THIRSK’S card last Saturday was hit with torrential rain but it didn’t dampen Michael Dods’ joy after watching his Osteopathic Remedy come home in front in the feature handicap from stable companion Kiwi Bay.

The winner, who seems to save his best for this track, was given a typically cool ride by Philip Makin and afterwards the winning trainer said: “The rain has just come in time. He is so enthusiastic about the game and I knew he was coming right at home. Phil has given him a great ride. It will be Ripon next for him.”

On Sunday, the attention was turned to the jumpers at Market Rasen and Micky Hammond was on the mark in the handicap with Master Of The Hall, who came home in front under the yards conditional Joe Colliver.

The winning trainer said afterwards: “Master Of The Hall obviously likes the course and it suited us the way the race was run. There´s a chance he could come back here in a fortnight over a fence, but then I might suggest to the owners he has a bit of a break. He deserves a rest, as I´ve been quite hard on him.”

The new week got off with a card at Ripon on Monday and Karl Burke sent out the winner of the opening two-year-old race, with Little Lady Katie coming home in front under Joey Haynes at a massive price of 50-1.

While the result seemed a bit of a shock at first, the trainer wasn’t surprised, saying: “That wasn´t a total shock though I was surprised by the price. She had improved for her first run, she had definitely progressed physically and she had shown it in her work.”

The easiest winner of the day came in the finale when Opera Fan galloped clear for Mark Johnston and Joe Fanning, the winning team who must still be on a high from a fabulous Glorious Goodwood the previous week.

On Tuesday, there was a local double header as both Catterick and Ripon raced, mind, the results were similar to the day before.

The feature race at Catterick, a staying handicap, was won in easy style by the Mark Johnston trained Special Fighter who was following up his recent Beverley success.

Once again, the ever reliable, Joe Fanning was the man doing the steering and the winning trainer was on hand, saying: “He´s going well at the moment. He stays well and could step up again as Joe says he stays all day. He´s in again at Haydock on Friday.”

The biggest cheer of the day came after the six furlong handicap when course specialist Solar Spirit got up close home under a strong ride from Robert Winston.

This horse was trained to perfection by Tracy Waggott, and she was delighted with the win, saying: “I´ve had this race in mind, because he won it last year.

“He loves it round here and that´s five he´s won here now.” News broke on Wednesday afternoon that Fergal Lynch is allowed to ride in Britain for an initial one-year period, which was confirmed by the British Horseracing Authority.

Lynch, 36, admitted to stopping a horse, Bond City, from winning at Ripon in August 2004, supplying inside information about six of his rides, and associating with the disqualified Miles Rodgers.

The former champion apprentice was fined £50,000 in July 2009, and agreed not to ride in Britain for at least a year as part of a plea bargain agreement with the BHA.

He has been granted permission to ride in Britain under BHA rules as an overseas jockey, initially for a probationary period.