BROOM trainer Tony Carroll narrowly missed out on a win double at Wetherby last week.

After Burundi had stormed to victory by five lengths in a Handicap Hurdle, Firestone was edged out in the afternoon's final contest.

Timmy Murphy partnered both horses - a partnership that Carroll is hoping will continue.

The German-bred Firestone missed out on a third career win in this country but took second after favourite Claude Greengrass fell at the last.

At the same meeting, Broadway jockey Gino Carenza opened his account for 2003 with victory on the Mick Easterby trained Middlethorpe.

And, Carenza continued in winning vein at Catterick on Wednesday when he landed an amazing treble.

Middlethorpe triumphed again before Carenza took the last two winners on 5-1 shot Ridgeway and 12-1 chance Gary's Pimpernel.

On the same afternoon at Chepstow, Paxford trainer Milton Harris witnessed a promising second run under his guidance by 40-1 chance Balakar.

The start of the Cheltenham Festival sees a curtain-raiser at Stratford on Monday.

Seven races are scheduled for what is always a popular meeting with the first race orders at 2.20pm.