WHEN it comes to investment in thoroughbreds, the north-south divide is heavily weighted in favour of those trainers located at Newmarket and Lambourn, so it was a more-than-pleasing result when Middleham-based stables had three winners and a second in the Shergar Cup at Ascot last Saturday.

Inevitably Mark Johnston was in the thick of the things with Bouncing Bowdler and Mana d'Argent doing the business. Chris Fairhurst was also on the mark with King's Welcome, while Patrick Haslam very nearly made it four with Devious Boy.

Although another prominent Middleham handler, James Bethell, missed out on kicking the pants of the southern boys, he could gain a modicum of consolation by scooping the most valuable race at Beverley this afternoon, the £11,750 Nick Wilmot-Smith Memorial Stakes, with Derwent (3.30).

Derwent, a really handsome son of the former top-class miler Distant View, has taken a while to fulfil the promise he showed as a two-year-old. Thankfully that situation didn't last too long as Bethell's colt is now really on song, having won two of his last three races.

In the opening two-mile St John Ambulance Handicap, check out High Jinks (2.25), who came from another county to snatch fourth spot in a stronger event at Thirsk on Monday evening.

Consistency hasn't exactly been the strong suit of Jamestown (4.40), lining up for the Habbershaws Amateur Handicap.

None the less he's a previous course winner, acts on easy ground, plus has the invaluable assistance of the smart rider Willie Worthington in the saddle. There's also the fact that Jamestown was just a tad unlucky when he ran at the course on July 22 because the cards simply didn't fall into place.

The Charles Smith-trained gelding got involved in some general bunching at the two-furlong pole and was subsequently "hand-bagged" by a couple of his rivals better placed to get to the head of the queue.

As a result Jamestown was shuffled back down the pack and lost all chance as a direct consequence of those uncalled for antics.

Champion jockey elect Kieren Fallon's presence is always of interest, but his loyal band of followers may have to wait until the last before he slips into overdrive aboard Gallivant (5.10).

The latter, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, cost her supporters a packet when heavily-backed but only second at Windsor last time out. Pat Eddery was in the plate that evening and in deference to Pat he really did give the filly the full treatment.

A more likely explanation for Galivant's defeat was the firm ground, a state of affairs not likely to be repeated at Beverley, where plenty of rain has fallen over past few days.

Darryll Holland is beginning to get back into the swing after serving a 12-day suspension under the "totting-up" procedure.

Holland visits Epsom, where he has a host of promising mounts courtesy of Regent's Secret (2.00), Royal Storm (2.35), Totem Pole (3.05), Carolina Silk (3.40), and Classic Role (4.15).

Perhaps the best value is Totem Pole, going for the £12,000 seven-furlong Showcase Handicap, an event in which Holland teams up with his former boss, Barry Hills, who trains Totem Pole.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.