THERE were winners from Ireland, England and Wales at yesterday's meeting at Newton Abbot, and a good crowd was there to see the races for which the going was good with good to firm places.

Spare Change, an Irish raider who is trained by Philip Rothwell, won the Horsebettinindex.com Handicap Steeplechase. This race, the most valuable of the afternoon at £5000-plus to the winner, was run over three miles two-and-a-half furlongs.

Jockey Seamus Durack rode Spare Change positively from the front though he had never run over a trip as far before.

The eight-year-old, who was well backed into 4 -1, responded magnificently and kept pulling out more. The grey, owned by the West Man Syndicate, eventually beat the hat-trick seeking Dennis The Legend by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

Gordon Elliott, another trainer based in the Emerald Isle, scored a double during the afternoon.

Cooksgrove Lady initiated the Elliott double when easily justifying favouritism at evens in the second Division of the Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle.

Jason Maguire rode the six-year-old, who was following up a facile victory at Hereford three weeks before.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy completed a quick double for Elliott on Mhilu in thenext race, the Beginners' Steeplechase over two miles five-and-a-half furlongs.

The David Pipe-trained favourite Armenian Boy took the lead at the tenth but Mhilu could be seen going well behind the leaders.

McCoy's mount was clear from the last and had 10 lengths to spare at the line.

Super Ross, meanwhile, held on to beat Soviet Sceptre in the Happy Birthday Ann Oliver Selling Hurdle.

Evan Williams trains the gelding at Llancarfan in Wales but there was an Irish connection as the winner was bred in Ireland and raced there last year.

Evan Williams has got a reputation for improving horses that come into his care and this was the third win for Super Ross since he entered his stable.

Jockey Donal Fahy did well as he had to survive a bad blunder at the last before getting his mount home by just less than a length.

The first race was brought forward by half an hour as the Mares' Novices' Hurdle had to be divided. That race was won by Sam Thomas on Candle, trained by Tom George at Slad in Gloucestershire.

It was a deserved success as useful flat performer Candle, owned by 'the Thoroughbred Ladies', had been third in her last three runs.

Gordon Elliott looked likely to complete a glorious treble when the gambled on McCmurdo Sound took the lead at the second last after making smooth headway.

The 2-1 joint favourite's challenge flattened out though and Olivino kept on well to win by three-quarters-of-a-length.

There was a nasty shock for punters in the last when Pure Magic from Andy Haynes' Limply Stoke yard won by half-a-length at 40-1.

The next meeting is on Sunday when the first race is due to start at 2pm.