FROM HIS first winning ride on Pinkers Pond at Catterick Bridge, jockey Willie Carson became champion five times in his long career as a jockey – but on Saturday, he was upstaged by his 19-year-old grandson, William Carson, who landed the one which eluded granddad, the Ayr Gold Cup.

In doing so, Carson Jnr gave David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls his fifth win in the race as a trainer, landing the £150,000 race with Regal Parade.

Dandy sent out the onetwo by way of emphasis, son Adrian Nicholls crossing the line second on Tajneed, with Karl Burke’s Confuchias (Jamie Moriarty) close behind them. Richard Fahey’s Knot In Wood (Paul Hanagan) ‘won’ his race beating all on the far side, but was fourth overall.

Nicholls’ four previous winners were: 2000, Bahamian Pirate (Adrian Nicholls); 2001 Continent (Darryll Holland); 2002 Funfair Wane (A Nicholls), and 2004 Funfair Wane (Paul Doe).

Regal Parade’s victory was young Carson’s biggest win of his 24 to date and his granddad said: “I didn’t ride in the Ayr Gold Cup many times, but I got beat for James Bethell on Alzianah in 1994 and, as a Scot, I’m not very proud of that fact.”

Of his grandson’s win, he added, “He has got a very, very proud grandfather.”

All pundits, including us, were foxed as the first three home here came from high numbers, while the Silver Cup the day before went to low numbers, save for the third, Joseph Henry, another from the Nicholls’ stable.

We had liked the look of Bel Cantor (Bill Ratcliffe, Kelly Harrison), but our choice was collared close home to finish fourth behind Len Lungo’s Against The Grain with Middleham jockey Joe Fanning up. Second was Fahey’s Harrison George (Hanagan). Still, at 16-1, the Wensley runner repaid each-way support.

Nicholls had started the Ayr meeting well, winning on Thursday last with Keys Of Cyprus. He also showed he’s not just a sprint trainer as minutes after the Gold Cup, racegoers at Catterick could see him win there, too, with Lost Soldier Three in the 12f handicap.

Yorkshire owner and former trainer Jack Hanson’s filly, Lassarina, won a Newbury conditions stakes on her debut in good fashion under Steve Drowne on Friday. This is trained in Lambourn by Barry Hills and is one to follow.

Former jump jockey Jim Crowley, 30, who switched to the Flat three seasons ago, rode a Group race double for Yorkshire trainers at the Berkshire course on Saturday.

His first was for Karl Burke on Mark Gittins’ Lord Shanakill in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes, substituting for the usual jockey Fergus Sweeny who is on the sidelines, being injured.

The owner, who manages the family’s Mogeely Stud near Cork in Ireland, was delighted with Crowley’s ride and said Lord Shanakill had run well recently when third in the Prix Morny: “Next year we may look at races in the US, and I doubt we’d be inclined to sell him.”

The trainer said the winner might be supplemented in the Middle Park, but otherwise he would be put away for next year.

Crowley completed his big race double on Moorhouse Lad in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free World Trophy for Hambleton trainer Bryan Smart and owner Ron Hull, who comes from the Doncaster area.

The runner up was Wi Dud, trained by neighbour Kevin Ryan, partnered by Alan Munro, only beaten a neck.

The Yorkshire one-two paid £97.60 for the exacta.

The winner may go for the Prix de l’Abbaye, the owner confirmed, adding: “He was out of form earlier in the season due to a few minor problems, including with his muscles, but we were encouraged by his run at Doncaster last week.”

Another who may head for that French race is Fullandby, Tim Etherington’s runner in the World Trophy. He missed the break and finished 12th, but only some four or five lengths behind the winner.

He turned out in rapid order on Tuesday to land the 5f conditions event at Beverley.

The trainer said: “I put him in the Prix de l’Abbaye to have a look. If he had won at Newbury we would definitely have gone for that and now we will have to think about it.”

A big race in the Diadem is now on the cards for the toughie, Knot In Wood, who stayed up in Scotland to land the sprint at Hamilton on Sunday. Mark Johnston took a treble there among his seven winners this week.

Willie Carson may not have won all those years ago at Ayr for James Bethell, but the inform Paul Fessey won for him at Catterick on Hartley, a 20-1 winner of one division of the maiden race. We spotted that this was bred by Middleham doyenne and neighbour, Mrs Lenny Peacock.

Howard Johnson had two winners on the level for his patrons, Grahame and Andrea Wylie, under their joint Transcend Bloodstock venture, including one at Catterick, while normal jumps service was resumed at Perth on Wednesday when Denis O’Regan won in their beige and black colours on Nine Stories, one to follow.

Tips: Today, Haydock: 2.0 Fesko; 2.35 Chocolicious (biggest danger, Keep Dancing); 3.10 Apache Ridge (biggest danger All Spin); 3.45 Dark Lane; 4.20 no DST area selection; 4.55 Opus Maximus; 5.25 Resounding Glory.

Tomorrow (if running): Ascot: 2.30 Jukebox Jury; 3.40 Bolodenka. Haydock: 2.25 Bollin Felix; 3.0 Confuchias.

The Week's Winners

Key: unless shown otherwise, all races are Flat on turf. NH = National Hunt (jumps); AW = all-weather Flat; ev = evening meeting; DH = dead heat; Hb = homebred by owner or connections; number in brackets after rider’s name indicates lbs apprentice allowance.

Thursday last week. – Ayr: Kyllachy Star (trained by Richard Fahey, at Musley Bank; owned by CBWS Partnership), ridden by Paul Hanagan; Tale Of Silver (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; Mrs I Gibson), PJ McDonald; Grimes Faith (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; Mrs Angie Bailey), Neil Callan; Keys Of Cyprus (David Nicholls, Sessay; The Beasley Gees), Adrian Nicholls.

Pontefract: Major Magpie (Michael Dods, Denton; Mrs Patsy Monk), Darryll Holland.

Friday. – Ayr: Hey Up Dad (M Dods; J N Blackburn), Tony Hamilton; Hotham (Noel Wilson, Flaxton; Far 2 Many Sues), Jamie Moriarty; Coleorton Choice (K Ryan; Coleorton Moor Racing), N Callan; Magic Cat (Karl Burke, Wensley; Hb, Ray Bailey), Andrew Elliott; Medici Pearl (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Ryedale Partners No 3), David Allan; Sphinx (Edwin Tuer, Great Smeaton; trainer), Paul Mulrennan.

Newmarket: Johnmanderville (K Burke; Jet Racing Partnership), Liam Jones.

Wolverhampton AW ev: Atabaas Allure (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Hb, Mrs R J Jacobs), Jean-Pierre Guillambert.

Saturday. – Ayr: Rising Prospect (George Moore, Middleham; Hb, Geoff & Sandra Turnbull), Eddie Ahern; Bolodenka (R Fahey; Enda Hunston), P Hanagan; Regal Parade (D Nicholls; Dab Hand Racing), William Carson (5); Game Lad (T Easterby; Hb, trainer), D Allan; Tarkheena Prince (A Swinbank; G H Bell), Robert Winston.

Catterick: Darcey (R Fahey; Hb, Raymond Cowie), T Hamilton; Hartley (James Bethell, Coverham; Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing), Paul Fessey; Lost Soldier Three (D Nicholls; Eamon Maher), Silvestre de Sousa; Eton Rifles (Howard Johnson, Billy Row; Transcend Bloodstock Llp), P Mulrennan; Trans Sonic (Alan Lockwood, Brawby; Mrs Lynne Lumley), Jamie Kyne (7).

Newbury: Lord Shanakill (K Burke; Mark T Gittins), Jim Crowley; Moorhouse Lad (Bryan Smart, Hambleton; Ron Hull), J Crowley.

Newmarket: Fantasy Explorer (John Quinn, Settrington; The Fantasy Fellowship), Pat Cosgrave.

Wolverhampton AW ev: A Big Sky Brewing (David Barron, Maunby; Trevor Boanas), Dean Heslop (7).

Sunday. – Hamilton: Count Paris (M Johnston; Hb, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum), Joe Fanning; Chosen One (B Smart; Ceffyl Racing), Tom Eaves; Quai D’Orsay (M Johnston; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum), Greg Fairley; Knot In Wood (R Fahey; Rhodes, Kenyon & Gill), P Hanagan; Always Bold (M Johnston; Always Trying Partnership), J Fanning; Offshore Anna (J Quinn; Colm McEvoy), Frederik Tylicki (5).

Monday. – Hamilton: Hit The Switch (R Fahey; Rob Lloyd Racing Ltd), T Hamilton; Sunley Sovereign (Ruth Carr, Stillington; David W Chapman), A Elliott; Surprise Pension (J Quinn; Mrs S Quinn), J Kyne (3); Moheeb (Ruth Carr; Michael Hill), A Elliott.

Leicester: Crackdown (M Johnston; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum), J Fanning.

Tuesday. – Beverley: Fullandby (Tim Etherington, Norton; Miss M Greenwood), G Fairley; Pondapie (Richard Whitaker, Scarcroft; Clipper Logistics), T Eaves; Jonny Lesters Hair (T Easterby; Habtons Baggie Rams), D Allan; Kudu Country (DH) (Tom Tate, Tadcaster; The Ivy Syndicate), Micky Fenton; Shaloo Diamond (R Whitaker; G B Bedford), Michael Stainton (3); Kingsholm (K Ryan; Riverside Racing), Miss Amy Ryan.

Sedgefield NH: Gulf Coast (Tom Walford, Sheriff Hutton; Mrs Mary & David Longstaff), Robert Walford; Numero Due (G Moore; J W Andrews), Barry Keniry; Breaking Storm (Kate Walton, Middleham; Yarm Racing Partnership), Campbell Gillies (7).

Wednesday. – Goodwood: Hearthstead Maison (DH) (M Johnston; Hearthstead Homes Ltd), Ryan Moore.

Kempton AW ev: Aladdin’s Lamp (M Johnston; Shiekh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum), Royston ffrench.

Perth NH: Nine Stories (H Johnson; Andrea & Graham Wylie), Denis O’Regan.

Redcar: Regal Lyric (T Tate; JMH Lifestyle Ltd), Tony Culhane; Bavarian Nordic (Ann Duffield, Constable Burton; Six Iron Partnership), Andrew Mullen (3); Top Jaro (David Barker, Scorton; trainer), T Hamilton; Ingleby Star (D Barron; Dave Scott), P Fessey; Apollo Shark (H Johnson; Fessey; Apollo Shark (H Johnson; Transcend Bloodstock Llp), R Winston.