Unlike most, Brian Ellison has every reason to wish January hadn’t come to an end as the last week of the first month of 2022 brought the Malton trainer rich reward.
The jewel in the crown was the magnificent success of Windsor Avenue in Saturday’s valuable Listed Sky Bet Handicap Chase at Doncaster which was topped up by victory for Cormier in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on the same day and in the last six days of the month he notched up five winners from only 20 runners.
Brian has been on the block long enough to know that he is enjoying a welcome smooth period as he was subject to a bumpy period during December when winners were particularly hard to find.
Ellison said: “December was a nightmare - the horses were working well but not finishing their races and were scoping badly afterwards and we just had the odd winner. A few people had it at the same time so we were in the same boat but thankfully we appear to have turned the corner and last week was everything we could have wished.”
“I have always thought Windsor Avenue had a big one in him and always told his owner Phil Martin he was class and he proved it.”
Windsor Avenue will now have a possible tilt at the Premier Chase at Kelso on the agenda with long term the Grand National in mind and he was one of several rejuvenated horses under his care that Brian discussed with Tony Elves of atttheraces.com.
