THIRSK trainer David Nicholls is hurtling towards the seasonal finishing line like one of his star sprinters.

'Dandy' has had a tremendous year and scored again at York yesterday when 6-4 favourite Eton won the Garbutt and Elliott Handicap.

The master handler of sprinters proved he can pick winners at any distance when his son, Adrian, guided Eton to victory over a mile and two furlongs on Knavesmire.

He picked up Eton, a modest hurdler, from Venetia Williams and has transformed him to a winner. The six-year-old has now won four of his last five races but only just got home from Northside Lodge (7-1) yesterday by a head.

"If there had been another stride then I think he may well have been beaten," said Nicholls senior.

Stillington handler David Chapman celebrated breaking the course record when 11-2 favourite Paddywack stormed home over five furlongs to land the Norwich Handicap on firm ground.

An up-and-coming apprentice and a horse written off by many proved the stars of the show in the £11,776 Castlegate Rated Stakes.

The jockey also landed the Nursery Handicap with Secret Formula in a tight finish from the Mick Channon-trained BA Highflyer, while Willie Supple produced a late surge to get Dazzling Bay in to third for Great Habton trainer Tim Easterby.

Bottom weight Red Opal (5-1) got the verdict under champion jockey Keiren Fallon to land the Classified Stakes in a blanket finish.

He just got home from Pedro Jack and Soba Jones although any one of eight of the 13 runners were in with a shout in the closing stages.

Updated: 10:48 Saturday, October 12, 2002