Adrian Maguire bounced back into the big time with a dramatic victory on 20 to 1 shot Major Bell in the Stakis Westgate Casino Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster on Saturday. And he underlined his return to form by making it a 587 to 1 treble on the day with further successes on Moor Lane (3-1) and Muligan (6-1).

But the day ended on a sour note as the Meath-man was handed a two-day ban (Feb 8th-9th) for his use of the whip on Mulligan.

Maguire conjured a tremendous late effort from Major Bell to turn a five-length deficit at the final fence into a half-length win over Mr Strong Gale. Maguire was forced to give up several rides at the track on Friday after a bruising fall but after climbing off Major Bell he said: "My knee feels a lot better after that!"

Successful trainer Alistair Whillans, in his fourth season with a full licence, was at Ayr, where he scored with Single Sourcing and Jaunty General to complete his own 8,189 to 1 treble.

"It's fantastic - it's the first time I have ever had three winners in a day," he said. "I watched the race in the owners' and trainers' bar and as they came to the last I walked out because I thought we would be second. It's been a good day and it's going to be even better tonight!

Maguire teed off his double when Moor Lane (3-1) took the Great Yorkshire Meeting' Novices' Chase. And he teamed up with David Nicholson to collect the Mansion House Handicap Chase on Mulligan, who gained his first win over fences for nearly two years with a half-length defeat of Anabranch.

After being given his two-day suspension, Maguire said: "The rule is there in black and white but if they stick to the rule there will be people suspended seven days a week," he said.

"They need to throw in a little bit of common sense. No horse was injured, no horse was abused. It was a good race and a good finish."

Lorcan Wyer yesterday revealed he has enjoyed a lucky escape from a possible lengthy suspension. He feared that a two-day whip ban he received at Doncaster on Saturday had taken him over the "totting-up" threshold, triggering a summons to the Jockey Club disciplinary committee.

But he said yesterday morning: "Luckily yesterday was the day on which four days came off my total so I am in the clear. It is a bit of an escape."