THE BREEDERS’ CUP JuvenileTurf in America may beckon for Jukebox Jury, 8-1 impressive winner of the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot on Saturday – although those who backed the Mark Johnston runner feared the worst, as he broke slowly under Royston ffrench.

The favourite, Cityscape (Roger Charlton, Steve Drowne), looked set to win entering the straight, but ffrench found a good split about a furlong out.

He came wide and with a rattling run to collar his rival and conquer by three parts of a length – and in a course record time to boot. Racing Week was delighted, as we’d tipped him for you last week.

The winner of this Group 2 race gains an automatic entry for the American race, but the trainer will take his time making a decision, as owner Alan Spence would have to pay a supplement to enter him. He is also in the Dewhurst and the Racing Post Trophy, so options are open.

Johnston said: “We could not resist this step up in class and always thought he was capable at this level. He has a funny attitude, but definitely has the ability. We will take him home and discuss the Breeders’ Cup.”

Montjeu is his sire and two of that stallion’s offspring landed the Racing Post and went on the following year to win the Derby: Motivator and Authorized. On Saturday, Jukebox Jury was made 33-1 by the bookies for the 2009 Epsom Classic.

In the meantime, Johnston has rewarded ffrench with an American ride on Lovelace tomorrow in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. This of course won a Group 2 in Baden-Baden last month. Johnston’s assistant, Jock Bennett, said: “Lovelace went out to the States last Friday and is in good order. He likes to run off a strong pace, so the American style of racing should hopefully suit him.”

On Sunday, the Middleham team scooped the valuable JNB Associates Nursery at Ascot with Liberation, Richard Hills in the saddle, at 100-30. Hills had also won for Johnston lastThursday onTakaatuf at Pontefract.

Liberation’s Ascot win by five lengths was even more impressive than his stablemate the previous day and Bennett said: ‘Mark brought him here for more experience as he’d only had two runs. He looks the finished article now and his target is the Tattersalls Timeform Million at Newmarket at the weekend.”

In the Sunday Ascot opener, a mile and a half handicap, the stable’s runner, Drill Sergeant, under Greg Fairley, repaid each-way support at 12-1. Fairley is listed to ride Liberation in the Newmarket race tomorrow.

Meanwhile, up in Musselburgh, a typically cunning Joe Fanning ride brought another win, riding from the front on Debonnaire. She was headed in the straight by Hee Hall, the favourite, but the Middleham man was not for losing and passed her close home.

Richard Fahey and Paul Hanagan shone on the Chester Saturday card, taking a brace, Albaqaa and Wyatt Earp both winning.

A sixth course victory at Pontefract last Thursday by Mr Wolf was an emotional affair, as the winner was bred and formerly owned by Peter Asquith, who died suddenly this summer. Trainer David Barker paid tribute to his late owner: “It was Peter who got me going, and this win is dedicated to him. He would have been a very proud man if he’d been here today.”

Jedd O’Keeffe landed a 6f maiden with Big Apple Boy, Andrew Elliott up, one which should go into the notebooks for future successes.

Kevin Ryan and Geoff Oldroyd were among the Friday Haydock winners.

Ruth Carr has found recent trips north of the border profitable: the previous Sunday she had her first double at Hamilton and this week, won with Top Jaro at Musselburgh, running in her grandfather David Chapman’s colours, worn by Duran Fentiman.

Fentiman had a double, also winning for Paul Midgley on Spirit Of Coniston. The lad was then just ten short of losing his claiming allowance.

Fellow apprentice and Middleham lass, Kelly Harrison, deputised for Danny Tudhope, who was ill, to win for Scots trainer Jim Goldie on Jane Of Arc.

David Nicholls’ racing club had a winner thanks to claimer Nick Lawes, who partnered Minority Report.

Bryan Smart’s winner, Wells Lyrical was partnered by the inform Tom Eaves.

Both Robin Bastiman and Richard Fahey sent out winning runners on Monday all the way south in Brighton, while Tuesday winners at Southwell’s all-weather track included Ryan, Mick Easterby and nephew Tim. Frederick Tylicki shone again on Alan Swinbank’s winner, Merchant Of Dubai.

Kelly Harrison’s good form continued at Newcastle onWednesday, when she won on Bill Ratcliffe’s Guto. David Allan is also in a rich seam of form and he won for Brian Ellison on Barkass.

Bryan Smart was the man of the day, winning at Gosforth Park with Prime Mood, Tom Eaves in the saddle, and at Nottingham with Enderby Spirit, Richard Mullen up.

The former holds an entry tomorrow in the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy, while the latter may try for the Dewhurst, said part owner John Walsh.

This weekend is for many the highlight of the Flat season, with the Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket, the Arc meeting at Longchamp and Redcar’s big race.

At headquarters today, Kevin Ryan has Jobe in the Group 1 Middle Park, but in a classy field, Neil Callan may not get one more towards his seasonal century – he was only four short after Tuesday’s win.

Johnston has Love Galore in the Godolphin Stakes and Jamie Spencer booked. However, Tajweed (Richard Hills up) has a better chance in the handicap which follows.

Mick Kinane is listed for Nahoodh, Johnston’s entry in the Group 1 Sun Chariot at Newmarket tomorrow. Fairley is down for Drumfire or Dubai’s Touch (and others well down the handicap) for the Cambridgeshire.

At Longchamp tomorrow, good old Welsh Emperor (Tom Tate) holds an entry in the Prix de la Foret, in which he has been second for the past two years. Blythe Knight (John Quinn) is entered in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

Sunday’s Prix de l’Abbaye has heaps of DST-area entries, from Borderlescott (Bastiman) and last week’s winner Fullandby (Tim Etherington) to three of Ryan’s, two of Smart’s and two also of Dandy Nicholls’. Ryan also has African Skies in the Marcel Boussac.

We say to all the Longchamp runners, “Bonne chance, tout le monde de Yorkshire!”

On the jumps front, the Howard Johnson-Wylie machine gathered more pace. Denis O’Regan won in the familiar beige and black colours on Sunday at Market Rasen on Indian Groom and at Sedgefield on Tuesday in the beginners’ chase aboard Cool Operator. This is versatile, as he had already won a point-to-point and novice hurdle.

Graham Lee, Ferdy Murphy’s stable jockey who has been off for most of a year because of injuries, is due to return to the saddle today at Hexham.

He said: “I am feeling 100 per cent, I’m fully fit, the batteries are re-charged, and I can’t wait to get going again. Obviously it has got me down to have missed so much of the year, but I have now put all that behind me and I’m just looking forward to getting among the winners again.”

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. – Pontefract: Big Apple Boy (trained by Jedd O’Keeffe, at Coverham; owned by Highbeck Racing), ridden by Andrew Elliott; Mr Wolf (David Barker, Scorton; Andew Turton & trainer), Tony Hamilton; Takaatuf (Mark Johnston, Middleham; Hamdan Al Maktoum), Richard Hills Friday. – Haydock: Cashleen (Kevin Ryan, Hambleton; L Rutherford Mrs R G Hillen Mrs J Ryan), Paul Mulrennan; Blue Jet (Richard Whitaker, Scarcroft; Country Lane Partnership), Tom Eaves; Just Bond (Geoff Oldroyd, Brawby; R C Bond), PJ McDonald.

Wolverhampton AW ev: Kingsholm (K Ryan; Riverside Racing), Jamie Spencer Saturday. – Ascot: Jukebox Jury (M Johnston; A D Spence), Royston ffrench.

Chester: Albaqaa (Richard Fahey, Musley Bank; Mrs Josephine Tattersall), Paul Hanagan; Wyatt Earp (R Fahey; Los Bandidos Racing), P Hanagan.

Great Leighs AW ev: Desert Falls (R Whitaker; Hb, J Barry Pemberton), Dean McKeown.

Market Rasen NH: Indian Groom (Howard Johnson, Billy Row; Andrea & Graham Wylie), Denis O’Regan.

Sunday. – Ascot: Liberation (M Johnston; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum), R Hills.

Musselburgh: Spirit Of Coniston (Paul Midgley, Westow; P O’Gara & N Kelly), Duran Fentiman (3); Debonnaire (M Johnston; Ali Saeed), Joe Fanning; Top Jaro (Ruth Carr, Stillington; David W Chapman), D Fentiman (3); Wells Lyrical (Bryan Smart, Hambleton; M Barber), T Eaves; Minority Report (David Nicholls, Sessay; Dandy Nicholls Racing Club), Nick Lawes (7).

Monday. – Brighton: Conjecture (Robin Bastiman, Cowthorpe; The Mc- Master Springford Partnership), Pat Cosgrave; Obe Brave (R Fahey; Mrs J Penman), Jamie Moriarty.

Tuesday. – Sedgefield NH: Luccombe Bay (John Quinn, Settrington; Hb, Mrs M L Luck), Jack Doyle; Cool Operator (H Johnson; Andrea & Graham Wylie), D O’Regan.

Southwell AW: Plotting (K Ryan; Ms Charlotte Musgrave), N Callan; Majuro (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Woodford Group plc), Graham Gibbons; Captain Dunne (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Middleham Park Racing XV), David Allan; Merchant Of Dubai (Alan Swinbank, Melsonby; Highland Racing 2), Frederik Tylicki (5).

Wednesday. – Newcastle: Guto (Bill Ratcliffe, Wensley; trainer), Kelly Harrison (5); Prime Mood (B Smart; Prime Equestrian), T Eaves; Barkass (Brian Ellison, Norton; Jelly Fish), D Allan.

Nottingham: Enderby Spirit (B Smart), Richard Mullen.