t was a day of doubles for the Malcolm Jefferson team at Market Rasen, with half-sisters Pokanoket and Issaquah gaining all-the-way victories in the hands of stable conditional James Halliday.
The former (8-1) set the ball rolling in the Host Your Hen Party Here Mares' Handicap Hurdle, making all the running to pass the post with eight lengths to spare over Another Storm.
"They said she was a bit soft because she kept finishing second, but she is a tough filly and she does not mind soft ground," said the trainer.
"I may run her now in the three-mile mares race, a handicap at Ayr's Scottish National meeting, and it won't be too long before she goes chasing."
Jefferson and Halliday completed their quickfire brace - the latter's first double - when Issaquah (5-1) led all the way in the Weatherbys Bank Handicap Hurdle, galloping on strongly to score by six lengths after several challengers bunched up going to the second-last.
The trainer added: "Issaquah did it well. She quickened up again when they came at her and she will probably go for the boys race at Liverpool (John Smith's Handicap Hurdle). She finished second in it last year."
Mac Aeda was 11-10 favourite to complete a hat-trick for the duo in the Market Rasen Racecourse Caravan Site 'NH' Novices' Hurdle, but could finish only third to Laureldean River (9-4).
Ridden by Keith Mercer, Steve Gollings' charge was another to make all the running, although he had to dig deep from the last to hold off Kellystown Lad by one and a quarter lengths.
Brave Rebellion (7-1) took his winning haul into double figures under a good ride from trainer Keith Reveley's son James in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Handicap Chase, going to the front three out and resisting Raduis Bleu's rally by two and three-quarter lengths.
Keith Reveley said: "Brave Rebellion has a little bit of a kink - last year he got into the habit of refusing at the last fence. It was a real bad habit and I thought he might do it again, but James is quite strong and made his mind up for him and got him home."
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