STRATHAIRD helped the Middleham Park Racing syndicate reach a marvellous milestone at Wetherby Racecourse.

The three-year-old not only gave Middleham trainer Pat Haslam victory in the opening Turf TV juvenile novices' selling hurdle, but handed the syndicate team their 30th winner of the season. But the 8-1 shot had to work hard to do it, just holding off Haslam's other runner, Bluto, by a neck in the two-mile event.

Managing director Tim Palin said the victory had given the partnership a record number of winners in one season.

Course specialist Manbow was beaten to the punch as Notanotherdonkey dominated the totesport.com handicap chase.

Middleham trainer Micky Hammond's nine-year-old had picked up his last four wins at Wetherby but was unable to match Notanotherdonkey, the well-backed 15-8 favourite, who made just about all of the running to win by two lengths.

Traprain could be on his way to Cheltenham after the 6-1 shot was a good winner of the totescoop 6 handicap hurdle.

The five-year-old, trained by Declan Carroll, took the honours after sprinting past 5-2 favourite Hernando's Boy between the last two fences.

After the two-and-a-half length victory, Carroll said: "I think there is a lot more to come from him yet. We are pleased to have him and he was a bit miserable when he first came, but he is enjoying himself now. The Coral Cup at Cheltenham is the long-term target."

Elsewhere, Super Road Train justified favourite backers when cruising to victory in the Freeclaim IDC CIU Raceday handicap chase. The 6-4 favourite, saddled by Bingley's Sue Smith, saw off Farington Lodge by 14 lengths after surging down the home straight.

There were also wins for Neutrino (15-2) in the New Bramham Hall for Conferences and Banqueting novices handicap chase and Star Beat (15-2) in the Book Your Christmas Party at Wetherby novices' hurdle, while Valentines Lady (10-11 fav) took the Mr and Mrs Gould Birthday Celebration mares only novices' hurdle.

Meanwhile, at Cheltenham, L'Antartique (13-2) won the Paddy Power Gold Cup for North Yorkshire trainer Ferdy Murphy.

In a race overshadowed by the death of favourite Granit Jack, the West Witton handler's seven-year-old charge - who had won at the Festival in March - held off a determined challenge from 33-1 shot Il Duce.