A BRACE of winners for Great Habton trainer Tim Easterby at Ripon yesterday confirmed his powerful stable is now beginning to roll after an unusually sluggish start to the season.

Easterby did not have to wait long for his first success of the afternoon when the heavily-backed 11/8 favourite, Good Girl, made mincemeat of her six rivals in the opening two-year-old Mackershaw Maiden Stakes.

With the advantage of the stands' rail on her near side, the daughter of College Chapel ran as straight as gun barrel throughout. "Experience counts for everything in this type of race, but I don't think she beat much," said Easterby.

Although Tim's other scorer, Regent Court, went off at 16-1 in the eight furlong Quarry Moor Classified Stakes, it didn't come as that much of a surprise to connections.

"She never had her ground last year, but Ted Durcan told me she would be alright on fast ground," he reported.

A significant market move for Fair Princess proved spot on as the Barry Hills trained filly overcame a modest looking bunch to open her account in the Whitcliffe Maiden Stakes for three-year-old fillies.

Backed as if defeat was out of the question, Gary Carter powered up the centre of the track on Fair Princess to catch the long time leader, Passerina, with 100 yards to go.

Young Clare Roche rode a peach of race aboard the quirky grey Pennys From Heaven in the mile-and-a-half Phoenix Handicap.

Having made the early pace, the partnership were then collared at the three furlong pole.

But far from panicking the 7lb apprentice kept on battling, eventually cajoling Pennys From Heaven to put his head back in front as the winning post approached.

"He's a funny old horse, but Clare rode a canny race on him," said Ernie Greaves, father-in-law of successful trainer, David Nicholls, who was otherwise engaged saddling the yard's shock 16-1 Chester winner, Mister Rambo.

The four-year-old mare Cassandra finally shed her maiden tag by wearing down Aura Of Grace in the dying strides of the Kingstonia Fillies Handicap.

Owned and trained by Mel Brittain at Warthill near York, he reported: "She was overdue a win, every time we really fancied her last year the meeting was abandoned."