THEY'RE off! The turf Flat season started yesterday afternoon at Doncaster, the annual sign for racing people that spring has arrived at last.

Today on the Town Moor, David "Dandy" Nicholls has his usual strong band of attackers and, to judge by previous years, the Sessay trainer should do well. For instance, we could fancy Bright Spark in the Spring Mile with wife Alex Greaves booked.

Dandy also has that one in the Lincoln tomorrow, as well as others including Mana-Mou-Bay, with Tony Culhane down to ride. Alex is also listed for Scotty's Future, True Knight, Arpeggio and Mister Rambo, though the last three may not make the cut.

Others famed for an early kick-off are Les Eyre and Mick Easterby, while Middleham men Patrick Haslam, Mark Johnston and Karl Burke have been doing well on the all-weather, along with Hambleton's Kevin Ryan.

Catterick holds its first Flat meeting on Wednesday and we have noticed that David Barron is one to follow early doors at the Yorkshire course.

But the glory of the Cheltenham Festival is still with us. Fiona Needham's brave ride on her father's Last Option is featured on the back page.

Les Eyre's Sutton Bank squad showed their well-being when Benbyas was fourth in the County Hurdle on the same card, but Patrick Haslam's Fiori was rather disappointing - and was due to run again yesterday in the first Flat race of the year.

Russ Garritty's glory day on Hussard Collonges was behind him as he travelled to Hexham to win on Premier Drive for George Moore.

Ferdy Murphy's Streamstown and Narrow Water were pulled up in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter on Saturday, but he won at Market Rasen with Gipsy Geof that day and at Ludlow later in the week with Moonlake.

Tim Easterby's Scotton Green was third in the Uttoxeter marathon, while Malcolm Jefferson sent out tough novice hurdler Trading Trouble to win later at the Midlands course.

Vinnie Keane and trainer Brian Ellison were upset by Latalomne's fall in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last week, but their star has come out of Cheltenham well. Ellison said he may go for a race at the Aintree National meeting or at Punchestown later in April, depending on the ground.

Red Striker, Norman Mason's Grand National hope, may not now go to Aintree. Richard Guest pulled him up in both the Racing Post Chase at Kempton and at Cheltenham in the Mildmay of Flete because he lost his action, only to find the horse sound again after a short time. Guest said investigations were being made.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Key: Now that Flat racing on turf has started again, National Hunt (jumping) meetings are indicated by NH; Flat racing on all-weather surfaces, by AW; * = 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; amtr = amateur riders; cond = conditional (jumps apprentice) riders; Hb = homebred by owner (or one of the owners).

Thursday last week. - Cheltenham NH: (Foxhunter Chs) Last Option (trained by R Tate, at Boltby; Hb and owned by trainer), ridden by Mrs F Needham.

Hexham NH: (nov chs) Premier Drive (G Moore, Middleham; A W Sergeant), R Garritty; (hcp chs) Was A Drive (K Milligan, Middleham; E C Gordon), Mr P Robson.

Southwell AW: (8f clmr) Visitation (K Ryan, Hambleton; T Fawcett), F Lynch.

Friday. - Fakenham NH: (hcp chs) Mr Bossman (N Mason, Brancepeth; permit holder), R Guest; (hcp hdl) Bergamo (B Ellison, Norton; A Young), V Keane.

Wolverhampton AW: (7f dn) Beacon Wood ( M Johnston, Middleham; Mrs I Bird), K Darley; (5f hcp) Paddywack (D Chapman, Stillington; trainer), T Culhane.

Saturday. - Uttoxeter NH: (nov hdl) Trading Trouble (M Jefferson, Norton; R Collins), G Lee.

Market Rasen NH: (sllr hcp hdl) Gipsy Geof (F Murphy, West Witton; Exors of the late G A Hubbard), Mr A O'Keeffe (winner bought in for 2,800gns); (hcp hdl) My Shenandoah (H Johnson, Crook; G Brown/B Watson), A Smith; (hcp chs) Joint Account (R Tate; K Needham), Mrs F Needham; (hunter chs) Backsheesh (G Tuer, Great Smeaton; G Tuer), Mr G Tuer.

Monday. - Ayr NH: (mdn hdl) Jungle Jinks (G Moore; Mrs M and Mrs S Hatfield), R Garritty; (NHf) Touch Closer (A Swinbank, Melsonby; Leading Star Racing), J Crowley.

Southwell NH (turf): (nov chs) Malek (M Reveley, Lingdale; Mrs J W Furness) A Ross; (mdn hdl) Preston Brook (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Lord Daresbury), R McGrath.

Tuesday. - Sedgefield NH: ( hcp hdl) Shalbeblue (B Ellison; Ford Clubs), V Keane; (hunter chs) Son Of Anshan (G Tuer; G Tuer), Mr G Tuer.

Wednesday. - Ludlow NH: (hcp hdl) Moonlake (F Murphy; Harton Manor Racing Club), JP McNamara