BOLLIN Eric, winner of last year's St Leger, was judged the "horse that gave the racing public most enjoyment" in the 2002 Flat season by Weatherbys and the Racehorse Owners' Association.

Sir Neil and Lady Westbrook, owner-breeders, and trainer Tim Easterby and his wife Sarah were in London on Wednesday at the presentation. The Westbrooks, who have been with three generations of Easterbys, received a specially commissioned painting of Bollin Eric by Terence Gilbert.

Sir Neil said: "We're small owners and to produce a horse like Eric that people can follow does good for those of us who follow the try, try and try again approach."

The Easterbys have had, and still have, many horses in their stable who become firm favourites. One of them is Barton, the much-loved jumper, who is now set to run at Aintree, where he has won three times, while Festival hopes for the Gold Cup are not so likely as the trainer favours the Cathcart.

Few of their jumpers, or any others from hereabouts, have been seen in action this week as much of the racing has been frozen off. So many meetings have been lost that the British Horseracing Board has added several Sunday meetings to replace them - Ayr this weekend is only one example.

But tomorrow all eyes are on Kempton for the Racing Post Chase. Andy Crook's Ryalux, one of our Fifteen to Follow, bids to go one better than his narrow Doncaster beating. Ferdy Murphy's Historg holds each-way chances and is likely to run off ten stone - the trainer said Davy Russell was confident he could make the weight.

Red Striker (FtF) and Red Ark are both entered, but Striker was to run at Warwick yesterday afternoon. And the surprise of the week was that the runner was Richard Guest's first as a trainer. The 37-year-old assistant and jockey to Norman Mason has taken over the licence to train from Brancepeth Manor this week, to be in time for the Grand National.

He also retains his riding licence for the time being, but if one of his horses runs in a race he must partner it and not an outside ride. However, the Jockey Club will make an exception so he could ride Chives for Henrietta Knight in the National.

Ferdy Murphy and Karl Burke both have satellite yards in the south, but it looks as if the reverse may soon happen. Lambourn trainer Barry Hills is considering a second yard in the north, at least during the turf season.

Could it be that former owner of Spigot Lodge, Guy Reed, who has horses with Hills, has been encouraging him?

ALL-WEATHER ACTION

The action on the track this week has all been on the all-weather as far as our area is concerned. David Barron and Dean McKeown have struck a superb patch, the Maunby trainer taking his 22nd winter winner on Tuesday with Stephen Woodall's Jan Brueghel. Young Dominic Fox has also partnered winners for Barron.

David Barker sent down Whinhill House from Scorton to Southwell to win under young David Kinsella.

From the Middleham moors, Karl Burke sent out Parlight and Erracht from his Spigot Lodge perch, while Joe Fanning partnered Mark Johnston's Dubai to a maiden win.

Malton area wins came from John Quinn, whose Smart Hostess landed a good fillies' handicap, and from Linda Stubbs. Blushing Prince's selling win under Wolverhampton floodlights on Saturday night was a first this year for the trainer.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Key: Meetings all National Hunt (jumping) except AW (Flat on all-weather); ev = evening meeting; f = furlong (8f = 1 mile); chs = steeplechase; hdl = hurdle; NHf = National Hunt flat race (bumper); mdn = maiden; nov = novice; juv = juvenile; clmr = claiming race (entries can be claimed by sealed bid tenders); sllr = selling race (winner auctioned after race, other runners can be claimed); hcp = handicap; cnds = conditions race; clfd = classified stakes, a limited hcp; ltd = limited hcp; nrsy = nursery; lstd = a Listed race; Gp = Group race (1, 2 or 3 shown); amtr = amateur riders; appr = apprentice riders; cond = conditional (jumps apprentice) riders; Hb = homebred by owner (or one of the owners). FtF = from our 15 to Follow.

Fifteen: Barton Dante, B The One, Covent Garden (replacing Direct Route, retired), Exstoto, Hussard Collonges, Last Option, Latalomne, Moss Harvey, October Mist, Random Native, Red Striker, Ryalux, Sea Drifting, Silver Knight, You're Special.

Thursday last week. - Southwell AW: (5f hcp) Whinhill House (trained by David Barker, at Scorton; owned by J J Crosier), ridden by David Kinsella (claiming 7lbs appr allowance); (7f sllr) Wensleydale Lad (David Barron, Maunby; Wensleydale Bacon Ltd), Dean McKeown (bought in for 3,250gns); (16f hcp) Parlight (Karl Burke, Coverham; Platinum Racing Club Ltd), Dominic Fox (7).

Friday. - Wolverhampton AW: (6f hcp) Massey (D Barron; J Edward Boynton), D McKeown; (12f clmr) White Plains (D Barron; Nigel Shields), D Fox (7); (5f sllr) Erracht (K Burke; P Sweeting), Darren Williams (no bid after).

Saturday. - Wolverhampton AW ev: (9f sllr) Blushing Prince (Linda Stubbs, Malton; trainer), T G McLaughlin (no bid after).

Monday. - (8f hcp) Dubai Tower (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Mrs S J Brookhouse), Joe Fanning.

Tuesday. - Southwell AW: (6f mdn) Jan Brueghel (D Barron; Stephen Woodall), D McKeown; (6f fillies' hcp) Smart Hostess (John Quinn, Settrington; Hb, B Shaw), Robert Winston.

Wednesday. - No DST area winners Lingfield AW (only meeting)