YOU can study form and take all the advice in the world but, sometimes, it really is just 'all in the name'.

Paul Robert York, who hails from Scunthorpe, owns three racehorses whose names all start with the word 'York'.

The last of his trio, Yorkidding, completed a memorable 283-1 treble by winning the Groceryaid Chairman's Charity Cup yesterday on the Knavesmire.

York's other horses - Yorkee Mo Sabee (7-2) and Yorkindred Spirit (9-1) - had also won at Carlisle and Yarmouth, respectively, in the last few days.

No wonder his mother Jill and brother Lee were so happy as they thanked jockey PJ McDonald in the winning enclosure. Paul, unfortunately, was away on business in Hong Kong.

Trained by Middleham-based Mark Johnston, Yorkidding had finished half a length ahead of Forgotten Hero to win at odds of 9-1.

Irish jockey McDonald, meanwhile, had ridden his 500th flat winner on English soil, earlier, by steering Rainbow Mist to victory in the second race, The Garbutt & Elliott Stakes (Nursery Handicap)

McDonald, stable jockey for trainer Ann Duffield at Leyburn, had finished two and a quarter lengths ahead of second placed Tahoo.

"It's all about making a living," he said afterwards. "You want to keep the people you are riding for happy and make a nice living. Anything else that comes along is a nice bonus."

Commenting on McDonald's milestone, Duffield said: "I am so glad he reached it for us because he has been our stable jockey for the last four years and he is an important part of the team."

Around 12,000 attended the first day of the John Smith's Cup meeting - and enjoyed mild, if blustery, conditions. Tomorrow (Saturday), if the sun shines, the turn out should be closer to 40,000 for the running of the famous John Smith's Cup.

Naafer, trained by William Haggas and ridden by Irish jockey Martin Harley, had obliged in the opener (The Coopers Marquees Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Stakes) to give favourite backers a profitable start.

The third race was a personal triumph for jockey Connor Beasley who, just 12 months earlier, had suffered potentially career threatening injuries in a fall at Wolverhampton.

Beasley, who was sidelined for eight months and still has six plates in his skull, marked the anniversary with victory on the 8-1 shot Alpha Delphini in The 188bet.co.uk Stakes.

"I was in a hospital bed this time last year but the future is looking bright. I always had good drive and lot of support behind me," he said.

Alpha Delphini, trained by Bryan Smart at Hambleton, beat Gamesome by a head.

Istanbul Bey provided a second winner for the Haggas' team in The Raylor's - 70 years in York Stakes (Handicap).

Jockey Ben Curtis veered off line through the final furlong but still won by an impressive five lengths.

Veteran trainer Eric Alston scored his first win at York in nearly seven years when Jason Hart saddled Ridge Ranger to victory in the feature race of the afternoon, The188BET Summer Stakes (Group 3).

The 9-1 shot finished one and three quarter lengths ahead of Besharah, which so nearly completed a treble for Haggas, to scoop the £34,000 first prize.

It was jockey Hart's first group winner and the filly is now headed to Goodwood for the Stewards Cup.

Trainer Johnston, meanwhile, claimed his second winner of the meeting in the final race when Dawaa, ridden by Louis Steward, won The Acturis Apprentice Stakes (Handicap).