SEDGEFIELD staged a sevenrace card on Tuesday and not for the first time this year Richie McGrath was the star of the show, riding a fantastic double.

The Bedale-based rider kicked off with a win on the Irish- trained mare Radharc Na Mara in the 3mi 3f maiden chase. Radharc Na Mara, trained by Jim Dreaper, ran out an easy winner due to many of his rivals crashing out on the way around.

The trainers’ son, Tom Dreaper, who rode many winners on the northern circuit when based in Leyburn, said afterwards: “She has done it well there and might come back to Ayr in a couple of weeks for a novices hurdle.”

Later in the day McGrath was back in the winner’s enclosure on the debutant Matthew Riley, who ran out a facile winner of the bumper.

Trained in Middleham by Kate Walton, the delighted rider said: “It’s been a hard winter with the weather but luckily the last couple of weeks have been great.

“I know Kate is my motherin- law but she is also a very good trainer and we have a super working relationship, she had Matthew Riley in great condition for today.”

Andy Crook also struck for Middleham trainers at Sedgefield with Sea Cliff who was having his first start for Crook after being bought cheaply out of the Jonjo O’Neill yard recently.

The seven-year-old could still be well handicapped and the popular Crook can get him to win again.

Kevin Ryan and new stable jockey Philip Makin have got off to the very best start and the duo enjoyed a further three more winners in the last few days starting off with a double at Southwell on Tuesday with Steed and Arganil both coming home in front before Pelmanism scored in the famous Guy Reed colours at Lingfield the following day.

Musselburgh also raced on Wednesday and, once again, Kate Walton and Richie Mc- Grath were again on the mark with Everaard, who scored at 9-1.

Never far away, Everaard also looks the type to win again for inform connections.

John Wade has also got his horses in great nick at present and he was responsible for the first two home in the feature handicap chase with the well backed favourite Tyrone House, under James Reveley, leading home Persian Prince.

Very few meetings pass in the north without Howard Johnson being on the score sheet and Musselburgh was no different as he took the concluding bumper with Felix Yonger who was having his first start with Johnson, having run once before when trained in Ireland.

Johnson will be glad his horses are running so well ahead of Doncaster’s big two day fixture which gets under way this afternoon.

Johnson will be looking for a big run today from Professor Higgins who runs in the two mile three furlong handicap chase at 3.40pm. The eightyear- old is coming back from a lay-off and should go well but the Sky Bet Chase tomorrow is the one Johnson has a real live chance of taking with Door Boy.

The Listed race, run over three miles, is due off at 3.20pm and, interestingly, Johnson has snapped up the services of Sam Thomas on Door Boy who has got a nice racing weight of 10st 7lbs.

Among Door Boy’s dangers is the Malcolm Jefferson trained Kings Fontaine who is looking for his fifth straight win. Many people think he could make up into a Grand National horse next season including his Jockey Graham Lee who is aiming for his third straight win on the progressive chaser.

Howard Johnson’s stable star Tidal Bay is also in action tomorrow afternoon down at Cheltenham in the Argento Chase at 2.30pm.

Although the ten-year-old ran a gallant race last time out at Haydock, preference is for Time For Rupert, a cracking novice chaser and many people’s banker for the Cheltenham Festival in March.