IT MIGHT be a bit early to start making hay, but Dandy Nicholls is training plenty of winners while the sun shines.

The Sessay trainer travelled across the Irish Sea with three horses to race at Naas on Saturday and, amazingly, all three were successful under his son, Adrian.

Inxile got the ball rolling in the Listed race before Fol Hollow and Joseph Henry made it a day to remember for the pair.

Mark Johnston has also made a cracking start to the turf season with plenty of winners.

The Middleham trainer was on the scoresheet at Thirsk’s first meeting of the year last Friday with Green Agenda, who ran out an easy winner for Joe Fanning.

Johnston and Fanning also teamed up at Doncaster on Saturday evening with Chilly Filly, who won the maiden over one mile, four furlongs.

Earlier in the evening, Johnston also saddled Proclaim to victory in the three year-old six furlong handicap under Royston Ffrench.

Ffrench travelled south to Lingfield on Sunday to ride another winner for the Kingsley House stable.

Keenes Day was the horse this time visiting the winner’s enclosure after the staying handicap and looks one to follow in the coming weeks.

Another horse with a very bright future is Hitchens, who romped home on his first start for David Barron in the condition stakes at Thirsk on Saturday.

Phil Makin did the steering on the talented four-year-old and it’s unlikely we have seen the best of him just yet.

Hitchens was the second winner of the day for Makin as he was triumphant on Destinys Dream 35 minutes earlier for Tracey Waggott.

Looking back at the jumps action over the last few days, West Witton trainer Ferdy Murphy has his horses in great nick at the moment.

Elzahaan was successful for the stable up at Ayr last Friday under Keith Mercer, who was deputising for the suspended Graham Lee.

Elzahaan was winning her third race of the season for her popular owner Ian Todd, who has a couple in training with Murphy.

Stable jockey Graham Lee was back in action on Sunday and was seen to good effect on De Boitron in the handicap chase at Stratford.

Murphy and Lee also teamed up successfully at Hexham on Monday with Nouveau Maire and another French-bred, Quincy Des Pictons, won for the trainer and jockey combination at Perth on Wednesday.

Pontefract staged a sevenrace card on Monday, with the highlight being the Pontefract Marathon Handicap.

It was won in good style by Mr Crystal for Middleham trainer Mickey Hammond.

Also on the scoresheet on the same card was Advanced for handler Kevin Ryan.

It was the first time the sixyear- old had visited the winner’s enclosure since winning the Ayr Gold Cup two years ago.

Catterick had a packed crowd for their meeting on Wednesday and local trainer, and birthday boy, David Barker had a decent winner with Kersivay under Tony Hamilton.

It was a good day for the local trainers as Alan Swinbank took the seven furlong handicap with Rising Kheleyf under P J McDonald.

Michael Dods was also successful with Compton Ford in the sprint under the in-form Phil Makin.

Tomorrow is the last day of the jumps season and trainer Ferdy Murphy has a decent chance of going out on a high note with his star horse Kalahari King at Sandown.

An easy winner at Aintree last time out, he should go very close in the 2.35.

Ripon also race tomorrow, first race of seven due off at 2.20.

Mark Johnston has a couple of interesting runners and should have a winner with Signaller in the maiden race at 5.10.

Wetherby kick-start the new jumps season on Sunday with a seven-race card and Graham Lee is always worth following at the West Yorkshire track.

Next week is again very busy with local action.

Flat racing takes place at Newcastle on Monday before Sedgefield races over the sticks on Tuesday evening, first race of six due off at 5.50.

On Wednesday, Pontefract race again and, 24 hours later, it’s back to Redcar for their second meeting of the year, where they have a seven-race card due off at 2pm.