One of the most satisfying aspects of horse racing is the possibility of small stables getting the better of the big battalions and winning a major race.

Just such a happy story was told at Sandown Park on an afternoon not otherwise notable for a jolly atmosphere with the shadow of the foot and mouth issue hanging over racing.

Dina Smith, who trains just seven horses at Bury Hill, between Pulborough and Arundel, landed the Sunderland's Imperial Cup Hurdle with 18-1 shot Ibal ridden by leading amateur Ben Hitchcott, who is based at Brightling Park with Gardie Grissell.

Dina won Cheltenham's Triumph Hurdle 19 years ago with Shiny Copper, but Saturday's success demonstrated she has not lost her touch after returning to the sport following an absence of 12 years raising two daughters with husband Al.

Dina won at Brighton in September with Cork Harbour, her first runner under a new license, and now Ibal, who joined her stable from the one run by Paul Nichols before Christmas, has won twice for her.

She said: "Sandown Park was not the plan for Ibal, who is only a novice. I wanted him to run in an easier race at Chepstow, but that was abandoned and because of the uncertainty over the near future of racing I decided to go for the Imperial Cup and at least get a run into him."

A field of 23 for one of the most competitive races of the year was not the ideal for an inexperienced horse, but Hitchcott, in his most impressive win to date, followed orders to perfection, keeping the horse in the leading group all the way and clear of any trouble by racing towards the outer.

Dina said: "Ben had never even sat on Ibal until Saturday and we chose him because he could do the low weight and claim his 5lb allowance. He is riding in brilliant form and has a good racing brain.

"Ben judged the pace brilliantly and a top professional could not have done a better job."

Ibal, who won two flat races and was placed over hurdles at Auteuil, acts well on soft ground and like most horses from France jumps superbly.

Dina said: "He has got a wonderful physique, ideal for steeplechasing and that will be his job next season."

Ibal is owned by North London bookmaker Tony Hayward, which may account for his being backed down from 25-1 on Saturday morning, and Barry Fulton in partnership.

As her principal supporter in the old days, it was Hayward who encouraged Dina to start training again and he now has an interest in five of the seven stable inmates at Bury Hill.

Although Dina would be happy to fill the three empty boxes in her yard, her small staff is kept busy. Apart from Al, who occasionally rides out but otherwise does every other job in the yard, this is an all-female enterprise.

It has just two full-time girls, with the Smiths' elder daughter Jean riding when she can spare the time from her A levels studies at Seaford College where she is head girl.

Current foot and mouth restrictions have presented difficulties, but so far Dina has got by with her small string without infringing the guidelines for trainers.

Ibal will be entered for the top novice hurdles at Aintree and the substitute NH Cheltenham fixture, but the longer term objective is novice chasing next season.

Of all the major bookmakers, only Victor Chandler was shrewd enough to put Ibal in at more or less his starting price of 16-1 in the morning line.

This nice horse won't start at such generous odds next time he runs, that is a certainty.