Ellison bags treble though National eludes him

It was a good day for trainer Brian Ellison as he saddled three winners on the card on which he sponsored two races, but it would have been even better had he won the £30,000 Durham National.

However, it was not to be as the feature prize eluded him with his two runners finishing second and third – the 3m5f chase going south to Peter Bowen's Pembrokeshire yard with Buachaill Alainn.

"It is a pity there wasn't a hold up on the M5 and he didn't get here," he joked.