NO apology is made for concentrating not on a winner, but on a runner-up this week, as Lucky Story ran the race of his life last Saturday to come second to Rakti in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

Stablemate Attraction bypassed the Group 1 event to go for the Sun Chariot at Newmarket tomorrow, as trainer Mark Johnston felt the watered ground would be against her. Soviet Song, her older rival, could only finish sixth after her recent busy time.

But at the sharp end, Darryll Holland had the three-year-old Lucky Story always prominent and he was gaining all the time on the five-year-old Rakti, coming within half a length of the older horse, trained by Michael Jarvis and ridden by Philip Robinson.

Mark Johnston's charge will go next in the Champion Stakes, he said.

The Racing Post handicapper has named Lucky Story as top three-year-old in Europe, above Azamour, North Light, Grey Swallow and Ouija Board. Paul Curtis has put the colt on a mark of 127 as, although the youngster has not yet won a race this season, Curtis thinks Saturday's effort was the best of his age group so far.

Johnston on Wednesday landed his seasonal 100th win for the 11th year running and is closing on his third £2m prize money haul. The feat came at Newcastle when Royston Ffrench partnered Crosspeace. This weekend is a big one for the Kingsley House team, not least with Attraction at Newmarket, but also with Gateman and Darasim running in France.

Ascot's final day before its rebuild was on Saturday and Nicky Mackay partnered Fort to win for Johnston in the last race, aptly named the totesport Ascot Final Fling Stakes.

Johnston's week for us began at Pontefract, where Wise Owl took the opener under Kevin Darley. Runner-up Circumspect, trained by neighbour Patrick Haslam, was unlucky, having had to jump over a fallen runner en route.

Dean McKeown's mount, Matsunosuke (A B Coogan), fell and brought down Baileys Honour (Johnston), the mount of Royston Ffrench. McKeown went to hospital with a fracture and Ffrench was badly bruised, so was stood down the rest of the day.

Tim Easterby's winner, Go Tech, may head for the November Handicap. James Hetherton's Blue Maeve under Shashi Righton beat champion title battler Kieren Fallon on Trojan Flight. Apprentice Paul Benson, 17, had his first winner on David Nicholls' Lucayan Dancer, but Danny Tudhope won the apprentice series and a fortnight's working holiday in Florida.

James Bethell's recent fine run continued as he was the only northern raider to win at Ascot on Friday when Granston was partnered by Richard Quinn.

Angelofthenorth followed up for the Middleham man on Saturday at Ripon.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Pontefract: Wise Owl (trained by M Johnston, at Middleham; owned by Sheikh Mohammed), ridden by K Darley; Blue Maeve (J Hetherton, Malton; R G Fell), S Righton; Go Tech (T Easterby, Great Habton; Ryedale Partners No 4), G Gibbons; Lucayan Dancer (D Nicholls, Sessay; Lucayan Stud), P Benson (7).

Friday. - Ascot: Granston (J Bethell, Middleham; The Four Players Partnership), R Quinn.

Haydock: Tagula Sunrise (R Fahey, Musley Bank; D M Knaggs & M Roberts), P Hanagan.

Worcester NH: Southern Star (R Guest, Brancepeth; Mrs M Caine), H Oliver.

Saturday. - Haydock: La Sylphide (G Moore, Middleham; G & S Turnbull), S Kelly; Tcheina (T Easterby; Mr & Mrs W J Williams), G Gibbons.

Ripon: Blythe Spirit (R Fahey; The Matthewman Partnership), P Hanagan; Angelofthenorth (J Bethell; J Hamilton), T Queally; Flying Bantam (R Fahey; The Matthewman Partnership), P Hanagan.

Sunday. - Ascot: Fort (M Johnston; Highclere Thoroughbreds Racing IX), N Mackay (claiming 3lbs allowance).

Musselburgh: Yenaled (K Ryan, Hambleton; The Fishermen), N Callan.

Huntingdon NH: Atticus Finch (G Harker, Wensley; Mrs M Stirk), N Hannity (3).

Monday. - Hamilton: Welsh Emperor (T Tate, Tadcaster; Mrs S Clegg), D Holland.

Tuesday. - Nottingham: Ecologically Sound (L Ramsden, Sandhutton; W J Gredly), R Quinn.

Sedgefield NH: Fairy Skin Maker (G Harker; The Four S), N Hannity (3); Low Cloud (J Quinn, Settrington; Maxilead Services), R Garritty.

Wednesday. - Newcastle: Davy Crocket (B Smart, Hambleton; J N & Mrs E E Ranson), D McGaffin; Bronze Dancer (A Swinbank, Melsonby; J Yates), R Winston; Crosspeace (M Johnston; Favourites Racing), R Ffrench; Princess Kiotto (T Easterby; Homebred (Hb) R Matthews), D Allan; Playful Dane (S Cunningham, Hutton Rudby; A & D Bell), D Tudhope (5).

Nottingham: Rockburst (K Burke, Wensley; Mrs S L Jones), D Williams.