Barton gave the Great Habton near Malton trainer Tim Easterby his first success at the Cheltenham Festival when he romped to victory in yesterday's Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle.

Ridden by Hovingham jockey Lorcan Wyer and owned by Stan Clarke, Barton, the 2-1 favourite, won by nine lengths from Artadoin Lad with 100-1 shot Winston Run third.

It had not been a perfect race by Barton but he showed a turn of pace with two to jump which eclipsed his rivals.

It had been 13 years since the Easterby family's last triumph at the Festival. Tim's father Peter plundered 13 Festival wins, including a trio of Champion Hurdles with Saucy Kit, Sea Pigeon and Night Hurse and two Gold Cups with Alverton and Little Owl.

The era was brought to a close when Jobroke landed the 1986 County Hurdle but yesterday Tim Easterby saw the drought end.Wyer's only previous Festival victory was as an amateur on Omerta in 1986.

He said after yesterday's triumph: "It should have been the Champion Hurdle" and Ladbrokes issued Barton with a 10-1 quote for next year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Barton, who joined the Easterby stable when Charlie Brooks quit training, had won his previous five starts for the Great Habton team.

Easterby and Wyer were today chasing a second Cheltenham win with Simply Gifted in the Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle.

Call Equiname will take his unbeaten chasing record to Aintree next month with trainer Paul Nicholls keeping his fingers crossed that the horse's suspect legs continue to stand up to the strain.

The trainer, who had his first Festival success on Tuesday, celebrated a magic moment in his career when Call Equiname emerged triumphant after a stirring tussle in yesterday's Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Leg problems have restricted the nine-year-old's appearances over the years but they have failed to diminish his talent.

With Mick Fitzgerald riding an inspired race, Call Equiname was able to deny the favourite Edredon Bleu with the northern challenger Direct Route a close third.

Nick Dundee's racing career could be over following a serious injury sustained in a fall in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Edward O'Grady's seven-year-old, the 5-4 favourite, was injured when crashing at the third from home

Nick Dundee was taken to Lambourn's Equine Valley Hospital for X-rays and vet Paul Ferguson said: "I would have to be pessimistic about his future racing career but he will undergo further tests and we should know more in the next day or two"

Yankie Lord to rule the day

by Tom O'Ryan

After three fantastic days at Cheltenham it is back to basics tomorrow at Fakenham and Folkestone.

Yankie Lord, the mount of Graham Bradley, looks the one they will all have to beat in the Graham Building Supplies Handicap Chase at Fakenham.

The Simon Sherwood-trained gelding, who missed all of last season, has had only three outings this term.

Pulled-up on his reappearance, Yankie Lord went on to score by 11 lengths from River Bay over two and a half miles on his next outing at Huntington.

On his latest start, back at the same course, he tackled three miles and after attempting to lead from pillar-to-post he finishing a nine lengths second to Smarty.

Yankie Lord reverts to an extended two miles and five furlongs tomorrow and promises to take plenty of beating.

The Tote Showcase Handicap Hurdle offers Misconduct an ideal opportunity to complete a hat-trick of wins.

Merrita Jones' five-year-old has improved out of all recognition in recent weeks and has notched easy wins at Folkestone and Catterick.

She has since taken a hefty hike in the ratings but still makes plenty of appeal in this two-miler.

At Folkestone, Norman Williamson, who has had mixed fortunes on the first two days of the Cheltenham Festival, can win the Hospice On Hill Handicap Chase aboard Buckland Lad.

Gardie Grissell's eight-year-old is nothing if not consistent and ran out a determined winner from the odds-on Native Fling at Newbury last time.

Buckland Lad is a previous winner over this course and distance and is entitled to the Nap vote.

Tomorrow's tips

FAKENHAM

2.20..................Court Joker

2.50...............Knock Leader

3.20..................Yankie Lord

3.50...................Misconduct

4.20.........................Mr Dic

4.50...................Busted Flat

FOLKESTONE

2.00...................Miss Ondee

2.30........................Montroe

3.00...............Pietro Bembo

3.30....Buckland Lad (Nap)

4.00...............Double Strike

4.30.......................Total Joy

5.00..............Brockton Glen

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.