17:30 It may just be coincidence that today is the first day trainers have begun boycotting races as part of the prize money tariff protest but I have to say this has been one, if not the, worse class racing I have been to and the opening bumper arguably the worse individual race it has ever been my misfortune to watch.

17:26 Another contest where the betting got it right as the top two in the betting, Top Smart and Kalamill battled out the finish, with the former and favourite getting home 2½ lengths the better.

The duo had been prominent throughout, in  a contest where the pace had been set by Grey Cruzene, who eventually ceded the lead as they turned for home. Chase Gate had also been with the early pace but faded approaching the seventh.     

16:43 Our final contest is the extended 2m 3f horseracebase.com Powerful Horseracing Tools Handicap Hurdle, with six going to post.

16:32 It says a great deal when the worse jumper in the race still managed to go and win the race.

It is the sort of race that makes you believe in Lady Luck as, by rights, Prince Louis should have fallen more than once in this contest, jumping left at most of the fences and seriously blundering through the top of a couple of them.

However after he had taken up the running frim Sieglinde entering the home straight for the first time he was never headed and, in truth, never looked like being beaten.

Mr Bond did emerge as the only challenger, yet at no point looked like threatening the leader.

Russelltown Boy and Killfinnan Castle were both in striking distance of the front pair but both were under pressure turning for home.

In the end Prince Louis came home 11 lengths clear of the jolly, although Tommo’s comment in commentary that he was “sprinting home” was, perhaps, poetic licence.     

16:10 Race six is the Winners Play Online Poker via RakeBackMyPoker.com Handicap Chase, an extended 2½ mile contest with six going to post.

15:57 Snow Patrol was better behaved than last time out at Folkestone and tried to make all, having the field well strung out by the time they turned for home.

At that point Swiss Guard looked to be his only rival and the two joint-favourites spun for home locked together. However after two out Swiss Guard, a former Aiden O’Brien inmate on the flat, pulled clear and the race was over as Swiss Guard came home 17 lengths clear.

A tired Snow Patrol held on for second spot, from the closing Canshebemine.

15:43 Next up is the extended two mile RakeBackMyPoker.com Handicap Hurdle, with seven going to post.

Snow Patrol not too bad in the parade ring, a slight puller and frothing at the mouth a bit.

Hungry For More and Rossmill Lad are also frothing at the mouth.

Rossmill Lad is carrying two pounds overweight and now wears Blue with a Red Star

15:32 Another good finish, this time a three way go and a good finish.

Topless and Inthejungle set the place although by the time they turned for home the serial loser Topless was out of contention.

The favourite, Tuskar Rock, was in the right position turning for home and it looked to be a duel between Tuskar Rock and Inthejungle.

Tuskar Rock looked to be getting the better of the battle but from nowhere Master d’Or came with a rattling late run, having been settled last for most of the race, and this run coincided with a rally from Inthejungle.

In the end Tuskar Rock prevailed by only a neck with Inthejungle just holding off Master d’Or by a fast diminishing head.

15:10 Next up is the snappily named Get Online Poker RakeBack At RakeBackMyPoker.com Handicap Chase, with seven going to post for the three mile contest.

14:54 Finally a half decent contest, although it is all relative.

The top two in the betting Cresswell Crusader and Not Til Monday were well clear of their rivals turning for home. With the former, sent off favourite, looking the better.

However Not Til Monday under Timmy Murphy and carrying a seven pound penalty for a Plumpton win three weeks ago, was not going to go down without a fight and having Timmy Murphy on board may have helped him come home in front.

Cresswell Crusader had Rachel Green on board and, not wishing to be sexist, Rachel did not seem to have the strength o get the favourite home in front.

14:31 Race three is the RakeBackMyPoker.com Novices’ Hurdle, an extended 2m 3f contest with seven going to post.

Not Til Monday is the clear paddock pick, with the headstrong Taylors Secret the negative.

14:17 A result for the bookies as the odds-on favourite Vino Griego gets overturned, finishing only third of seven.

Indeed he was arguably lucky to even finish the race after making a terrible blunder at the second fence, taking off a stride too soon and clambering through the top of the fence.

Spear Thistle and General Kutuzov set the pace and were still in front turning for home. Vino Griego was closely behind them, but under pressure, as they turned for home.

General Kutuzov jumped the better of the front pair coming for home and he ran on to record a five length victory over Spear Thistle, with the favourite a further nine lengths in arrears.

In truth another dire contest, but what is to be expected with a mere £2,740 prize money.            

14:00 Upham Atom is taking a keen hold going down

13:55 Race two is the Up To 70% RakeBack At RakeBackMyPoker.com Beginners’ Chase, an extended 2½ mile contest with seven facing the starter.

13:46 You will have to go a very long way to see a worse race than this one.

The field set off at no sort of pace whatsoever, what “pace” there was had been set by Fortunelini, accompanied by Hopatina.

A very messy affair turned into a sprint.

Rye Park hit the front turning for home and looked the likely winner, however she was not the only one to kick on and Jaya Bella ran on well, chased home by Willow The Rose and the pair passed the post separated only by a head, with Jaya Bella getting the verdict by a head.

13:26 To add to the wind, it is now raining

13:24 Hopatina has now unshipped Tom Scudamore but she has been caught

13:23 Hopatina has just got loose in the parade ring.

13:20 Unusually we get underway with a bumper, the RakeBackMyPoker.com Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race, over two miles on the Polytrack.

Ten mares and fillies line up for the contest.

Most of the runners are on their toes in the parade ring but I think it is more down to the blustery wind spooking them than anything else. Sea Fury seems very unhappy with life and is on her toes and rearing.

Cailin Maghnailbhe (good luck to Tommo calling that one) is another very much on her toes.

Exceptional Girl looks anything but, a very gangly sort.   

13:07 Some amended race times here at Lingfield, from race three onwards will be off five minutes later than advertised, due to the Ayr cancellation.

12:58 Good afternoon from a very overcast Lingfield where there is a very strong wind, semi-behind in the home straight.

10:50 A couple of non-runners, details on the right.

07:49 The going has improved slightly following a dry night, the official going is now Soft, Heavy in Places, with going stick readings at 06:00 of 5.3 on the hurdle course and 6.0 on the chase course.

The action gets underway at 13:30 and, at this early stage, there are no non-runners.

14:43 Sunday Small fields compared with the corresponding meeting last year, due to the trainers protest about low prize money.

The advance going is Heavy, Soft in Places

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

15:10
7 Sole Agent (coughing - SC 10:09)

16:45
1 Rimini (other - SC 09:34)

Results

13:30 Open NH Flat (AW) 2m 110yds

14:05 Beginners' Chase 2m 4f 110yds

14:35 Novices' Hurdle 2m 3f 110yds

15:10 Handicap Chase 3m

15:40 Handicap Hurdle 2m 110yds

16:15 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds

16:45 Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f 110yds