KEITH Mercer is the Christmas king, having scooped two top prizes during the festive week.

He won the Listed Rowland Merrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day with Truckers Tavern and the valuable Stan James Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury on Wednesday with Ulusaba. The Wetherby win was the lad's biggest yet and Ferdy Murphy's conditional jockey accomplished both driving finishes without his whip.

Mercer bided his time on Truckers Tavern and, although early departures by the two greys, Howard Johnson's Lord Transcend and the Sue Smith-trained Royal Emperor, reduced the competition, the West Witton pair still had to fight for their victory. Mercer survived a mistake by his mount at the second last, clinging on to his ears and regaining the saddle, but dropping his whip and gaining a bloody nose into the bargain.

Keith Reveley's Malek had gone into the lead before he also blundered at the last, but he ran Truckers Tavern close and Mercer's ride was exemplary - although his boss said the mistake at the penultimate fence was the rider's fault as he fired his mount into the fence instead of waiting.

At Newbury, Mercer again waited with a patient ride, coming late to tackle the French runner Juveigneur and the Paul Nicholls-trained Lou De Moulin Mas (Ruby Walsh), as well as Sue Smith's The Kew Tour. Mercer and Walsh both dropped their whips, but the Yorkshire-based rider found a way through some tight spots to land the spoils.

Mercer has been catching the eye greatly of late and also came second on Carlys Quest at Chepstow on Tuesday in a valuable handicap hurdle.

At Kempton's Boxing Day meeting, Murphy's runner, Your A Gassman, was bowling along in the Feltham novice chase and looked in contention under Brian Harding when the French raider L'Ami fell at the 11th in front of the Yorkshire pair. Although Murphy's promising young chaser tried to leap the faller, he could not keep his footing and Harding was unseated.

Howard Johnson's inexperienced, but good, hurdler Arcalis was not disgraced in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle afterwards, finishing in a dead heat for fourth behind Harchibald and Rooster Booster.

Coat Of Honour landed the novice hurdle later under Barry Geraghty to round off a superb year for the Crook-based trainer and owners Graham and Andrea Wylie.

Wetherby also proved profitable for George Moore with Beamish Prince, claimer Dougie Costello again partnering the Middleham winner. Richard Guest was on the mark there with Gatorade and next day at Ayr with Why The Big Paws. The two riders were Henry Oliver and Liam McGrath.

Catterick survived on Tuesday and winners came for Noel Wilson with Zanjeer, a welcome return to form for the trainer, Richard Fahey with Ball O Malt and Fred Kirby with Forest Dante, another welcome winner for Kenny Johnson after the jockey's return from injury.

Fahey and jockey Padge Whelan also took the bumper at Musselburgh on Wednesday, where Peter Beaumont sent out Moor Spirit to land the novice chase.

On the level, Ann Stokell, the Brompton on Swale trainer who chose often during the past year to partner her own string, had success at Lingfield with Pawan on the Wednesday before Christmas.

Darren Williams, Karl Burke's stable jockey, brought up his first half century at Wolverhampton on the same day.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Wed last week. - Lingfield AW: Pawan (trained by Ann Stokell, at Brompton on Swale; owned by Ms Caron Stokell), ridden by Ann Stokell.

Boxing Day. - Kempton: Coat Of Honour (Howard Johnson, Crook; Andrea & Graham Wylie), Barry Geraghty.

Wetherby: Beamish Prince (George Moore, Middleham; G & S Turnbull), Dougie Costello (claiming 7lb allowance); Truckers Tavern (Ferdy Muprhy, West Witton; Mrs M B Scholey), Keith Mercer (5); Gatorade (Richard Guest, Brancepeth; P Beck), Henry Oliver.

Mon. - Ayr: Why The Big Paws (R Guest; Blaydon Racers Partnership), L McGrath (3).

Wolverhanpton AW: Pertemps Magus (Richard Fahey, Musley Bank; The Spinal Injuries Association), Mr D Cottle (7); Mount Hillaby (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; The Woodford Group Ltd), Dale Gibson.

Tue. - Catterick: Zanjeer (Noel Wilson, Malton; M Wilson), P Robson (3); Ball O Malt (R Fahey; D Kinahan), P Whelan (3); Forest Dante (Fred Kirby, Danby Wiske; F Kirby), K Johnson.

Southwell AW: King Nicholas (J Parkes, Norton; M Wormald), D Allan; Little Biscuit (K Burke, Wensley; Mrs E M Burke), D Williams; Quincannon (D Barron, Maunby; G Houghton), P Makin (3).

Wed. - Newbury: Ulasaba (F Murphy; D Clinton, C McHugh, J King), K Mercer (5).

Musselburgh: Moor Spirit (P Beaumont, Brandsby; Mrs C M Clarke), R Garritty; Mount Vettore (K Reveley, Lingdale; Mrs E A Murray), R McGrath; Doe Nal Rua (T Easterby, Great Habton; The G-Guck Group), R Garritty; Ripntear (R Fahey; J Staunton), P Whelan (3).