DESERT Deer gave Mark Johnston his first Group win this term at Sandown's mixed meeting on Saturday, landing the Bet attheraces Mile, a Group 2 event, under a fine Kevin Darley ride. The winner now heads for the Group 1 Lockinge.

Johnston is in great form and the Kingsley House team added a Leicester maiden win the same afternoon, Keith Dalgleish partnering Delsarte. This is entered in tomorrow's Newmarket Stakes, a big step up.

Monday's winner was at Hamilton, where Darley brought Fantastic Love to victory under the well-known Mick Doyle colours. Nottingham on Tuesday saw an impressive debut by Attraction, another partnered by Dalgleish.

At Pontefract on Wednesday, Johnston was in treble form, Dalgleish partnering Russian Valour and Morson Boy, and Joe Fanning winning on Greta D'Argent.

Tim Easterby also won at Pontefract, with Coranglais, while Yorkshire owner Guy Reed had another homebred Barry Hills winner on Saturday at Leicester, where La Cucaracha prevailed under Tony Culhane. David Barron has been in good form and Karl Burke and Kevin Ryan both sent out successes.

The Sandown Saturday meeting was the finale to the 2002-03 jumps year and it was fitting that Brian Ellison, who has had such a good season, should scoop the final race on the card, a fun one, Flat v Jumps jockeys. It was Everest who came from last to first under Dane O'Neill to win, while the trainer also had a final jumps double for the term at Sedgefield. Ellison sent out Everest at Ascot to prove the Saturday win was no fluke, as O'Neill again came from behind to scoop the mile handicap.

Tony Dobbin equalled his best ever score during Easter week with a Market Rasen treble, a Perth four-timer and a double at the Scottish course on Friday last, taking his tally to 109. Graham Lee also had his best ever season.

Mary Reveley had a Sedgefield finale double, Random Harvest landing the Durham National under a grand Alan Dempsey ride.

Tony McCoy set off with a first win for this new year at Hexham, partnering Patrick Haslam's seller winner, Wensley Blue. Richard Guest ended the last season on Saturday with a Market Rasen victory and won again on Monday at Hexham.

George Moore and Geoff Harker also lost no time in putting wins on the board for the new season. Others off the mark included Kate Walton and her near neighbour, Chris Thornton. Chris Wilson sent out Quarterstaff to a follow-up win for his Manfield yard.

Tomorrow at Thirsk, the annual running of the Hunt Cup may see Tedstale win for the second year for Tim Easterby, but a big danger is Dandy Nicholls' Locombe Hill.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Beverley: Are You There (trained by D Barron, at Maunby; owned by I Armitage), ridden by K Darley.

Perth NH: Damien's Choice (A Swinbank, Melsonby; M Sawers), T Dobbin.

Fri. - Wolverhampton AW: Uhoomagoo (K Ryan, Hambleton; Platinum Racing Club Ltd), F Lynch.

Perth NH: Beckley (C Grant, Wolviston; J Henderson (Co Durham)), R McGrath; Flight Command (P Beaumont, Brandsby; N W A Bannister), R Garritty.

Sat. - Sandown: Desert Deer (M Johnston, Middleham; J Abdullah), K Darley; Everest (B Ellison, Norton; I S Sandhu & Partners), D O'Neill.

Ripon: Lord Of Methley (R Whitaker, Scarcroft; trainer), V Halliday; Efidium (N Bycroft, Malton; Hambleton Racing Partnership), S France (claiming 5lbs).

Leicester: Delsarte (M Johnston; Abdullah Saeed Belhab), K Dalgleish.

Sedgefield: Mana-Mou Bay (B Ellison; R Wagner), V Keane (3); Hunters Creek (M Reveley, Lingdale; Bewley's Hotels), P Aspell (3); Random Harvest (M Reveley; C C Buckley), A Dempsey; Trooper (A Crook, Coverham; Colley and Bakes), P Robson (3); Untidy Daughter (B Ellison; Alderclad Roofing, S Rutter, G Hamilton), J Crowley.

Market Rasen: Comfortable Call (H Alexander, Hanging Grimston; P J Dixon), D Elsworth; Jamorin Dancer (R Guest, Brancepeth; Miss C Metcalfe), T Coyle.

Mon. - Hamilton: Baylaw Star (D Barron; T C K Racing Partnership), D Mernagh; Fantastic Love (M Johnston; M Doyle), K Darley; CD Europe (K Ryan; L Neill and G Flitcroft), F Lynch; Sawwaah (D Nicholls, Sessay; Fayzad Thoroughbred Ltd), A Nicholls.

Hexham NH: Iron Express (G Moore, Middleham; D Parker), J Crowley; Wensley Blue (P Haslam, Middleham; Mrs B M Hawkins & R Young), T McCoy; Ceresfield (R Guest; K Middleton), Mr L McGrath; Hirvine (T Tate, Tadcaster; The Ivy Syndicate), J Maguire; Conchita (G Harker, Wensley; Mrs G E Brewis), N Hannity.

Wolverhampton AW: Blakeset (D Barron; N Shields), N Callan.

Windsor ev: Soller Bay (K Burke, Wensley; Mrs M Bryce), D Sweeney.

Newcastle ev NH: Copplestone (W Storey, Muggleswick; B P Bradshaw), G Lee; Bellacaccia (C Thornton, Middleham; D B Dennison), G Berridge (5).

Tue. - Nottingham: Attraction (M Johnston; Duke of Roxburghe), K Dalgleish; Eastern Blue (L Stubbs, Malton; T C Chiang), K Fallon.

Wed. - Ascot: Everest (B Ellison; I S Sandhu and Partners), D O'Neill.

Pontefract: Russian Valour (M Johnston; A Latter & Partners), K Dalgleish; Coranglais (T Easterby, Great Habton; Salifix), R Winston; Greta D'Argent (M Johnston, Hb, D A Couper), J Fanning; Morson Boy (M Johnston; G Mason & D Jackson), K Dalgleish.

Kelso ev NH: Billie John (K Walton, Middleham; Mrs P M Wilson), J Crowley; Quarterstaff (C Wilson, Manfield; Mrs J Wilson), B Harding