourful Life, at Wetherby. Crook took over only last week from Micky Hammond.

Niven joins the hall of fame filled so far by Stan Mellor (1971), John Francome (84), Peter Scudamore (89), Richard Dunwoody (94) and Tony McCoy (99). He is the only one to achieve the milestone without being champion jockey, as his wins were collected the hard way.

Recalling some great times over the last 17 years, he said: "The five-timers (four in all) I rode were great days - afterwards you didn't have to offer excuses to owners and trainers."

Niven should have landed the grand last season, but his broken neck prevented this and he has been stuck one short for more than three weeks. Mrs Reveley, who was thrilled, said the past few weeks were a nightmare: "In the end I told his agent to ignore mine and just get him on the right horses."

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. - Redcar: (7f0 Apache Point (trained by Nigel Tinkler, at Langton; owned by Mrs Lisa Olley), ridden by Kim Tinkler; (5f) Angel Hill (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Keith Taylor), Regal Lynch; (11f) Benbyas (Les Eyre, Hambleton; Hb, C H Stephenson & Partners), David Nolan.

Brighton: Mister Mal (David Nicholls, Sessay; Mrs Andrea M Mallinson), Adrian Nicholls.

Friday. - Musselburgh: (5f) Maromito (Robin Bnastiman, Cowthorpe; Peter Beaton-Brown), Harvey Bastiman; (16f) Nafith (Lee James, Malton; trainer), Mr Adrian Tinkler; (7f) Taff's Well (Brian Ellison, Malton; Ashley Carr), John Carroll.

Sedgefield NH*: (hdl) Running Times (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Times of Wigan), Russ Garritty; (chs) Man On The Hill (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; D A Johnson), JP McNamara.

Saturday. - Haydock (mixed meeting): (6f) John O'Groats (Michael Dods, Piercebridge; Bernard Hathaway), Tony Clark.

Newmarket: (10f) Zindabad (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Abdula Ali), Kevin Darley.

Sunday. - Newmarket: (12f) Robandela (Mark Johnston; Robert Aird), Keith Dalgleish

Hamilton Park: (9f) Bacchus (Kevin Ryan; Uncle Jacks Pub), Fergal Lynch; (11f) Sikasso (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; Gee & Jay Partnership), Fergal Lynch; (13f) Lucky Judge (Alan Swinbank; Mrs I Gibson), Fergal Lynch.

Monday. - Doncaster: (6f) Blak Army (Kevin Ryan; Crewe and Natntwich Racing Club), Fergal Lynch.

Newcastle: (5f) Brigadore (John Weymes, Coverham; White Rose Poultry Ltd), Robert Winston; (6f) Some Will (Tim Easterby; Bill Toner), Willie Supple; (10f) Tiker (Denys Smith, Bishop Auckland; Evelyn Duchess of Sutherland), Robert Winston; (7f) Charm Offensive (Lynda Ramsden, Sandhutton; trainer), Paul Fessey. (Malcolm Jefferson's Clarinch Claymore passed the line first under Paul Hanagan in the 12.5f handicap but was demoted to 2nd for interference.)

Fontwell NH: (hdl) Miracle Island (Karl Burke, Coverham; Champagne Racing), J M Maguire.

Tuesday. - Chester: (10f) Pension Fund (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Stephen J Curtis), Jimmy Fortune.

Wednesday. - Chester: Artie (Tim Easterby; A Arton), Kevin Darley.

Ayr NH: (chs) Amarettoforanna (Ferdy Murphy; the Diamond Ad Partnership), JP McNamara; (hdl) Batoutoftheblue (Alan Swinbank; Mrs I Gibson), Jim Crowley; (chs) Star To The North (Ferdy Murphy; Lady Clarke), Richard Johnson; (chs) Lord Lamb (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; Mr A Sharratt & Mr J Renton), Andrew Thornton.

Wetherby NH*: (hdl) Mr No Man (J FitzGerald, Norton; The No Man Partnership), Noel Fehily; (chs) Fullopep (Mary Reveley; Mr & Mrs W G Williams), Anthony Ross; (hdl) Colourful Life (Andy Crook, Middleham; A Peake & D Jackson), Peter Niven; (hunters' chs) Joint Account (Robin Tate; K Needham), Mrs Fiona Needham.