Denbigh trainer, Ray Owen has enjoyed a few successful days at Scottish tracks in recent years but none as good as Saturday's 490-mile round trip to Overton which produced two winners and a second from four runners at the Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire and Eglinton fixture.

Thyne For Gold initiated Owen's first double since Kalmo Bay and My Go Now scored at Whitwick Manor in February 2011 when following up last Sunday's Friars Haugh victory in the Hillhouse Quarry Group Ltd Ladies Open Race. Given another positive ride by Immy Robinson, the 11-year-old made virtually every yard of the running and stayed on well up the home straight to keep stable companion, Write It Down (Sam Morrlle) at bay by two lengths.

The gelding has been a model of consistency since being bought out of Donald McCain's yard for £4,500 at Goffs UK Sales in May 2019, winning 4 of 12 Pointing starts as well as finishing runner-up on five occasions.

Gold Time hit the jackpot when beating odds-on favourite, Game As A Pheasant (John Dawson) by a length in the £1,500 Milton Lockhart Men's Open - the most valuable race in the country this season. Always up with the pace, the 9-year-old mare was sent on a mile from home by Fred Timmis and jumped far more fluently than her main rival who was unable to bridge the gap in the closing stages.

Timmis said: "She has a high cruising speed, her jumping is very slick and is definitely at her best on a sound surface."

"Days like this make it all worthwhile and both winners have now earned themselves a break," added Owen, who had a nightmare five and a half hour journey after missing the turn-off from the M74 before getting stuck in traffic heading to Overton and just made it in time to get his horses declared.

Joanna Walton kept things simple on Garbanzo in the Priory Bridge Landscaping Restricted Race, sending him straight into the lead and his jumping was assured. Bravantina (Ross Wilson) was always fighting a losing battle from three out and went down by two lengths. 

Walton, who has just started a new job with Goffs UK, now leads the YoungsRPS Northern Area Ladies Championship by one point from Emma Brown with four meetings remaining. 

The 8-year-old Mastercraftsman gelding, a 90-rated stayer on the Flat for Ed Walker, had been well hunted this season with the Berwickshire by Reston-based trainer, Rebecca Hewit who bought him for £4,000 at Doncaster Sales in September. He is co-owned by Rebecca, husband John and her father, Andrew Morgan.

The other four contests were all won by novice riders, the first time this happened at a Northern Area fixture. Cooking Fat has been rejuvenated since joining Jack Clark's yard and, after being given a great ride by Jack Holliday, was hardly blowing at the finish when cruising home fifteen lengths ahead of Azure Fly in the STCS (Scotland Ltd) NPPA Conditions Race to make it three wins from his last four starts.

The experienced Istimraar, who made his debut on the Flat at Leicester in June 2013, was equally impressive when providing 21-year-old Natasha McKee with her first winner in the 2m4f Goulding's Garden Centre Conditions Race. In command from three out, the 11-year-old forged clear up the home straight to score by fifteen lengths from Calix Delafayette (Alex Garven). McKee, who started riding out for Galston trainer, Mike Smith before she left school, said: "He threw in the odd bad jump but was never in danger of falling and it's a great feeling to finally get my first winner." 

Thirsk raider, Tom Flynn got owner/trainer, Julian Swinbank and jockey, Pippa Brown, 19, off the mark in the 2m4f Parks Motor Group Maiden Conditions Race. After being sent on five out, the 6-year-old sealed victory by three lengths over Frenchpeps (Ross Wilson) with another great jump at the last. Swinbank said: "He has been unlucky in a few races this season and running better than his form figures might suggest. He is for sale at the right price." 

21-year-old Abby Robertson, girlfriend of Jack Holliday, made it a red letter day all round with a first win on ex-chaser, Ardbruce who was never headed in the concluding Kingdom Blazers Maiden Race. The 9-year-old Scorpion gelding maintained a relentless gallop from the off at the head of affairs and kept on strongly in the closing stages to beat Inviction (Ross Wilson) by six lengths in the joint fastest time of the day. 

The winner, carrying the colours of Abby's father Malcolm and trained by Murray Scott, was bought at Goffs UK Doncaster Sales in August 2021 for £4,500 out of the Seamus Mullins yard having been placed three times under Rules over a shorter trip. Galashiels-based Robertson, who is in her third season between the flags, is a work-rider for dual purpose trainer, Katie Scott and deserved a change of fortune after looking set for victory at Friars Haugh the previous week until Ardbruce fell two out.

The main action was preceded by 3 pony races sponsored by Dodson & Horrell. Our Jeremy (Alex Goldie) won the Novice Pony contest, Avalon Dancer (Bruce Vaughan) took the 138cm Open and the 148cm Open was won by Judge Fox (Scarlett Frank). A special mention for the Vaughan family who made the 16-hour round trip from Cardiff to Overton and they have also been to Friars Haugh, Kelso twice this season.