Everything just fine and Dandy for World Cup-watching Nicholls with great Victoire

YOU have to hand it to trainer David "Dandy" Nicholls. The tough little Yorkshireman has his priorities and he sticks to them.

The King of the Sprints was determined that nothing was going to interfere with his viewing of the World Cup yesterday, so he sent his wife and son to York races while he stayed in front of the telly to watch the football bonanza.

His confidence was well-placed, however, as his wife, former jockey Alex Greaves, saddled Victoire De Lyphar to win the six furlong 100,000 Reg Griffin Memorial Trophy under a strong ride from Nicholls' son Adrian.

Sent off at 9-1 following his comeback victory at Doncaster in April, the three-year-old was scrubbed along early but eventually travelled to the front, and though Singeur and Frankie Dettori looked menacing, Victoire De Lyphar found plenty under pressure to score by a length-and-a-quarter. Iver Bridge Lad came through for second, with Singeur third.

Adrian Nicholls paid tribute to his father: "Fair play to the old man, I was asking him when this horse would run after Doncaster and he said I would have to wait and see. This was his plan and that's why he's the boss."

Also at York, Distant Memories, ridden by Jamie Spencer, wore down Oratory in a terrific finish to land a local success in the ladbrokes.com Stakes (Handicap).

The 11-4 favourite, trained at nearby Tadcaster by Tom Tate, showed plenty battling qualities to get the better of Oratory by half a length after the pair of them had the race to themselves in the last quarter-mile.

Tate said: "He loves racing and he'll have to go for a Listed race now. I think that was his best run and if you get him on his ground he could step up in class."

Racing in Scotland this week takes place at Hamilton on Wednesday, while Musselburgh hosts its annual Ladies Day on Friday.