The success of the former gave Nicholls snr particular pleasure as he rode the horse in whose memory the race was run to victory seven times.

Academy Blues was defying a 6lb penalty, incurred for his win at Redcar on Monday, in convincing style.

The five-year-old led a furlong out and went two lengths clear of Hits Only Jude at the line.

Nicholls snr said: "He is a nice, big horse and there is a race for him at Naas a week on Saturday - it is a £20,000 race and we just hope he gets in.

"We won it last year with Joseph Henry and we had three winners there that day, in fact."

Johannesgray (5-4 favourite) then proved just the strongest to beat Transmit and Grand Stitch by a neck and the same.

Nicholls continued: "He had one run here last year - he was a big, backward horse.

"He is still backward, in fact, and we will wait and see what the handicapper does with him.

"Our horses are running well and I think they will go on as the season goes on - Adrian is riding very well, too."

Johannesgray carries the colours of Brian Morton, a new owner to the yard who had been in the winner's enclosure earlier in the afternoon to greet Red Wine following the catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap.

Red Wine clearly retains his enthusiasm for racing, despite his advancing years, and took his career score into double figures under a fine ride from David Allan.

Allan produced the Jeremy Glover-trained 11-year-old with a perfectly-timed challenge to lead inside the final furlong and go one and three-quarter lengths clear of Patavium.

Morton, who has a share in Red Wine with Paul Dixon, president of the Racehorse Owners Association, said: "Red Wine was going to be retired after he had run at Doncaster but he loves the game, even though he has broken his pelvis twice."

Richard Fahey continues to coax improvement out of Trip The Light, who opened his seasonal account at the first attempt in the Ted Thompson 81st Birthday Handicap.

The 12-1 chance was always handily placed and took up the running just inside the final furlong, after which he held off the 11-8 favourite Ella by one and a half lengths.

Trip The Light was ridden by apprentice Marzena Jeziorek, who was securing her second career victory.

Fahey said: "His first win was off a rating of 46 and when he went up to 87 I half-advised his owners to sell him because I did not think he could win off that mark.

"He supposedly did not like soft ground either and nobody wanted to ride him so I put Marzena up."

Jeziorek was, however, suspended three days (April 21-23) for using her whip with excessive frequency and in the incorrect position.

Paul Midgley saddled two in the goracing.co.uk Handicap but the outcome was not as expected, with 14-1 chance Dispol Grand showing the way home in the hands of Robert Winston.

Stablemate Spirit Of Coniston, the 9-4 favourite, finished only sixth.

Andrew Mullen, who partnered runner-up Fasliyanne, was suspended five days (April 21-25) for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Your Gifted (4-1) landed the racinguk.com Handicap under a strong ride from Daniel Tudhope.

Martin Brew, representing trainer Pat Morris, said: "Because her run at Redcar on Monday was too bad to be true we thought we would bring her out again quickly.

"She is well bred and this will have boosted her value."