GREY Abbey hammered the French horse First Gold by 12 lengths in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree under Graham Lee for trainer Howard Johnson.

But the front-running grey will not head to the Scottish National tomorrow, but will be turned out for a comeback next year, connections have said.

That leaves tomorrow's Ayr race wide open as several other possibles have also fallen by the wayside. Lee partners Hussard Collonges for Peter Beaumont but, much as we love this one, it has only a merest squeak of a chance.

We wouldn't put it past Joes Edge to run a big race after his Aintree win and Ferdy Murphy paid tribute to amateur Tom Dreaper, who is again booked for the ride tomorrow. Sensible bet, however, comes not from here - the winner of the Midlands equivalent, Philson Run under Paul Carberry, is our tip.

Last Friday saw Inglis Drever a neck second to the Irish horse Al Eile in the Grade 1 Scottish and Newcastle Aintree Hurdle. Howard Johnson and Graham and Andrea Wylie's star, partnered as usual by Lee, nonetheless won the new Order of Merit for his delighted owners and trainer.

On Saturday, our two representatives in the Grand National had mixed fortunes. Johnson's Ballybough Rasher was not in contention when refusing under Alan Dempsey at Bechers the second time round. Ferdy Murphy's Europa, Jason Maguire up, fared better than we had expected in 20th, despite a mistake at Bechers on the first circuit.

On Friday, Ferdy Murphy's Haut De Gamme was a close-up second under Keith Mercer in the Topham Chase.

The West Witton trainer went one better in the amateur chase which followed the National when Tom Dreaper partnered Joes Edge to victory.

Murphy also took the first at Hereford when Keith Mercer partnered Underwriter, while John Quinn sent down Adjawar to win under Russ Garritty.

Graham Lee won at Hexham for Quinn next day, part of a double, and neared his century for the year. Declan McGann won for Stuart Wood on his homebred Ramblees Holly. Lee was on the mark again at Kelso on Monday for Malcolm Jefferson, while Andrew Thornton partnered a Keith Reveley winner and Warren Marston was the choice for Tim FitzGerald's success.

The pace picks up on the level and Mark Johnston looks set again for a very big season. At Newmarket this week, he had three Joe Fanning-ridden near things up to press.

Bay Story was second in a 12f maiden on Tuesday, when Crosspeace was also runner-up in the Group 3 Exning Stakes. Bendarshaan was another just to be pipped in the 12f handicap which opened Wednesday's card at headquarters.

Wins came at Musselburgh with maiden Barcardero (Royston Ffrench) and Beverley with the trainer's first juvenile, Mr Rooney, Kevin Darley up.

Brian Ellison cracked in two winners, one all-weather ridden by daughter Lorraine, one at Newcastle with Torrid Kentavr.

Chris Grant had Paul Hanagan to thank at Gosforth Park for a win from Third Empire and David Barron sent out the one-two in the fillies maiden, with Venetian Lullaby beating Nepal.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Aintree NH: Grey Abbey (trained by H Johnson, at Billy Row; owned by the Roper family and N Furness), ridden by G Lee.

Fri. - Southwell AW: Colemanstown (B Ellison, Norton; Get Into Racing UK), Miss L Ellison (3); Amber Glory (K Ryan, Hambleton; Wooster Partnership), N Callan.

Sat. - Aintree: Joes Edge (F Murphy, West Witton; Chemipetro Ltd), Mr T Dreaper.

Newcastle: Torrid Kentavr (B Ellison; Get Into Racing UK), R Winston; Third Empire (C Grant, Newton Bewley; C Bekkwood), P Hanagan; Venetian Lullaby (D Barron, Maunby; C Washbourn), M Fenton.

Hereford NH: Underwrighter (F Murphy; Mrs D O'Rourke), K Mercer (3); Adjawar (J Quinn, Settrington; Mrs M Taylor), R Garritty.

Sun. - Hexham NH: Bellaney Jewel (J Quinn; Hb (homebred by owner or connection) J Rosbotham), G Lee; Ramblees Holly (S Wood, Nawton; Hb, trainer), D McGann (7).

Mon. - Kelso NH: Portavadie (M Jefferson, Norton; Ashleybank Investments Ltd), G Lee; Powder Creek (K Reveley, Lingdale; T McKain), A Thornton; Lawgiver (T FitzGerald, Malton; P Mina), W Marston.

Southwell AW: Barking Mad (K Ryan; The Fishermen), Miss N Carberry; Countrywide Belle (K Ryan; Countrywide Racing), A Nicholls.

Tue. - Musselburgh: Lake Hero (K Ryan; Crown Select), A Nicholls; Little Jimbob (R Fahey, Musley Bank; Dale Scaffolding Co Ltd), P Hanagan; Mount Hillaby (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; D Spence), P Mulrennan (3); Barcardero (M Johnston, Middleham; Barcadere Syndicate), R Ffrench; Mecca's Mate (D Barker, Scorton; D Metcalfe), R Winston.

Wed. - Beverley: Golden Spectrum (D Nicholls, Sessay; T Meynell), A Nicholls; Mr Rooney (M Johnston; Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds), K Darley; Fonthill Road (R Fahey; Mrs U Towell), N Lawes (7); Passionately Royal (R Fahey; Hb, W Dobson), R Ffrench; Archirondel (M Hammond, Middleham; The Archi Partnership), D Gibson.