Brian Ellison saddled the first and third in the John Smith's Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh as Stormy Weather and Dontpaytheferryman sandwiched top-weight Ubi Ace in the feature race.
Given a perfect waiting ride by Denis O'Regan, the grey (13-2) was in receipt of 21lb from Ubi Ace, who appeared to have the race in safe keeping when holding a length advantage at the final flight.
But O'Regan was at his stalking best on the former Howard Johnson inmate and pounced close home to win by a length with his stablemate, who helped set the pace, a further length and a half away.
Ellison said: "That was the order I thought they'd finish in. He loves it around here and I think he's a really good horse. That's the only ride you can give him. We knew they'd go a good gallop with Dontpaytheferryman in there. If he gets in, he'll go to the County Hurdle."
O'Regan added: "We always thought a lot of him at Howard's. He finished fifth in a Fred Winter, so the ability has always been there, and I was very pleased to get back on him. Hopefully there's more to come and he'd be a super ride in the County Hurdle if he gets in, and he'll jump a fence, I'm sure."
Bold Sir Brian (11-10 favourite) continued the fine recent run of Lucinda Russell's yard with an effortless win in the John Smith's Future Champions Novices' Chase.
The Grade Two hurdles winner has now won three on the bounce over fences and deserves a step up in class.
Russell said: "I'm still not sure if he'll go to Cheltenham, the owners aren't sure if he's got enough experience for it, but this is the only chance he'll get to go there as a novice."
John Ferguson was out of luck with a couple of fancied runners earlier on the card, but Cape Dutch took the finale as the 6-4 favourite in the hands of Jack Quinlan.
