GLORIOUS Goodwood and three of our northern raiders - David Nicholls, David Barker and Mark Johnston - have already hit the mark on the Sussex Downs.

Nicholls has always defended his two-year-old Strike Up The Band, who broke slowly in two hot races earlier this summer, but Adrian Nicholls made no mistake from a bad draw on Tuesday in the Betfair Molcomb Stakes, a Group 3 event.

The Sessay pair made good headway to hit the front a furlong out and held on against sustained attacks.

Behind them were other northern hotpots, Ooh Aah Camara (Richard Guest, J Egan, seventh) and Masta Plasta (Howard Johnson, R Winston, eighth). Ann Duffield's Smart Cassie (M Hills) was green but not disgraced in 12th.

Mark Johnston landed two on Tuesday. Golden Quest took the Tatler Summer Season Stakes under a ride from behind by Joe Fanning. Prince Of Light landed the two-year-old maiden event over six furlongs, this one ridden nearer the pace by Fanning and leading from two out.

Good prize money for good place runs also came home to Kingsley House. On Tuesday, Nero's Return (Fanning) and Brahminy Kite (Darryll Holland) were third in the Summer Stakes, a Heritage Handicap, and the Group 3 ABH Amro Stakes respectively.

Black Charmer was third in the Veuve Cliquot Vintage Stakes, a Group 2 race, on Wednesday under Fanning, and may now go for the Gimcrack.

Johnston was on the mark at Bath a week last Thursday with Michael's Pride (Kevin Darley). Sunday's winner was at Pontefract where Royston Ffrench shone on Sound Breeze.

Down to Yarmouth went the team to win with Caribbean Dancer for the second time in the week (Fanning).

Tuesday saw French winning on River Lena at Beverley and he rode a Wednesday treble at Musselburgh, on Supreme Charter for Johnston and on two for Ian McInnes.

David Barker's team are hot-hot-hot at present. Mr Wolf won at Pontefract, part of a Fergal Lynch double, and the Scorton trainer headed down to Goodwood - but nearly did not run.

His owner David Metcalfe cancelled his hotel room, but the rain came in time and Barker left his team to take their chances on the Sussex Downs.

Sierra Vista gave him his first winner at the course on Wednesday in the Zuhair Stakes and is due to run again today in the Stewards' Sprint.

Mecca's Mate was entered in yesterday's King George, today's Spring and tomorrow's Stewards' Cup.

Second to Sierra Vista was John Quinn's speedy Pomfret Lad (Eddie Ahern) and Quinn also has Caribbean Coral booked in the sprint races today and Saturday. If his former hotpot came good again, the track should suit - but the biggest danger would be David Nicholls' Lafi tomorrow - see below.

David Barron's Partners In Jazz, unlucky behind James Bethell's Mine in the Bunbury Cup recently, looked again unfortunate, coming third under Willie Supple on Saturday at Newbury in the Totesport International. Mine ran well but was only tenth in this vast cavalry charge.

Dandy Nicholls' Lafi and Wanchai Lad were second and third in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint there on Sunday. Wanchai Lad went on to Goodwood, but could only finish ninth behind Sierra Vista, with stablemates Plateau in seventh and Rudi's Pet in 12th. The race, of course, is now named after one of Dandy's former stars, Zuhair, hence the mass entry.

Richard Fahey turned out his winner Knot In Wood rapidly on Thursday evening at Doncaster to win under Fanning for the second time in the week, as there were only three suitable races for the horse until the end of September.

Neil Callan got his 50th of the season on Mystic Man at York for Kevin Ryan on Friday. Mick Easterby took the first and last of the meeting, The History Man on Friday and Sporting Gesture on Saturday. David Allan had a Friday double, the second leg for his boss Tim Easterby on Wing Collar.

Saturday at the Knavesmire found Yorkshire owner-breeder Guy Reed winning with La Cucaracha in the 6f Heritage Handicap. Trained for him by Lambourn handler Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills, Reed was also on the mark at Newmarket on Sunday with his homebred Gringo, another from the Hills father-son team.

Karl Burke sent out a 20-1 York winner, Breaking Shadow, for owner Mr G Morrill, who had rushed down from Newcastle where his David Barron-trained Rising Shadow was second in the opener. Robert Winston rode his 100th winner of the season, but for Staffordshire trainer Reg Hollinshead (Tora Petcha) instead of a "local".

Newcastle on Saturday saw wins from Jedd O'Keeffe, who has a useful looking youngster in Luna Landing, Kevin Ryan's old favourite Uhoomagoo and David Nicholls' new girl apprentice, Victoria Behan, landing her fifth winner on Lord Of The East.

Alan Swinbank's Ouninpohja followed up a recent win at Gosforth Park under Dean McKeown, who went on next day to ride Swinbank's Collier Hill in Dusseldorf.

The Melsonby stalwart found only one too good for him in the Group 1 Preis der Frunde und Forderer over a mile and a half. The same team were on the Musselburgh scorecard with Merlins Profit.

Ann Duffield sent out recent hurdles winner Constable Burton to a Flat success at Nottingham on Saturday.

Sharon Watt had her first winner with her new full licence as Now Then Sid got his jumping together at Sedgefield, where barrister-permit holder Eric Elliott was also on the mark.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Bath: Michael's Pride (trained by Mark Johnston, at Middleham; owned by Dalua Racing), ridden by Kevin Darley.

Uttoxeter NH: Weston Rock (Tim Walford, Sheriff Hutton; Mrs H Spath), Robert Walford.

Doncaster ev: Knot In Wood (Richard Fahey, Musley Bank; Rhodes, Kenyon & Gill), Joe Fanning.

Friday. - York: The History Man (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Morecool Racing 2 & Ms Denise Welch), Dale Gibson; Mystic Man (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; R J H Ltd), Neil Callan; Wing Collar (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; R & Mrs J D Cotton), David Allan.

Saturday. - Newcastle: Luna Landing (Jedd O'Keeffe, Coverham; W R B Racing 49 (Wrbracing.com)), Dale Gibson; Lord Of The East (David Nicholls, Sessay; The Wayward Lads), Victoria Behan (claiming 5lb allowance); Uhoomagoo (K Ryan; J Duddy & T Fawcett), N Callan; Ouninpohja (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; Am No Havin That), Dean McKeown.

Nottingham: Constable Burton (Ann Duffield, Constable Burton; Middleham Park Racing XV), Paul Fessey.

York: Breaking Shadow (Karl Burke, Wensley; G Morrill), Franny Norton; Sporting Gesture (M Easterby; Steve Hull), Paul Mulrennan (3).

Sunday. - Pontefract: Sound Breeze (M Johnston; Hb (homebred by owner or connection) M P Burke), Royston Ffrench; Mr Wolf (David Barker, Scorton; Hb, P Asquith), Fergal Lynch.

Monday. - Southwell AW: Princess Cleo (T Easterby; H Musgrave), D Allan; Colorus (R Fahey; Silvano Scanu), Paul Hanagan; Harrison's Flyer (R Fahey; P D Smith Holdings Ltd), P Hanagan.

Sedgefield NH: Two Steps To Go (Eric Elliott, Rushyford; permit holder), Mr T J O'Brien (7); Now Then Sid (Sharon Watt, Brompton on Swale; trainer), P Buchanan (3); Beaugency (Richard Guest, Brancepeth; Gryfindor www.racingtours.co.uk), W Kennedy.

Yarmouth ev: Caribbean Dancer (M Johnston; Barcadere Syndicate), J Fanning.

Tuesday. - Goodwood: Strike Up The Band (D Nicholls; The Oak Apple Syndicate), Adrian Nicholls; Golden Quest (M Johnston; Syndicate 2002), J Fanning; Prince Of Light (Claire Riordan & Kieran Coughlan), J Fanning.

Beverley: River Lena (M Johnston; Maktoum Al Maktoum), R Ffrench; Baylaw Star (K Ryan; T C Racing Partnership), P Mulrennan (3); Abbey Cat (A Swinbank; Robert Jackson), N Pollard.

Wednesday. - Sierra Vista (D Barker; David T J Metcalfe), John Egan.

Musselburgh: Supreme Charter (M Johnston; Hexis UK Ltd), R Ffrench; Merlins Profit (A Swinbank; Wukkuan A Powrie), Dean McKeown; H Harrison (Ian McInnes, Catwick; David Lees), R Ffrench; Tojonescki (I McInnes; A M McArdle), R Ffrench.