GOLD Cup-winning jockey-turned-trainer Sam Thomas is likely to end the jumps season with one of the UK’s highest strike rates, currently operating at a 30 per cent winners-to-runners ratio.

The Grosmont-raised horseman secured two more winners in two days at Newbury and Carlisle, and will be targeting more success in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 18, where Our Power finished third last year.

His 16/5 shot Palacio under jockey Dylan Johnston stormed home 5L clear of 2/1 favourite Escapeandevade under Paul O'Brien to win the £20,000 John Haine Memorial Handicap Chase over 2m 1/2f at Newbury.

And 300 miles north 24 hours later at Carlisle, Johnston was again on board as 1/3 favourite Rocking Man finished 6L clear from 25/1 shot Loving Look in the 2m 1f £10,000 Pauline Phizacklea Memorial Novices' Hurdle.

Our Power is entered again for the Scottish National, alongside stablemate Katate Dori, who was second in the £40,000 Betfair Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

Meanwhile, Pandy flat race trainer David Evans saw his horse Eagle Day awarded victory in the stewards' room at Wolverhampton’s Friday Night Live meeting, when Rossa Ryan’s mount was promoted to first in the second division of the £15,000 1m ½f handicap.

The six-year-old achieved his first win in 15 months after first by a nose Eazy On The Eye at 5/1 – ridden by Holly Doyle, who started out as a teenager at Evans' stables – was demoted for drifting right, causing accidental interference when carrying the 11-2 shot off his line.

The reversed placings meant a welcome winner for Eagle Day's 81-year-old joint-owner David Edwards, who told ITV Racing: "I don't know what Hollie did wrong looking at the replay, but he was on a winning mark today. We don't get many results like that, to be honest.”

Elsewhere, Monmouthshire trainer Robert Stephens enjoyed five places in five races.

First up, 7/1 shot My Boy Aaron under Sean Houlihan placed third in Exeter’s £5,440 Maiden Hurdle over 2m, before Robert Dunne rode 25/1-rated Into Battle to second in the 2m £9,000 Virgin Bet Maiden Hurdle at Kempton.

Barachiel at 11/1 again under Dunne followed up with second at Taunton in the £5,000 category 1 National Hunt Flat Race over 2m 1/2F.

Then 17/2 Penhow stablemate Port Noir, ridden by Rose Dawes, squeezed home by a nose from Whiteley Way in Kempton's mile-long £6,000 Virgin Bet Handicap.

And rounding off a run of appearances in the winner's enclosure, 11/8 favourite Knight Templar under Hector Crouch placed second moments later in the two-mile £12,000 Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap, finishing 1/2L behind Fleurman.

Shirenewton trainer Grace Harris also enjoyed wins at Chepstow and Doncaster.

On her home course, 5/1 shot Inion Tiogair ridden by Joe Anderson won the 2m 3½f £6,000 DB Roofing novices' handicap hurdle, although 8/1 stablemate Nancefordshore fell at the last under Ben Jones when looking the likely winner.

The mare still had to be brave to deny Can You Hear Me, which she did by 1L.

Harris then saw Melvin Udall strike on the flat over 7f at Doncaster three days later under Rossa Ryan, the 8/1 shot beating 6/1-rated Miletus to the £14,000 William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap by 1 1/2L.