TRAINER Chris Wilson ended a losing streak stretching back over two-and-a-half years when Zeydnaa took the two-mile Skyram Handicap at Catterick yesterday.

Wilson, based at the small village of Manfield just a few miles to the south of Darlington, was a relieved man when Zeydnaa galloped past the post in first place under a determined drive from in-form rider, Tom Eaves.

"It's been a long time coming, our last was Quarterstaff at Kelso. All of our other three successes were also over jumps and that was our first ever winner on the Flat," explained Wilson, quick to heap praise on his wife, Julie, who is officially "in charge" of their half-dozen horses, while he looks after the farming side of the business.

Although there was plenty of cash around for Ann Duffield's newcomer Obergurgl in the opening Lancashire Maiden Stakes, it was the vastly more experienced 2-1 favourite, Rothesay Dancer, who took the spoils.

"That was like a seasoned handicapper taking on novices, she's run 11 times before and kept getting beaten at Musselburgh because of staring at the crowd near the finish. Here they are on the other side of the course so it didn't affect her," revealed trainer, Jim Goldie.

The only previous track and trip scorer to contest the Fillies' Nursery, Imperial Lucky, showed the benefit of local knowledge by holding on grimly to take the seven-furlong event.

Jockey Dean Mernagh had to be at his strongest as the winner began to idle in the closing stages, but fortunately for connections the second and third respectively, Wedaad and Ellesapelle, got in each others' way rather than launching a serious challenge.

Leading apprentice Hayley Turner, recently promoted to the senior ranks after losing her right to claim, demonstrated exactly why she has been so prolific in the saddle this season with a brilliant victory aboard the well-backed Mystery Pips.

With 17 runners going to post for the five-furlong Derbyshire Handicap things were always going to get a tad congested up front. However, Turner didn't panic and after establishing a prominent early position, she booted her mount to the front just inside the final furlong and was always in command thereafter.

"Mystery Pips deserved that, she's only just been beaten the last twice here and didn't like the track at Brighton last time," reported triumphant trainer, Nigel Tinkler.

Turner went on to complete a memorable afternoon and a 29-1 double in the process when steering Leslingtaylor to a comfortable win by nabbing the closing mile-and-a-half Nottinghamshire Handicap.