Caspar Fownes extended his already significant lead in the trainers’ championship to five wins by replicating last weeks effort to score a treble at Happy Valley last night.

The three-timer boosted Fownes’ tally to 42 for the season, with nearest rival David Hayes on 37, as he chases a fifth championship success.

“I’m happy, all I can do is present my horse well and you need a lot of luck in this game. I know how to win a championship, that’s one thing I can tell you; I’ve got my game face on and I’ll be doing my best. I know my target and I’m just trying to have fun along the way,” said Fownes.

Fownes again staked his claim as the handler to chase down after winning with Elegant Life, Golden Brilliant and Somelovefromabove on Wednesday night.

“There will be a lot of guys with a lot of winners coming up. Everyone has got a chance – everyone has a full stable and you just have to keep knocking them in. If you get a quiet patch, it’s very easy for someone to catch up,” Fownes said.

“You can never write off John [Size] – he’s always capable of a spate of winners in a short period as he’s done so many times in his career. You’ve got David [Hayes], Francis [Lui Kin-wai], Danny [Shum Chap-shing] and Mark [Newnham]; there’s so many in with a chance but they have to chase me, so I’ll say good luck!”

Fownes kicked off the card with a winner courtesy of Elegant Life, who was guided to victory by Luke Ferraris in the Class Five Conduit Handicap (1,000m).

Ferraris gave the son of Smart Missile a sensational steer, helping him overcome barrier nine and top weight of 135lb to win by one and a quarter lengths. The five-year-old gelding appreciated the drop in class and distance on this occasion, and will take plenty of benefit from the win going forward according to Fownes.

“It’s just nice to get the win into him and hopefully he’ll go with it now and be competitive in Class Four. He’s taken to the track quite nicely and I don’t think he’s a one-trick pony; he’ll step up in distance as well to good effect,” Fownes said.

Alexis Badel guided Golden Brilliant to a tough victory in the first section of the Class Four Hatton Handicap (1,650m). A mid-race move from Badel to push closer to the speed at the bend proved to be a winning one, providing the ideal set-up for the son of Sweynesse to hold off the swoopers to win by a nose from Star Elegance.

“He’s just immature, which is why I gave him a bit of a freshen up to try and nurse him along. He’s got the job done and he’s the type of horse who I think will start to thrive in 12 months; he’ll get better as he gets older,” said Fownes.

James Orman notched a double that included sealing the treble for Fownes with a dominant victory aboard Somelovefromabove in the first section of the Class Four Breezy Handicap (1,200m), with the son of Lonhro securing back-to-back wins at the course and distance.

“We’ve always had a lot of time for him. Last start he finally showed he was capable of something quite nice and I just said to Jimmy, ‘there’s a lot of pace in here so just hopefully roll with them – if you lead, then great but otherwise go to plan B’. It was a good ride and the horse has done it nicely,” said Fownes.

Metro Power brought up Orman’s second win when saluting in the Class Three Bonham Handicap (1,200m) for David Hayes.

Wednesday night’s feature went to Size and Dylan Browne McMonagle, who combined with Sight Hermoso to claim the Class Three Craigengower Cricket Club Challenge Cup (1,200m).

“It’s his first start here today, he got a little bit excited before the race but he’s normally like that and it didn’t worry his performance. I think he adapted to the track very well,” said Size.

“He’s an honest racehorse, he’s going to have a good record. He’s probably going to go further, he probably will finish in Class Two – and he’s a lovely horse to have around.”

Fallon finished the night by ending China Win’s last-minute bid for a Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) berth, chasing him down by a neck in the Class Three Lyttelton Handicap (1,800m).