Brian Ellison saddled the first and third in the John Smith's Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh as Stormy Weather and Dontpaytheferryman sandwiched top-weight Ubi Ace in the feature race.

Given a perfect waiting ride by Denis O'Regan, the 13-2 grey was in receipt of 21lb from Ubi Ace, who appeared to have the race in the bag when holding a length advantage at the final flight.

Tim Walford's charge had been up with the pace throughout and went clear at the third last, but O'Regan pounced close home to win by a length with his stablemate, who helped set the pace, a further length and a half away.

"That was the order I thought they'd finish in," said Ellison. "We knew they'd go a good gallop with Dontpaytheferryman in there. If he gets in, he'll go to the County Hurdle."

O'Regan added: "The ability has always been there and I was very pleased to get back on him. Hopefully there's more to come and he'd be a super ride in the County Hurdle if he gets in."

Donald McCain's Tara Royal turned the John Smith's Scottish Champion Chase into a procession.

A promising novice last term, injury curtailed his season but he looked a different proposition under Jason Maguire on this occasion; having tracked the pace throughout he sprinted clear of Woody Waller for a four-and-a-half-length win.

"It's good to have him back." said McCain. "He fractured his pelvis a week before Cheltenham last year and it's been a long road back.

"He jumped well, because he hasn't had a lot of experience. We'd always hoped to get him to Cheltenham and on that run the Grand Annual would look the obvious option for him, but I'll have a chat with Tim Leslie, the owner, and we might wait for Aintree."

Bold Sir Brian (11-10f) continued the fine run of Lucinda Russell's yard with an effortless win in the John Smith's Future Champions Novices' Chase.

The Grade Two hurdles winner has now won three on the bounce over fences and may now step up in class.

Russell said: "I'm still not sure if he'll go to Cheltenham, the owners aren't sure if he's got enough experience for it, but this is the only chance he'll get to go there as a novice."

Charlie Longsdon made the long trip from Oxfordshire worthwhile by winning the first two races. West Brit (8-1) was impressive in taking the John Smith's Scottish Triumph Hurdle (juvenile), piloted by Paddy Brennan in his only ride of the day.

"It took about eight and a half hours to get here yesterday," said Longsdon. "We put him in the Triumph and he had to win for us to even consider it. He doesn't have enough time to get another run for the Fred Winter."

Longsdon's Cross Of Honour (4-6f) had earlier landed the John Smith's Novice Hurdle under Felix de Giles with the minimum of fuss.

"We've always thought he was a nice horse and he's got Cheltenham entries, so he had to go and do it like that, getting a good bit of weight from Donald McCain's horse, Ebanour," said Longsdon.

Kate Walton's Everaard (13-2) prevailed in a tight finish for the John Smith's Stayers' Handicap Hurdle.

Devotion To Duty and Moonlight Drive made it a three-way finish after the last, but the course specialist came home with a yard to spare under Richie McGrath.

"When I told Richie I'd entered him, he said we'd better get him some armbands because he'd be out of his depth, but as it turned out the top weight was 133 so he was only 2lb out of the handicap," said Walton.

John Ferguson was out of luck with a couple of fancied runners earlier on the card but Cape Dutch took the finale as 6-4 favourite, ridden by Jack Quinlan.