BRIAN ELLISON scored with his only runner at Sedgefield yesterday when King Eider powered to victory in the Weatherbys Insurance Beginners Chase.

King Eider, a near top-class hurdler, undoubtedly benefited from the booking of leading jockey Tony Dobbin, who had the six-year-old jumping like the proverbial buck throughout the two-mile contest.

"Tony rode with him with bags of confidence and fired him into his fences. King Eider loves the job and this fast ground, he'll win two or three more now," reported Tyneside-born Ellison, who is based at Spring Cottage Stables near Malton.

Wembury Point made the 297-mile marathon journey from Morestead in Hampshire worthwhile by running away with the opening Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Brendan Powell's three-year-old newcomer had clearly been well-schooled at home, pinging the majority of hurdles prior to pulling clear of his 11 opponents once Graham Lee let off the handbrake at the third to last hurdle.

Ferdy Murphy's Swallow Magic, successful in the LJ Contractors Handicap Chase, looked like he'd joined in the race with only a couple of obstacles to go, so fast did he sprint away from the opposition on the uphill run-in.

Richard Guest was full of hope that Beaugency would complete a four-timer in the closing Calverts Carpets Handicap Hurdle, however the odds-on market leader faded tamely away as the 16-1 outsider, Mocharamor, waltzed to an impressive triumph.

"He's had a problem behind but it's fixed now," said the winning Irish handler, James Lambe.

* Brian Meehan is convinced that David Junior can make a quick return to winning ways in the Petros Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock today.

The three-year-old colt was far from disgraced when seventh behind Proclamation over a mile in the Group One Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last week.

He had earlier registered two impressive victories, by eight and five lengths respectively, in two Listed races over a mile and a quarter and reverts to a similar distance for today's Group Three contest for which only five horses were declared.

''I'll very surprised if he doesn't win tomorrow,'' said Meehan.

''He's fine and in great shape."

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