RIGHT ROYALLY we had Mark Johnston as winning-most trainer last week at Ascot, just as we predicted, with five winners to top the table. Furthermore, he passed the 70 winner mark this week.

Thursday in Berkshire was another double day for the Kingsley House supremo, who landed the opener, the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes, when Russian Valour under Kevin Darley upset favourite backers by beating Frankie Detorri on the hotpot Kheleyf (David Loder). Johnston's youngster, who gave him his third juvenile win at the meeting, is massive and will go on to greater things. The trainer is considering the Phoenix Stakes or Prix Morny.

Keith Dalgleish, who had not ridden any of the earlier stable winners, partnered Fantastic Love in the King George V Handicap later and won in fine style. Mick Doyle, owner of Pearl Of Love, also owns this, who is by the same sire, Peintre Celebre. Johnston was very unlucky not to have a third winner that day, as Helm Bank (Dalgleish) ran into traffic problems, only finishing second in the Britannia Handicap.

Unusually, Johnston had no runner in the Gold Cup, but on Friday an emerging probable for the future was seen in his fifth winner of the meeting, Shanty Star (Darley), who took the Queen's Vase, a Group 3 event over two miles. This may go for the St Leger now.

Dalgleish on Delsarte almost gained another stable success in the King Edward VII but keeping up with a fierce gallop set by Big Bad Bob and perhaps slight greenness in his mount, the pair could only stay on for a two-lengths second. The Buckingham Palace Stakes later saw fellow Middleham man James Bethell third with Mine (Jamie Spencer), while Johnston came fourth with Takes Tutu (Dalgleish).

Tim Easterby on Saturday spent an anxious few minutes when Willie Supple on Fayr Jag and French raider Ratio (John Hammond, Frankie Detorri) were inseperable as they passed the post in the Wokingham Stakes. Eventually, that rarest of rare things, a dead heat, was called and the prize money split.

Bollin Eric for the Great Habton team (Darley up) was very unlucky in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes earlier, finishing a neck in second, with Johnston's Zindabad and Bandari in near attendance third and fourth behind.

Johnston and Easterby had good wins elsewhere, including Joe Fanning ending a drought of 60 runs without a win taking a double at Ripon. Tim Easterby was on the scorecard at Beverley and Southwell. Richard Fahey also was in good form, while David Barron and David Nicholls were still in their purple patches.

Mick Easterby landed the Carlisle Bell when Dale Gibson partnered Top Dirham and, thanks to an innovative bonus offered by the course, his stable staff were in contention for a bonus of £20,000 if he could land yesterday's Plate as well... watch this space.

Jumps jockey Richard Johnson was in top hat and tails on Tuesday and Thursday at the Royal meeting in company with Zara Phillips, the Princess Royal's daughter, but Wednesday saw him at Southwell in more normal role, winning on Tender Touch for Middleham trainer Kate Milligan. Sharon Watt, well remembered as eventer Sharon Lemon, had a first training win there, with Feanor, owned by husband Bill Watt. For amateur rider Tina Jackson, this was a first win outside point-to-points or hunter-chases.

Johnson, who is making a crack at the championship with Tony McCoy off through a broken arm, went on to win at Hexham's evening meeting on Friday, but it was Padge Whelan who won for Kate Milligan when he partnered Western Bluebird. Ferdy Murphy and jockey Davy Russell took a double that evening, with Ichi Beau and Shays Lane, following up with a Perth Sunday win from Dominikus.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Royal Ascot: 5f Gp 3, Russian Valour (trained by Mark Johnston, at Middleham; owned by A Latter & Partners), ridden by Kevin Darley; 12f, Fantastic Love (Mark Johnston; M Doyle), Keith Dalgleish.

Ripon: 6f, Palace Theatre (David Barron, Maunby; Christopher McHale), Dean Mernagh; 5f, Torrent (David Chapman, Stillington; trainer), Lisa Jones (claiming 3lbs appr allowance); 8f, Nuit Sombre (Mark Johnston; Mrs Margaret Pett), Joe Fanning; 10f, Emerging Star (George Moore, Middleham; Arthur, Chris & Geoff Peacock), David Allan (3); 12f, Coolbuthepool (Mark Johnston; J S Morrison), Joe Fanning.

Southwell AW: 6f, Boisdale (David Nicholls, Sessay; Mrs S Tang, J Nicholls, Mrs S Thompson), Liam Treadwell (7); 11f, Katiypour (David Barron; Nigel Shields), Neil Callan; 5f, Mrs Moh (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Salifix), Paul Doe; 7f, Tap (David Nicholls; T G Meynell), Liam Treadwell.

Beverley: 10f, Dash Of Magic (James Hetherton, Malton; 21st Century Racing), Tony Hamilton; 7f, Moulin de Mougins (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; S A B Dinsmore), Dominic Fox (5); 5f, Loughlorien (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Pendle Inn Too Partnership), Fergal Lynch; 5f, Birthday Suit (Tim Easterby; Hb, Lady Halifax), Kevin Darley; Raphael (Tim Easterby; Mrs K Arton), Kevin Darley

Ayr: 5f, Burkees Graw (David Nicholls; ), Adrian Nicholls; 7f, Tancred Arms (David Barker, Scorton; Miss A Clift), Dale Gibson.

Friday. - Royal Ascot: 16f, Shanty Star (Mark Johnston; Maktoum Al Maktoum), Kevin Darley.

Ayr: 8f, Lunar Leader (Linda Stubbs, Malton; D M Smith), Robert Winston; 6f, Lucky Story (Mark Johnston; Abdulla Buhaleeba), Stanley Chin; 11f, Ipledgeallegiance (David Chapman; Michael Hill), Tony Culhane.

Redcar: 5f, Tyne (David Barron; Bernard Hathaway), Dean Mernagh; 10f, Santiburi Lad (Nigel Tinkler, Langton; Mrs Karan Ridley), Kim Tinkler; 6f, Classy Lassie (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; A Barnes), Dale Gibson; 8f, Wilson Bluebottle (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; J Walsh & T Swain), Miss Serena Brotherton (3).

Hexham NH: hdl, Western Bluebird (Kate Milligan, Middleham; The W Bees), Padge Whelan; hdl, Ichi Beau (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; Mrs Fiona Butterly), Davy Russell; chs, You're Special (Patrick Haslam; Les Buckley), Andrew Thornton; chs, Shays Lane (Ferdy Murphy; Mrs C McKeane), Davy Russell.

Saturday. - 6f (dead heat), Fayr Jag (Tim Easterby; Jonathan Gill), Willie Supple.

Ayr: 7f, Chester Le Street (Mark Johnston; Sheikh Mohammed), Keith Dalgleish; 9f, Atlantic Quest (Mark Johnston; Atlantic Racing Ltd), Keith Dalgleish.

Redcar: 6f, Smart Predator (John Wquinn, Settrington; Hb, B Shaw), Robert Winston; 14f, Patricia Philomena (David Barron; Miss Pauline Laycock), Dominc Fox (5); 7f, Oscar Pepper (David Barron; Ian Armitage), Lee Enstone (3).

Sunday. - Pontefract: 6f, Fairlie (Lynda Ramsden, Sandhutton; Hb, L C Sigsworth), Kieren Fallon.

Warwick: 6f, Million Percent (Karl Burke, Wensley; Platinum Racoing club Ltd), Neil Callan.

Perth NH: chs, Dominikus (Ferdy Murphy; The Aarons Archer Partnership), Davy Russell; chs, Little Task (John Wainwright, Kennythorpe; Keith Jackson), Brian Harding.

Monday. - Nottingham: 8f, Blonde Streak (David Barron; Mrs Liz Jones), Kevin Darley.

Musselburgh: 8f, Investment Affair (Mark Johnston; Hb, Markus Graff), Joe Fanning; 12f, Shalbeblue (Brian Ellison, Norton; Four Clubs), Miss Lorraine Ellison (5).

Tuesday. - Beverley: 12f, Blackthorn (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; Mr & Mrs Peter Foden), Paul Hanagan; 5f, Sir Sandrovitch (Richard Fahey; W G Moore & G Winton), Charlie Poste.

Brighton: 7f, Stagecoach Ruby (Mark Johnston; Hb, Mrs Jacqueline Conroy), Joe Fanning.

Wednesday. - Carlisle: 9f, So Sure (Patrick Haslam; M T Buckley), Dominic Fox (5); 8f, Top Dirham (Mick Easterby; Steve Hull), Dale Gibson.

Southwell AW: 8f, Hov (John Quinn; G A Lucas), Luke Fletcher (5).