SCORTON trainer David Barker had his biggest-ever win when Celtic Mill landed the Group 2 Temple Stakes, a five furlong sprint, at Sandown on Tuesday night.

Philip Robinson had the northern raider in the van for the entire race and owner-breeder Peter Asquith's son of Celtic Swing added to last year's successes.

Barker, though, was in Portugal on holiday and it was left to his mother, Pat Barker, former trainer herself, to ring him and say he had trained his first Group winner.

Celtic Mill, at 16-1, beat Group 1 winners and the exciting photo finish found him a short head in front of Scottish runner Orientor and the same distance to the third, Jeremy Noseda's Balmont. For the record, Tim Easterby's Fayr Jag missed the start and could only beat one of his other 12 rivals.

But Easterby had winners with Paris Bell at Ripon, Special Gold at Nottingham and Flash Ram at Newcastle the same day.

Middleham trainer Chris Thornton has been given a temporary licence to oversee the late Don Enrico Incisa's Coverham yard at Thorngill House, in addition to his own at Sharp Hill, until the 20 or so Incisa horses are sold or dispersed.

Karl Burke, who trains at Spigot Lodge, has had a super week. Clare Hills, recent Carlisle winner, landed the Hilary Needler Trophy, the Listed race at Beverley on Wednesday night. She looks set for Royal Ascot at York now.

Burke also won at Wolverhampton with Lindus Atenor and Boo, adding to victories earlier in the week from Ashes, City For Conquest and Munaawashat.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Wednesday last week. - Cartmel NH: Bergerac (trained by R Guest, at Brancepeth; owned by P Beck), ridden by H Oliver; Pequenta (R Guest; P Beck), L McGrath (claiming 3lb); Flintoff (R Guest; A Flintoff & P Beck), H Oliver.

Ripon ev: Imperial Sword (D Barron, Maunby; J Stephenson), P Fessey; Prairie Sun (A Duffield, Constable Burton; Miss H Wynne), W Supple; Paris Bell (T Easterby, Great Habton; Ryedale Partners No 8), P Quinn.

Thursday last week. - Ayr: Namroud (R Fahey, Musley Bank; The Yorkshire Lancashire Alliance), P Hanagan; Amadeus Wolf (K Ryan, Hambleton; J Duddy & B McDonald), N Callan; Ashes (K Burke, Wensley; Bryce, Dower, Morgan), N Callan; Double Vodka (L Ramsden, Sandhutton; Mrs A Iles), P Hanagan; Queen's Echo (M Dods, Denton; Hb (homebred by owner or connection), D C Batey), P Makin (3).

Wetherby NH ev: Lone Soldier (S Clark, Stillington; permit holder), Miss R Clark (7); Ashnaya (G Moore, Middleham; B P Bradshaw), D Costello (5).

Friday. - Catterick: City For Conquest (K Burke; FDC Partnership), F Norton; Late Arrival (M Hammond, Middleham; Mrs A J Findlay), T Culhane; Trojan Flight (Mrs L Ramsden; T O'Gram), L Goncalves; Dispol Katie (D Barron; W B Imison), P Makin (3).

Wolverhampton AW: Time To Relax (J Quinn, Settrington; G Liles), D Holland.

Pontefract ev: Graceful Air (J Weymes, Coverham; Hb, T A Scothern), J P Spencer; Sir Xaar (B Smart, Hambleton; Pinnacle Xaar Partnership), F Lynch.

Saturday. - Doncaster: Sporting Gesture (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; S Hull), D Gibson; Machinist (D Nicholls, Sessay; Berry & Gould Partnership), D McCabe; Jubilee Street (Mrs A Duffield; D W Holdsworth & J A McMahon), G Fairley.

Musselburgh: Trivandrun (M Johnston, Middleham; Maktoum Al Maktoum), R Ffrench; Bond Boy (B Smart; R C Bond), D Mernagh; Harrison's Flyer (R Fahey; P D Smith Holdings Ltd), G Parkin; Far Pavilions (A Swinbank, Melsonby; J D Abell), R Winston; Les Arcs (R Guest); W McKay.

Hexham NH: Stan (R Guest; P Beck), H Oliver; Ramblees Holly (R S Wood, Nawton; Hb, trainer), Mr T Messenger (7); Bishop's Bridge (A Turnell, Norton; S Kimber), G Lee; Imps Way (Mrs T Corrigan-Clark, Scarborough; Mrs T Corrigan-Clark), Mr C Mulhall (3).

Sunday. - Uttoxeter NH: Dewasentah (M Jefferson, Norton; Mrs J U Hales & Mrs L M Joicey), G Lee.

Monday. - Leicester: Munaawashat (K Burke; J A Duffy), D Williams.

Redcar: Titus Alone (B Smart; Hintlesham Racing), F Lynch; Bond Finesse (B Smart; R C Bond), K Darley; Prairie Sun (see above), S Golam (7).

Cartmel: Flintoff (see above), P C O'Neill (7).

Tuesday. - Redcar: Charlie Tango (N Tinkler, Langton; WK Syndicate), J Fanning; Kaymich Perfect (R Whitaker, Scarcroft; G B Bedford), D McKeown.

Carlisle (banded racing): Celtic Carisma (K Reveley, Lingdale; Hb, B Brown), D Gibson; Outrageous Flirt (A Dickman, Sandhutton; M Unsworth), M Halford (5); Spanish Law (M Dods; G Spencer), P Makin (3); The Old Soldier (A Dickman; The Maroon Stud), M Halford (5).

Sandown ev: Celtic Mill (David Barker, Scorton; Hb, P Asquith), Philip Robinson.

Hexham NH ev: Cumbrian Knight (J M Jefferson; ), G Lee; Panmure (P Niven), J Crowley.

Wednesday. - Nottingham: Special Gold (T Easterby; Frickley Holdings Ltd), F Dettori.

Newcastle: Masta Plasta (H Johnson, Billy Row; A & G Wylie), R Winston; Flash Ram (T Easterby; L Connolly), W Supple; Trinculo (D Nicholls; N Shields), W Supple; Rising Shadow (D Barron; G Morrill), A Mullen (5); Jake Black (J Quinn; G A Lucas), D Tudhope (5); Cyber Santa (J Hetherton, Norton; Hb, Qualitair Holdings Ltd), D Fentiman.

Beverley ev: Clare Hills (K Burke; D Fehan & Tweenhills Racing), D Williams; Adoration (M Johnston; Durham Thoroughbred Racing), J Fanning; Kelly Nichole (K Ryan; Mrs M O'Keeffe), N Callan.

Wolverhamton AW ev: Lindus Atenor (K Burke; I Bartlett), F Norton; Boo (K Burke; Mrs M Gittins), F Norton.