Brian Ellison is excited to find out what Top Notch Tonto could be capable of next season following his brilliant run in defeat at Ascot.

The three-year-old only joined Ellison in early July, having previously been trained by Ian McInnes, and has enjoyed a meteoric rise.

After making a winning debut for the Norton-based trainer in a Newmarket handicap off a mark of 87, Top Notch Tonto won a Group Three at Haydock and a Listed prize at Redcar, prompting connections to make the bold move of supplementing the gelding for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for £70,000.

That confidence was justified as Top Notch Tonto picked up almost £228,000 for filling the runner-up spot behind Richard Hannon’s Olympic Glory.

Ellison said: “He’s come out of the race well. He’s lost quite a lot of weight, more than usual, but you would expect that after running in that ground in that race.

“He’ll have a holiday now and we’ll look forward to next season with him.

“It was a brilliant run. It’s not as though Dale (Swift) rode him out the back hoping to pick up some prize money, he rode him to win the race.

“He’s had 11 runs this year now and has come a long way. His last three runs have been in a Group Three, a Listed race and a Group One.

“He came out of Redcar absolutely bouncing, so we decided we’d let him take his chance at Ascot and it’s worked out.”