NOT in Newmarket, but over in Germany was our highest win of the weekend as Collier Hill landed the Group 2 Gerling-Preis at Cologne on Sunday to continue the unbelievable story of this horse of humble origin and his trainer Alan Swinbank.

Collier Hill's first win came in a lowly Catterick bumper in March 2002, not far from the Melsonby stables of Swinbank. The Cologne win was the biggest so far of his handler's career and, on the way to this success, Collier Hill has won as varied races as a Kelso maiden hurdle, a Listed race on the level at Hamilton a year ago, the Group 3 Stockholm Cup at Taby, Sweden last September and a valuable turf handicap at Nad Al Sheba in February.

Swinbank said that the plan discussed after racing at Thirsk on Saturday with now regular partner Dean McKeown was to change tactics and front-run "as the Germans were more likely to be frightened of us than we were of them." The plan came off and McKeown made all on the seven-year-old.

Big plans are in store for this versatile winner. Swinbank names a race in Baden-Baden in a fortnight or so or a race in Chantilly on French Derby day as possibles, with long-term plans the Irish St Leger and the Melbourne Cup next November in Australia.

The trainer did not neglect his ordinary runners, though, and sent out Prince Of Slane to win at Sedgefield's holiday meeting.

At Newmarket, Mark Johnston's Guineas runners, Elliots World (2000) and Market Trend (1000) were very disappointing on the firm ground, beating one and none respectively. Richard Fahey's Golden Legacy fared better in the fillies' race, a respectable 11th, and looks as if a return to a shorter trip would suit better.

However, there were good performances in defeat at headquarters. Lynda Ramsden's Polygonal was a close-up third in Saturday's opener, Johnston's Joseph Henry was third in the first on Sunday and Bandari held the same spot in the Jockey Club Stakes later.

At Goodwood, Secret History was only just beaten in the mile Listed race.

Generous Option at Musselburgh, Hiddensee at Doncaster, Michaels Pride at Leicester, Auvergne at Catterick's evening meeting and, most noticeably, Quizzene at Chester were the Kingsley House winners this week.

Last year's Guineas heroine, Attraction, is set to contest the Asian Mile Challenge, as mentioned last week, and Johnston set her a racecourse gallop on Sunday at Newmarket before being due to fly out yesterday to Hong Kong.

Lynda Ramsden won with Trojan Flight on Saturday at Thirsk, where Mick Easterby won with Bow Bridge. He followed up with Beverley Polo at Newcastle.

Last week, Tom Eaves proved his worth as a winning apprentice and well done to two young riders making their starts - Nicholas Lawes and Danielle McCreery.

On the jumps front, well done to Ferdy Murphy who sent runners over to Punchestown to land the first and third with Carlys Quest and Basilea Star.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Redcar: Ryedale Ovation (trained by T Easterby, at Great Habton; owned by Ryedale Partners No 7), ridden by D Allan; Straffan (D Nicholls, Sessay; GGN Bloodstock Ltd), M Halford (claiming 5lb); Brace Of Doves (D Barron, Maunby; Dovebrace Ltd Air-Conditioning-Projects), P Makin (3).

Southwell AW: Dan's Heir (P Haslam, Middleham; Blue Lion Racing V), F Dettori.

Punchestown NH: Carlys Quest (F Murphy, West Witton; Ms N Neville), K Mercer.

Kelso NH ev: Hernando's Boy (K Reveley, Lingdale; Crack of Dawn Partnership), R McGrath.

Friday. - Musselburgh: Sir Bond (B Smart, Hambleton; R C Bond), F Lynch; Generous Option (M Johnston, Middleham; Maktoum Al Maktoum), K Darley; Most Definitely (T Easterby; B Batey). D Allan; Coinjecture (R Bastiman, Cowthorpe; Mrs P Bastiman), R Ffrench.

Nottingham: Karminsky Park (T Etherington, Norton; Wold House Partnership), R Havlin.

Saturday. - Thirsk: Bow Bridge (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Hb (homebred by owner or connection), Mrs A Jarvis), D Gibson; Tax Free (D Nicholls; I Hewitson), A Nicholls; King Harson (J Bethell, Middleham; C Burley), A Munro; Trojan Flight (L Ramsden, Sandhutton; T O'Gram), A Munro.

Sunday. - Cologne: Collier Hill (A Swinbank, Melsonby; R H Hall & A Young), D McKeown.

Hamilton: Dispol Veleta (D Barron; W B Imison), A Dobbin; Mercari (G Moore, Middleham; Mrs S Moore), B Swarbrick (5); Backgammon (K Reveley; J Good & C Anderson), T Queally; Namir (D Barron; UK Letterbox Marketing Ltd (N L M)), P Makin (3); George The Best (M Hammond, Middleham; trainer), T Culhane.

Monday. - Doncaster: Hiddensee (M Johnston; A & J Turner), K Darley; Gift Horse (D Nicholls; Alfi & Partners), A Nicholls.

Newcastle: Sandorra (M Brittain, Warthill; trainer), M Lawson; Beverley Polo (M Easterby; A Foreman), D Gibson; Orphan (K Burke, Wensley; M R Johnson), D Williams; Bramantino (R Fahey, Musley Bank; Mrs Kenyon, A Rhodes Haulage, P Timmins), P Hanagan; Passionately Royal (R Fahey; Hb, W J Dobson), P Hanagan.

Sedgefield NH: He's Hot Right Now (R Guest, Brancepeth; P Beck), H Oliver; Prince Of Slane (A Swinbank; Hb, J H Richardson), D Costello (5).

Tuesday. - Leicester: Michaels Pride (M Johnston; Dalua Racing), J Fanning; Wyoming (J O'Keeffe, Coverham; trainer), A Culhane; Izzet Muzzy (I McInnes, Catwick; Ivy House Racing), R Ffrench.

Catterick ev: She's Our Beauty (D Nicholls; Tarn Lads Syndicate) A Nicholls; Zhitomir (M Dods, Denton; V Spinks), P Makin (3); Gold Quest (D Carroll, Warthill; Diamond Racing Ltd), D Tudhope (5); Auvergne (M Johnston; Jumeirah Racing), K Darley; Whinhill House (D Barker, Scorton; J J Crosier), R Winston.

Wednesday. - Chester: Ooh Aah Camara (V Haigh, Bawtry; W McKay), J Egan; Quizzene (M Johnston; Favourites Racing VII), K Darley.

Chepstow: Dancing Deano (R Whitaker, Scarcroft; C & A Harrison), D McKeown.

Fakenham NH: Sikander A Azam (D Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; The Grand National Racing Club Ltd), Mr T Greenall.

* The racing world was shocked this week by the sudden death of Don Enrico Incisa, the Middleham trainer, who collapsed at his Thorngill, Coverham home and died in the Friarage Hospital aged 70 on Saturday evening.

Ever the gentleman, the Marchese Enrico Incisa della Rocchetta made winners of inexpensive horses, such as McGillicuddy Reeks. He moved to Middleham in 1981 and will be much missed.