Scott Cunningham's last-minute decision to run Playful Dane paid off with his biggest success as a trainer at Catterick on Saturday.

The eight-year-old won the £20,000 totesport.com Catterick Dash in the hands of apprentice Rory Moore.

Playful Dane, who led over a furlong out and beat Malapropism, winner of the race last year by a length, is owned by the Hutton Rudby trainer's in-laws Ann and David Bell.

Cunningham, who decided against bringing his charge out again under a penalty at Musselburgh yesterday, said: "We nearly didn't run him. He is better on fast ground, but we got away with it and I put the win down to Kevin Ryan, who lets me use his gallops.

"We have been up there this week and Playful Dane has worked better than he has ever done so we were hopeful. We have only three or four horses in training. It is a struggle to get good staff and I do most of the riding out, but Nick Smith, who works for Kevin (Ryan) also helps us."

Noel Wilson, who is based in part of Mel Brittain's complex at Warthill, produced Yenaled, another willing eight-year-old, fit and ready to win the toteexacta Apprentice Claiming Stakes for the second year running under a fine ride from Donna Caldwell.

Wilson said: "The old lad split a hoof and it took four months for it to grow out so we have had to be patient with him and it has taken a few races to get him really fit again.

"We had wanted to run him in this race again so it has worked out well, and I am pleased for his owners, who include Jimmy McKinnon who couldn't come because he is not very well, but his pals took him down to a pub in Hawick to watch the race on television."

Hambleton trainer Bryan Smart's renewed association with Paul Eddery paid off when Il Castagno made all the running to win the totescoop6 Nursery.

Smart trains the colt for the Pinnacle Night Shift Partnership, and he said: "The plan was to make the best use of the low draw, jump out sharp, get a breather on the turn and then go for home - and it is nice when the plan works out!"

Mark Johnston keeps moving his score along and Kings Heir gave him his 132nd domestic success of the season and his 40th individual two-year-old winner.

Ridden by Dean McKeown, who was the Middleham trainer's stable jockey in the early nineties, he came with a well-timed run to land the first division of the totepool awaybet Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Tony Culhane is fast closing in on his 1000th winner in Britain and he completed a double on Savernake Blue and Whispering Death, who had been on the mark at Redcar 24 hours earlier.

Tim Easterby reached a half century for the season when Mrs Moh landed the totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap in the hands of Graham Gibbons.

* Rooster Booster is fit and well after his victory at Huntingdon and is likely to reappear in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

The 2003 Champion Hurdle winner received a thunderous reception at the Cambridgeshire circuit after a fluent five-length success in the Play Blackjack At williamhillcasino.com Hurdle.