For a man from the Tim Forster school of training standards, Henry Daly runners outside the core season are a rarity. May 1st is a benchmark date by which most chasers should be enjoying a well-earned rest in a paddock, according to the master of Downton Hall Stables.

So it was a pleasant surprise, both to spectators, and I suspect, to Daly too, when he enjoyed his first double in a while at Ludlow’s season-closing fixture on Sunday, courtesy of Silvereen and Regal Renaissance. No matter that both were short-odds; the success will have been a surprise to the self-effacing and well-spoken Daly, never one to advertise his talent.

It wasn’t a good season by relative standards for Daly; a meagre 18 winners from 174 runners, and well below the 30 or so of the previous few seasons. But the Daly stable has never hit the heights, whether from its far west location, breed of owner more attuned to old-fashioned chasers than sharp juvenile hurdlers, or simply ambition. It’s a yard which has found its own place in the racing pantheon, and one suspects that the driving ambition which fuels the likes of Dan Skelton would have no place amidst the gentility of Downton. Indeed, Daly would fit well into its namesake TV series among those above stairs.

But to the winners.

Silvereen is a product of the Henry Daly Racing Club, a syndicate of Daly supporters looking for some racing fun. The four year old filly has taken her time to produce that fun, learning the ropes in her own time, since debuting here last November. In what wasn’t the strongest race of the day, Sam Twiston-Davies sent her out in front, and when push came to shove three out, she ran on well to finish 2 1/4/ in front of favourite Enya.

A little more was expected of Regal Renaissance in the G C Rickards Mares Handicap Chase, the second leg of the Daly double. Sent off 6/5 favourite on the back of her neck defeat at Stratford 6 weeks previously, Sam Twiston-Davies pushed her up to the lead at the first, and stayed there. Joined by a Skelton fancy at the last, she had but to be ridden out to retain a 1/2l advantage. Back-slapping all round at Downton Towers; this is a yard where success is always celebrated.

Despite losing out in that round, the Skelton machine already has a momentum more common to mid-season. Having won his first Trainers’ Championship with a record-breaking £5m prize money haul, the target this time around is Martin Pipe’s 243 winners in a season, and with barely a week of the new season underway, Team Skelton already has 9 winners on the board at an impressive 31% strike rate.

A short-priced double through novice hurdler Son Of Tyran and handicap hurdler Jafimgoso kept the momentum going. Skelton has already worked out what he needs to achieve to surpass Pipe’s record, and with a plan in place, and the stable firing on every cylinder, there aren’t many in racing not willing him to succeed.

This is a time of year when horses that might struggle to win in the mainstream season get their hour of glory. Jafimgoso is one such, owned by Michael & Mona Masterson. Michael’s firm supplies concrete bases for many of London’s tallest buildings, but Jafimgoso hasn’t ben able to shine thus far. Harry Skelton kept enough in reserve to reel in the weakening Scapius after the last and win by 1 1/4l.

Connections of Son of Tyran will be sinking a pint in sponsor the Lion of Leintwardine’s premises after a longer trip was found to suit the 5 year old gelding. Skelton Jnr pushed the 3/1 favourite into the lead three out and capitalized on mistakes from the second, Athena’s Dream, at each of the last two, to win by 1 3/4l.

The feature 3m chase attracted just 4 runners, and heralded a back-to-back win for Zacony Rebel, from Sarah-Jayne Davies’ Leominster premises. The £1,000 purchase has repaid connections with five wins over fences and a career total of £62k. Charlie Price was in the plate.

5lb claimer William Shanahan scored his 25th winner under Rules for Jennie Candlish bringing home 5 year old French-bred Pergamon to a 2l success in the Welsh Guards Association Handicap Hurdle. Candlish has done well with modest horses so far, and merits a leg up to a better quality animal.