TODAY, the crowds will flock to Middleham for their annual open day, and get a chance to see the equine stars – and among them will be Cerium, who finished a very decent fifth in The Grand National behind 100-1 winner Mon Mome.

Cerium’s achievement of coming home fifth in the world’s greatest horse race should be upgraded as he completed the second circuit of the Aintree marathon with a fractured skull, after getting a kick from a fallen horse at the water jump.

Cerium is trained at Cappall Lodge by Paul Murphy, who was keen to have another crack at the race with the eight-year- old, saying: “Next season he will aimed for the National again as he took to the fences like a duck to water.”

At Kate Walton’s Sharp Hill Farm today you can see Sitting Tennant, who came home a 66- 1 winner of the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last Saturday. Sitting Tennant was given an enterprising ride by Walton’s son-in-law Richie McGrath, the six-year-old looks to have a bright future over hurdles next season.

At Karl Burke’s Spigot Lodge stables, Derby entry Popmurphy will be on show, while Mark Johnston’s Kingsley House stables are always very popular on the open day.

Howard Johnson’s horses also are in rude health at present.

Johnson has enjoyed a fantastic week, starting off with Killyglen winning at Aintree last Friday in the Grade 2 Mildmay Novices Chase.

Shortly afterwards, up at Musselburgh, Don’t Stop Me Now was successful under Patrick Donaghy, who looks great value for his five-pound claim.

At Hexham on Saturday, Johnson saddled an amazing four winners with Fortysecond Street, Bleu Pois, Percussionist and Malakai all doing the business under stable jockey Denis O’Regan.

The Johnson bandwagon moved on to Kelso on Monday and the Crook-based handler was in double form with Professor Higgins and Doeslessthanme.

Micky Hammond was also successful at the Borders track with Industrial Star, who came home with over four lengths to spare under Leyburn-based jockey Barry Keniry.

Rambling Minster, who disappointed in The Grand National, might well be finished for the season, but his trainer Keith Reveley and son James certainly haven’t, and they combined to win the seller at Sedgefield on Tuesday with Can’t Remember.

The opening race at the Durham track went to Scale Bank for Alan Swinbank and Jockey Brian Hughes. Hughes was in double form later in the day when he rode Polar Gale to victory for John Wade who trains only a stone’s throw from the track.

Wade’s well-known maroon and white colours were back in the winner’s enclosure in the last race when Gamma Velorum, trained by Chris Crant, won the Handicap Hurdle. Also on Tuesday, Pontefract got their season under way with an eight-race card.

Maunby trainer David Barron introduced a smart newcomer in the shape of Ingleby Lady, who ran out an easy winner under jockey Philip Makin.

Popular Middleham handler Andy Crook had his first winner in 11 months at Nottingham on Wednesday with All In The Red.

The four-year-old came home at odds of 33-1 and, in doing so, broke the track record over ten furlongs.