WITH the Jumps season coming to a close last Saturday, the Flat really is getting into full swing and there was a full house to watch a competitive card at Ripon last Saturday.

Proclaim won for the second Saturday in a row for Mark Johnston in the opening 6f handicap, supplementing his win at Doncaster the week before.

The sprint race 35 minutes later produced a cracking finish, a welcome win for Kyzer Chief and Ronny Barr, who did well to overcome a poor draw to win under a strong ride for Kelly Harrison who continues to impress in the saddle.

Even though there were only four runners, the best race off the day was arguably the Conditions race in which Classic Punch was a decisive winner under the excellent Paul Mulrennan who lives only a few miles from the track.

Mulrennan, who rode the six year-old for David Elsworth, was given a soft lead in front and came home at the odds of 3-1.

With the Jumps rounding their season off at Sandown on Saturday in fine style, it was less than 24 hours before it got going again at Wetherby. Micky Hammond wasted no time getting on the score sheet for the new term, as he won the first race with San Deng, who was given a strong ride by Barry Keniry.

Another Middleham trainer was successful in the last race when Moonwalking romped home for Jedd O’Keeffe and Graham Lee.

The next day,and further up the A1, Newcastle staged a seven-race card and there was a shock result in the first race when McCormack came home clear in the first race at odds of 66-1 for Loftus handler Tina Jackson.

Geoff Harker had a welcome winner when Ace Of Spies won the six furlong handicap. The former inmate of Mark Johnston’s had been running well of late and was given a positive ride by Silvestre de Sousa.

Martin Lane was another jockey to shine in the saddle when he rode Johnmanderville to victory in the mile handicap for his boss Karl Burke. Kevin Ryan was also on the score sheet with Tamagin, before Mark Johnston kept up his good run when Gilded Age came home in front in the Maiden race.

The weather wasn’t very kind to Sedgefield on Tuesday, when they staged their big race of the season, The Durham National Handicap Chase. However a bit of rain didn’t stop a competitive race which was won in good style by Ferdy Murphy’s Lucky Nellerie who led every yard of the way in the long distance race under Mick O’Connell.

The last race at Sedgefield was run under the fast fading light, but supporters of Alan Swanbank’s bumper horses yielded yet another winner when Roses came home in front for rider Ollie Greenall in his quest for the amateur title.