Stable leading light Forest Bihan heads Ellison treble

It is probably fair to say that Brian Ellison has had a quiet year on the Flat by the high standards he sets these days, but the early signs over jumps have been far more promising and he landed a treble at Kelso on Sunday, headed by perhaps the stable's star, Forest Bihan, in the feature 2m1f handicap chase.

With Simply Ned and Double W's also in the field, the race made for a passable northern Champion Chase. That said, Forest Bihan's main challenge came from last year's winner Theflyingportrait, whom he passed only on the approach to the last fence and threatened to let back in as he idled on the flat.

Races like the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup and Shloer Chase were mentioned as the next target for Forest Bihan, but connections will presumably be aiming for Grade 1 success, which was presented to him and snatched away again in the dramatic denouement to April's Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree.