Catterick winners for title rivals.

Byline: Stable Gossip

Jamie spencer and Robert Winston were on the mark at Catterick yesterday as both riders refused to give an inch in the race for the jockeys' championship.

Spencer was successful aboard High Command in The Eat, Sleep At The Nag's Head, Pickhill Maiden Stakes, while Winston maintained his six-win advantage an hour later on Taboor in the 'Redcar' Handicap.

The pendulum initially swung in Spencer's favour after he brought his tally to 90 winners with a rousing performance in the seven-furlong contest.

Ed Dunlop's colt, who was sent off a 4-9 favourite, finished an eyecatching runner-up over six furlongs at Windsor on his last outing, and consolidated upon that display with a pleasing performance this time around.

The son of Galileo was always in touch with the early pacesetters, but did not have it all his own way as Mark Johnston's newcomer Lightning Affair strode into a commanding position once long-time leader At The Bar fell by the wayside.

However, Spencer and his partner moved up the gears on the run-in and won by a neck from Lightning Affair, who in turn was five lengths further clear of Zahara Joy.

"He really appreciated the extra trip and did it in good style," explained Spencer, who came desperately close to a double when Football Crazy was pipped on the line by Graham Island (12-1) in the catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap.

Dunlop's travelling head lad Robin Trevor-Jones revealed High Command will now be stepped up to a mile next time out.

"We've got no option now after the way he stayed on just then," he said.

"He was travelling well all the time and I think that was a good win because there was a word for Mark Johnston's horse beforehand and he looks a good type."

Winston moved on to 96 winners for the season when Taboor (12-1) got up in the closing strides to outpoint Rosie's Result and third-placed Count Cougar by two necks.

Adrian Nicholls picked up a two-day ban (August 13 and 14) for improper riding on the latter.

Tom Eaves also made a welcome return to the winner's enclosure when seen to good effect aboard Court Of Appeal in the "Wetherby Steeplechases" Claiming Stakes.

It was only Eaves' second day back in action after sustaining a wrist injury seven weeks ago, but he looked on top of his game with an intelligent ride on the 10-11 favourite.

The young rider came from off a crawling pace in the 12-furlong event to collar long-time leader Tomasino beneath the shadow of the post.

"I'm really pleased for Tom, he deserved this," said winning trainer Brian Ellison. "He's not lazy and has been keeping himself fit by running and stuff like that. He's done well to get back as quickly as he has done."

The Jedd O'Keeffe-trained Alani sprang a 20-1 surprise when winning the opening "Janadriyah" Selling Stakes.

Joe Fanning was allowed to dictate proceedings for most of the two-mile marathon and even though his mount had only been placed once in her previous nine starts, she clearly relished the moderate pace.

Seven-pound claimer Andrew Elliott took the closing 'Catterick Bridge' Handicap on Borodinsky (16-1), although he was subsequently hit with a two-day ban (August 13 and 14) for careless riding.