RUSS GARRITTY wiped away five weeks of disappointment to cajole reluctant hero Issyin to victory at Wetherby yesterday. Garritty, who went on to score on Shining Edge and complete a 34 to 1 double, was back in action for only the second day after cracking a bone in his arm when Sir Peter Lely fell in the Great Yorkshire Chase.

He showed that he had lost none of his skills as he persuaded the faint-hearted Issyin to defeat seven rivals in the Crossley Handicap Chase. Without a victory since last May, Issyin stops quickly when he hits the front but Garritty ensured victory this time by seizing a healthy advantage at the last.

Issyin's stride was noticeably shortening on the run-in but he had gained enough of a lead to hang on by 1 1/2 lengths from Popeshall.

"This horse is a conman and Garritty is the only one that gets on with him well. He's done a great job," said trainer Mick Easterby.

Easterby's nephew Tim is responsible for Shining Edge, who was four lengths too good for the favourite Centaur Express in the Bilton Handicap Hurdle.

Britain's oldest trainer, Ken Oliver (82), has a useful prospect on his hands in Howcleuch who put on sound display of bumping to collect the Wetherby Novices' National Handicap Chase.

Potter's Bay hit back at the knockers with a comfortable success in division one of the Racing Channel Novices' Hurdle.

"He has been difficult and in three or four races it's been a case of teaching him to settle," said trainer David Nicholson's assistant Alan King.

Newcastle United have had their hopes of landing the Premiership severly damaged but the club's director Douglas Hall has at least experienced success in racing.

Erzadjan, carrying his black and white colours, completed a hat trick with a facile victory in the Montagu Handicap Hurdle. Just a few hours before Newcastle's disappointing 2-1 defeat at Blackburn, Hall had watched his horse Welsh Mill win over the same course.