BLEWBURY trainer Eve Johnson Houghton achieved a lifelong ambition when On To Victory ran away with the Whitsbury Manor Stud Bibury Cup at Salisbury.

The Woodway handler took aim at the historic prize, which has been run at the Wiltshire track since 1899, with the three-year-old gelding.

On To Victory appreciated the step up in trip together with Salisbury’s soft going as he powered to victory by eight lengths in the mile and a half handicap under Tom Marquand.

Johnson Houghton, who was enjoying her first success at the track for almost three years, said of the 100-30 winner: “I’ve always wanted to win this race. I’m chuffed to win this one.”

Johnson-Houghton had struck earlier in the week with Super Julius, who landed a five-furlong handicap at Wolverhampton by two and a half lengths.

It came on an eventful day for Johnson Houghton with assistant trainer Derek Byrne sustaining fractured ribs at Windsor when he was slammed against a stable wall while saddling newcomer Downtown Mombasa, who went on to finish a promising third.

The Blewbury trainer also enjoyed success at Lingfield with Pondering.

Whatcombe’s Paul Cole sent out Upstaging to get up in the last 75 yards for a half-length success in a six-furlong handicap at Windsor.

Henry Candy’s Wantage yard was also on the mark at the Thamesside track with African Friend, with Fergus Sweeney on board.

Back at Salisbury, West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon sent out newcomer, Veejay, to spring a 25-1 surprise in a six-furlong juvenile auction stakes under Rob Hornby.

It was the third day running Channon had sent out a winner after Maksab landed a seven-furlong juvenile novice stakes at Leicester under Silvestre De Sousa following Chicago Star’s victory in a seven-furlong handicap at Chepstow in the hands of John Egan.

East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison landed a 37-1 across-the-card double with the George Wood-ridden Finale (17-2) at Nottingham and Pursuing Speed (3-1 favourite), who completed a hat-trick at Newbury, with Charlie Bennett in the saddle.

Timmy Murphy was seen to good effect as Suitsus followed up his Brighton win for Compton trainer Geoffrey Deacon with a short-head success in a mile handicap at Bath.

And point-to-point winner Eyesopenwideawake opened his account under National Hunt rules for Sparsholt trainer Harry Whittington by making all the running to take a maiden hurdle at Southwell under Harry Bannister.