MARY REVELEY rang the holiday bells in the same fashion as she started the year, with superb victories either side of the break. Newcastle saw a Reveley double, while Wetherby's Boxing Day gift delighted the Irish.

Alan Dempsey partnered Highbank to win at Gosforth Park for the Lingdale trainer, who also landed the bumper with the Lucayan Stud's Junkanoo, well ridden by young claimer Anthony Ross. He joined Mrs Reveley in the summer of 1999 as an amateur, having been recommended to her by none less than leading Irish trainer Ted Walsh, but did not chose to follow Dempsey's path to champion amateur, turning rapidly to the professional game.

Walsh also recommended to his cousin Tom Walsh and his wife Noreen, owners of the Scart Stud, that they send their mare Function Dream to Mary Reveley, as there would be more chances for her this side the Irish Sea - and what a good decision that was!

The owner-breeders were delighted at Wetherby on Boxing Day when Ross partnered the mare to her fourth win in five starts since she arrived in Cleveland last August, landing the Castleford Chase impressively. Function Dream may well tackle the Victor Chandler at Ascot next month. Howard Johnson's Direct Route, who was sent here rather than Kempton, disappointed somewhat on the tacky ground.

However, down at Kempton, Mary Reveley's Torso was only just touched off in the handicap hurdle by Flagship Colm, a 20-1 surprise. Norman Williamson, who partnered Torso, was suspended for two days for hitting his mount in an incorrect place during the ding-dong battle.

Ross gained a Wetherby double, winning for Chris Grant on Master Wood, owned by Roy Robinson, the gelding's eighth win, six of them on the A1 course.

Mary Reveley was also successful before Christmas with Linea-G, sent on the all-weather as the handicapper had raised the stable stalwart very high for jumping. At Huntingdon, she won the bumper with Robert Ogden's Let's Fly, surely one for the future.

Star of Sedgefield's holiday meeting was Brian Ellison, who, with claiming jockey Vinny Keane, another good young Irish rider, 21, had a treble: Fatehalkhair, Artictaldi and Virtuous Circle all doing the business. Fatehalkhair is aimed for the Cheltenham Festival and will probably go to Ascot first.

Novice chasers worth watching are Ferdy Murphy's Newcastle winner, Granit D'Estruval and Richard Fahey's The Butterwick Kid, a winner on the flat and over hurdles, who landed the Wetherby novice event. However, Fahey added that his winner had suffered leg problems and may not be as good as he once was.

Wetherby's second day was lost to the frost and as we go to press, Musselburgh, Haydock Park and Carlisle were among the weather victims.

If the frost and snow relent, Catterick will host its annual over-the-year's end two-day meeting tomorrow and New Years Day. Tomorrow's programme, scheduled to start at 12.40 pm, features The Goathland Handicap Chase (extended 3mi1f) and The Zetland Novices Handicap Chase (2mi3f). The former may go to Norman Mason's Burnt Imp, the latter could be a battle between Blue Moon (Ferdy Murphy) and Foreshoreman (Brian Rothwell).

The Samaritans Silver & Gold Maiden Hurdle over two miles, draws attention to the work of the Samaritans of Northallerton and The Dales, as they embark upon one of their busiest times of the year. Dedicated volunteers are required for this region of the Samaritans; details can be obtained by phoning 0771 8204271. To represent time given by the Samaritans, the winning connections of the race will receive gold watches.

Ferdy Murphy may take this with Challenger Two, or look at Mick Easterby's Pension Fund.

Racing on Monday begins at 12.50 p.m., the highlights being The Tote Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle over two miles (Whistling Dixie, Mary Reveley) and The Hans Christian Andersen Handicap Chase (2mi3f) (between Count Karmuski, Murphy, and June's River, Reveley). Musical entertainment on Saturday is provided by Irish band Napper, le Faux & Boyle, while racegoers arriving early on New Year's Day will be offered mulled wine and mince pies.

ALL THE WINNERS

All meetings in the UK are now National Hunt (jumps) meetings except for all-weather flat, AW. Chs = steeplechase; Hdl = hurdles race; NHf = NH flat race/bumper. Hb = Homebred by owner.

Thursday last week. - Newcastle.- (hdl) Highbank (trained by Mary Reveley, at Lingdale; owned by D H & C Thrower), ridden by Alan Dempsey; (hdl) Dower House (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Mrs Claire Hollowood), Tony Dobbin); (chs) Granit D'Estruval (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; Gott Foods Ltd), Adrian Maguire; (NHf) Junkanoo (Mary Reveley; Hb, Lucayan Stud), Anthony Ross.

Southwell AW: (18f) Linea-G (Mary Reveley; Hb, W Ginzel) T Eaves; (11f) Massey (David Barron, Maunby; Harrowgate Bloodstock Ltd), Lynsey Hanna.

Friday to Monday. - No racing.

Tuesday (Boxing Day). - Wetherby: (hdl) Hunters Tweed (Peter Beaumont, Stearsby; Robert Gibbons), Russ Garritty; (chs) The Butterwick Kid (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; Mr Robert Chambers & Mrs M W Kenyon), Mr P Whelan; (chs) Function Dream (Mary Reveley; Hb, Scart Stud), Anthony Ross; (chs) Master Wood (Chris Grant, Wolviston; Hb, Roy Robinson), Antohony Ross.

Hereford: (hdl) Mr Christie (Lynn Siddall, Coulton; trainer), Tom Dascombe.

Huntingdon: (NHf) Let's Fly (Mary Reveley; Robert Ogden), T Eaves.

Market Rasen: (hdl) King's Chamber (John Parkes, Upper Helmsley; P J Cronin), Tim Hogg; (chs) Deep Water (Micky Hammond, Middleham; The County Set), Brian Harding.

Sedgefield: (chs) Fatehalkhair (Brian Ellison, Malton; R Wagner), Vinny Keane; (chs) Gus Berry (Donald Forster, Heighington; trainer), Xavier Aizpuru; (chs) Artictaldi (Brian Ellison; Mrs Susan J Ellison), Vinny Keane; (hdl) Virtuous Circle (Brian Ellison; Ffwd Precision Marketing Ltd), Vinny Keane.

Wednesday. - Leicester: (hdl) Fred's In The Know (Norman Waggott, Spennymoor; N Waggott), Richard Guest; (hdl) Trooper (Micky Hammond; trainer), Jim Crowley; (hdl) Red Imp (Norman Mason, Crook; N Mason), Richard Guest.