Charlotte Jones is hoping better times are ahead for trainer James Moffatt’s horses at Pit Farm Stables after her stunning victory on Golden Town at Sedgefield on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old from Barrow defied the bookies by being first past the post on the eight-year-old gelding, who went into the CaseIH Market Share Handicap Hurdle as the outsider at 66/1.

It was the sixth winner of her career and her first in over a year, in what was her first ride in four months, after what has been a tough 18 months for Moffatt’s stable.

Jones’ achievement was all the more remarkable considering she had completed the Keswick to Barrow walk with the North West Air Ambulance team just three days previously.

Jones said: “It’s been a long 18 months for us and we’ve worked harder in these last 18 months than we ever have.

“It has been a very long time, we’ve been tearing our hair out over what’s been the problem with these horses and obviously our last year at Cartmel wasn’t necessarily our best.

“I went without a winner last year as well, so that was difficult to take. It knocks your confidence a little bit, especially when you’re just getting started.

“Hopefully, things are on the up now we’ve found out the root of what’s happened with our horses and they’re all looking happy and healthy with themselves again, so hopefully it’s going to be the start of another good season.”

With her confidence restored, Jones will be riding again today at Perth on Lough Kent, with whom she has had three winners in the past, at the Handicap Hurdle, which is due to start at 5:15.

Moffatt was delighted to see Golden Town’s break from action pay such a dividend, especially with the first meeting of the year at Cartmel coming up next Saturday.

Moffatt said: “His record in the last three seasons, prior to Tuesday, was very good – seconds and thirds, things like that – and obviously we had to take a huge step forward from his last five runs at the back end of last year when he wasn’t right in himself.”

“We were very hopeful because he’d been training so well and been working so well because we’d had some training issues last year.

“It came to light on his last run, where he wasn’t right in himself and just wasn’t a healthy horse, so we gave him a good break.

“Although, you can never be overly confident, the owner had a couple of quid on him each way because he was at such a good price. I’d have loved him to be in the first four or five, so obviously I’m delighted that he’s gone on and won.”