GATEMAN, Mark Johnston's Group 3 winner at the Curragh recently, is entered by the Middleham maestro in tomorrow's Tote International Handicap, but may be sent to Ireland instead.

The ground at Ascot is fast and is being watered as we go to press, so Johnston may prefer to run Gateman in a big Galway handicap on Tuesday evening instead. He also has Love Regardless and Bouncing Bowdler entered in the Irish race.

There are entries today at Ascot from Johnston and Tim Easterby, both on top form. Easterby scooped a valuable Sandown handicap on Wednesday night with the gritty Freya's Dream, Willie Supple up.

Kevin Darley had an Ayr treble on Monday - including one for Johnston - and a Tuesday double, both for Kingsley House. The top jockey took five for the yard in all, but misses today's Ascot meeting for an earlier ban.

Young Keith Dalgleish takes the rides and is in noticeably good form. His tally included a Hamilton double for Richard Fahey and Jimmy FitzGerald and a good win for Bishop Auckland trainer Denys Smith on the Duchess of Sutherland's Monksford at the Scottish track next night.

Paul Hanagan also continues to catch the eye and he won twice this week for his boss Fahey, twice for Brian Ellison and once for Ron Barr. One of his wins was on the Fahey-trained Portacasa, which also won under a relieved Robert Winston at Haydock's evening meeting. Winston was out with a bad jaw injury for six weeks and this was a welcome return.

Apprentice Lee Enstone fell from his mount Wolfe in Boru Boru's Carlisle maiden last Friday, bringing down another claimer, Lee Newman. Enstone missed out on a winning ride that night for Patrick Haslam, Paul Mulrennan deputising on Devious Boy.

Earlier, Haslam's 17-year-old son Ben had his first career win, landing the amateur race for his father on Soldier Point.

Enstone also missed winning the Ripon Bell-Ringer Stakes, the feature handicap next day, as Tom Eaves got the ride on George Moore's Valdesco. Young Tom shone again on Monday night at Beverley, winning for Ron Barr on Mehmaas.

Mulrennan again deputised for Enstone on Monday at Ayr to win for Haslam on Middleham Peacock, a 20th career success. His claim is reduced to 5lbs.

Another first time victory went to young Wayne Hogg, who won for Mark Johnston at Warwick on Knavesmire Omen.

Laura-Jayne Crawford, another 7lb claimer, had a week to remember. She dead-heated with no less than Kevin Darley for her first win at Ayr, partnering Patricia Philomena for David Barron. Darley was riding Fiddlers Creek for Northumbrian trainer Richard Allan, one leg of his treble.

Young Laura-Jayne followed up in the best possible fashion by landing the Willie Carson-Pinker's Pond apprentice race at Catterick, run in honour of the former jockey's first win on the Middleham runner of yesteryear. David Barker provided the ammunition, with Tancred Arms.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Hamilton: (6f hcp) Hebenus (trained by Richard Fahey, at Butterwick; owned by P Timmins), ridden by Keith Dalgleish; (9f clmr) Kingsdon (Jimmy FitzGerald, Norton; Mike Browne), K Dalgleish.

Leicester: (6f nrsy) Miss Takeortwo (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Crewe & Nantwich Racing Club), Fergal Lynch.

Fri. - Carlisle: (5f mdn) Sierra Vista (David Barker, Scorton; trainer), Tyrone Williams; (7f hcp) Mystic Man (K Ryan; R J H Ltd), F Lynch; (7f mdn) Boru Boru (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Hb, K Towey), Kevin Darley; (9f hcp) Cyclonic Storm (R Fahey; Galaxy Racing), Paul Hanagan.

Hamilton*: (6f amtr hcp) Soldier Point (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Mrs B M Hawkins), Mr Ben Haslam; (5f noc) Devious Boy (P Haslam; Blue Lion Racing), Paul Mulrennan (claiming 7lbs); (13f hcp) King's Crest (R Fahey; Seamus Farrey & Partners), Charlie Poste (7); (8f mdn) Monksford (Denys Smith, Bishop Auckland; Evelyn Duchess of Sutherland), K Dalgleish.

Sat. - Ripon: (12f hcp) Valdesco (George Moore, Middleham; Keith Nicholson), Tom Eaves (7).

Warwick: (12f appr hcp) Knavesmire Omen (M Johnston; The Knavesmire Partnership), Wayne Hogg (10).

Haydock*: (5f nrsy) Seashore (K Ryan; T G Holdcroft), F Lynch; (10f cnds) Legal Approach (M Johnston; Maktoum Al Maktoum), K Darley; (10f hcp) Portacasa (R Fahey; J G Porthouse), Robert Winston.

Wolverhampton AW*: (6f hcp) Bint Royal (Brian Ellison, Norton; Mrs Andrea M Mallinson), P Hanagan; (9f sllr) Blushing Prince (Linda Stubbs, Malton; trainer), Tom McLaughlin.

Mon. - Ayr: (7f mdn) Double Obsession (M Johnston; R W Huggins, R B Huckerby, Atlantic Racing), K Darley; (6f nrsy) Middleham Peacock (P Haslam; J Millican), P Mulrennan (7); (11f sllr) Patricia Philomena (in dead heat) (David Barron, Maunby; Miss Pauline Laycock), Laura-Jayne Crawford (7).

Beverley*: (7f hcp) Mehmaas (Ron Barr, Seamer; Middleham Park Racing XXV), T Eaves (7); (10f hcp) Portacasa (R Fahey; J G Porthouse), P Hanagan.

Tue. - Ayr: (6f juv mdn) Nuit Sombre (M Johnston; Mrs Margaret Pett), K Darley; (7f clfd) Pie High (M Johnston; Joy and Valentine Fenwick), K Darley; (15f hcp) Mr Fortywinks (B Ellison; Hb, Miss Nuala Cassidy), P Hanagan.

Wed. - Catterick: (7f sllr) Mister Rushby (B Ellison; Miss V Haigh), Vince Halliday; (5f hcp) Strensall (R Barr; trainer), P Hanagan; (5f clmr) The Tatling (David Nicholls, Sessay; The Gardening Partnership), Alex Greaves; (7f appr hcp) Tancred Arms (D Barker; Miss A Clift), L-J Crawford.

Sandown*: (7f hcp) Freya's Dream (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Sue Tindall & Hazel Lowrey), Willie Supple