AT 25-1 Through The Rye's Wetherby win last Saturday gave backers of our 15 to Follow a tremendous victory, and booked him a possible chance at tomorrow's Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury.

Alan Swinbank's stable star was partnered by Jim Crowley and, with hotpots up from the south in the shape of Nicky Henderson's Nas Na Riogh and Venetia Williams' Avitta, was unconsidered by most. Leading most of the way, Through The Rye was headed in the straight but battled on to win a length and ten from the Williams and Henderson runners respectively.

Tomorrow he would face a tough task and Benbyas, trained by Declan Carroll, has the better northern chance.

Tim Easterby landed his 200th jumps success as a trainer when Turgeonev, who loves Wetherby, took the Tote Exacta Handicap Chase earlier on the card.

At Catterick the day before, the Great Habton trainer sent out Kentucky Blue to win well. This, as well as his Edmo Yewkay, is in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but first will tackle the Victor Ludorum tomorrow at Haydock.

Also in the race is Patrick Haslam's King Revo and the finish could be fought between the two - but see also below: a Howard Johnson horse may also be in that fight!

The Johnson-Graham and Andrea Wylie success story continued at Catterick when Albany, another recruit from the Flat, won one division of the juvenile hurdle easily under Graham Lee. Lee also won on Grey Abbey for the Crook trainer and Micky Hammond sent out Deep Water to win.

The trainer was pleased, as some of his horses had been running badly. "Grattan Lodge, a good horse, ran as though he'd been doped the other day at Newcastle and fell," he added. Grattan Lodge made amends, however, at Carlisle on Wednesday under Lee.

Johnson went to Musselburgh on Sunday, though delays for his train meant he only just arrived in time. One of his intended runners, Giuliani, was withdrawn after officials found a passport irregularity. In fact, the horse was Rayshan, and the trainer felt someone must have swapped the auction numbers on the two horses at the Newmarket sales last autumn, perhaps as a prank.

He had spotted that Chivalry and Inglis Drever, two other purchases at those sales, had had their numbers swapped, but not Giuliani and Rayshan. News of Chivalry this week was that George Duffield has been booked to ride him in the Lincoln again.

Rayshan may go for the Victor Ludorum tomorrow, or possibly Albany, the Catterick winner.

Johnson had some success at Musselburgh when Dalaram won easily in the maiden hurdle under a confident Lee ride. This is also in the Triumph Hurdle, but so are Inglis Drever and Royal Rosa and the trainer said Dalaram would only go to the Festival if the ground was fast.

Also on the mark at the Scottish course was Mary Reveley, whose old stager Shaffishayes won under Mark Bradburne. The Lingdale trainer had sent Our Dream down to Chepstow on Saturday for a mares race, which she duly won.

ALL OUR WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Kelso: Dr Sharp (trained by T Tate, at Tadcaster; owned by The Ivy Syndicate), ridden by J Maguire; Mr Lear (R Fahey, Malton; C Townley & Ms L Townley), P Whelan (claiming 3lbs appr allowance).

Southwell AW: Polar Kingdom (D Barron, Maunby; M & P Squire), D Mernagh.

Friday. - Catterick: Albany (H Johnson, Crook; A & G Wylie), G Lee; Grey Abbey (H Johnson; K Roper, E M Roper, N Furness), G Lee; Deep Water (M Hammond, Middleham; The County Set), T Dobbin; Kentucky Blue (T Easterby, Great Habton; C H Stevens), R Garritty.

Wolverhampton AW: Blue Empire (P Haslam, Middleham; Blue Lion Racing II), G Faulkner; Call Me Sunshine (P Haslam; Chelgate Public Relations Ltd), G Faulkner.

Saturday. - Chepstow: Our Dream (M Reveley, Lingdale; Scart Stud), T Murphy.

Wetherby: Turgeonev (T Easterby; D F Sills), D O'Meara (3); Through The Rye (FtF) (A Swinbank, Melsonby; Nice To See You Euro-Racing), J Crowley.

Sunday. - Musselburgh: Dalaram (H Johnson; A & G Wylie), G Lee; Shaffishayes (M Reveley; P Davidson-Brown), M Bradburne; Friedhelmo (R Fahey; G H Leatham), P Whelan (3); Dead heat, Somewin (R Fahey; trainer), P Whelan (3); Young Scotton (K Ryan, Hambleton; The I B & B D F Partnership), G Lee.

Southwell AW, Cl H: Radiant Bride (K Burke, Wensley; Mrs Y Goodwin), D Williams; Danakim (J Weymes, Coverham; Miss K Buckle), D Fentiman (7).

Monday. - Southwell AW: Mount Royale (N Tinkler, Langton; Langton Partnership), K Tinkler; Caroubier (D Barron; N Shields), J Spencer; Legalis (K Ryan; Sunpak Potatoes), N Callan.

Wolverhampton AW, Cl H: Grand Lass (D Barron; N Shields), S Kelly.

Tuesday. - Sedgefield: Sunnyside Royale (R Bastiman, Cowthorpe; S Durkin, P Easrnshaw & J Greenan), H Bastiman (3); San Peire (H Johnson; Comtake-Welding Engineering Specialists), G Lee; Why The Long Face (R Guest, Brancepeth; N H Oliver), H Oliver; Polished (R Guest; The Cherry Blossom Partnership), L McGrath (3).

Southwell AW: Blakeset (D Barron; N Shields), J Spencer.

Wednesday. - Carlisle: Grattan Lodge (H Johnson; W M G Black), G Lee