While the brilliance of Aidan O'Brien, the Irish trainer, dominated the royal festival at Ascot last week, Scotland has every right, albeit in a more modest fashion, to be proud of two of our own trainers, Linda Perratt and Jim Goldie, who also made their mark at the Berkshire track.

O'Brien's magnificence was there for all to see as one after another his stars lifted the big prizes. There was Haradasun and Henrythenavigator and Yeats and Duke of Marmalade and Macarthur and Honolulu. It is a list that must terrify those who would dare challenge the Ballydoyle supremacy.

However, if there can be no doubting the genius of the Irish trainer, it has to be pointed out that he has behind him the Coolmore giant that embodies the biggest racing operation in Europe.

In comparison, Perratt and Goldie inevitably have to ply their trade most of the time in less glamorous and less rewarding circles but, when given the chance, they can amply display the skills that they and others north of the border possess. Perratt, new leader of the Belstane Stables owned by businessman Gordon McDowall, with former licence holder Ian Semple as head groom, has very speedily demonstrated the ability of the yard to win races, culminating in the heady heights of victory in the Wokingham Stakes on Saturday with Big Timer.

Goldie, whose Uplawmoor yard has been increasing its quota of winners year by year, came close to initiating a glorious tartan double when his Dhaular Dhar was beaten by half-a-length in the Buckingham Palace Stakes on Friday.

Dhaular Dhar ran superbly to win his race on the far side but was edged out by the stands-side leader, Regal Parade.

Big Timer's jubilant owner, McDowall, who watched his first runner at the royal meeting become his first winner, said: "It's great for the whole team. Linda's the trainer and Ian is now the head lad. They are working closely together.

"We took the horse over to Belmont as the American pedigree was there, but the ground was bottomless and it was just a wasted journey.

"But we stuck by him and he had problems behind the saddle at three. We knew he would win a race eventually but didn't know which one it was going to be and this is a nice one to win."

Winning jockey Tom Eaves said: "I want to thank Gordon and Linda and Ian for keeping me on him. He was a good two-year-old and a lot of people wrote him off in his three-year-old days. We always knew he was good and they've been patient with him."

O'Brien, naturally, received the prize for Royal Ascot's top trainer. "All the winners this week have been very special but it is hard to get away from Yeats," he said. "To win two Gold Cups was amazing but to win three - I just can't describe it.

"The Duke, Henry and Haradasun were all super but everybody was behind Yeats and the atmosphere was un-believable. The whole week has been amazing and I have to thank everyone at home."

Winners were easy to find for some but not for many of the punters who slaved over the formbook only to be thwarted at times by Flashman's Papers (100-1), Kings Native (33-1), Fifteen Love (28-1), Langs Lash (25-1), Mr Aviator (25-1) and Equiano (22-1), to name but a few. And the bookies say they just about made a profit! Never mind, roll on next year.