In a moment of glorious public spirited for persons such as myself who live nearby, Lingfield has taken up a couple of jump meetings that could not be run at Worcester, saving me three days phaffing around on Worst Great Western to get to the meeting. Surreally, this day was also a Lingfield members reciprocal meeting at Ascot. Would the bar be deserted? In fact most of the course was, as the members went in search of higher prices for bad beer and the vast majority, who would be out in numbers at any other small jumps track in the south, failed to spot the change of venue. I imagine a few even turned up at Worcester...

Sunny September at Lingfield Park

Lingfieldpark.co.uk Maiden Hurdle [2m 3½f]

1: Warrior Drive     2: Beaufort     3: Sunset Boulevard

Winner owned: RER Williams, trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Paul Moloney

This was a modest start to the day unless you are compulsive favourite backer, as Warrior Drive gave a hefty old beating to five rivals. He had begun to look hesitant under pressure - he is not a gelding - but had at least shown his best form most recently. No rival was able to lay down a challenge, despite a modest pace, and in the end the exposed Beaufort plodded self-conciously into second at the expense of hurdles newcomer Sunset Boulevard, who finished rather tired. Highest rated of these on the flat was Conservation, who has two jumps runs for two different yards, resulting in two performances of a woefully low standard that must be made extinct. Going one better was Grey Paint, who has three out of three in the flop department. He has finished weakly in all three runs, and even allowing for a year off the strengthen up, a step up in trip was an odd choice. Watch for a switch to handicaps and a drop in trip or is he just not up to it? The other runner, who has minor hints of ability over hurdles, but like Sunset Boulevard was successful on the all-weather on the flat, was Comeintothespace, who soon found his preferred space to be at the back, detached from the rest.

Christmas Parties at Lingfield Park Beginners' Chase [3m]

1: Joe Lively     2: Santando     3: Montys Island

Winner owned: RE Dimond, trained: Colin Tizzard, ridden: Joe Tizzard

Three interesting runners turned out in this novice chase, and Montys Island ran a blinder to split them, given that his chase rating was over two stones below their hurdle equivalents and he has been seen enough to give no reason for a sudden improvement to bridge that gap. Joe Lively was fairly unsuccessful in points (one modest win from many tries) but a switch to his current yard had produced some fair hurdle form. He did nothing wrong, just being pushed out to hold off the runner-up, but he is small and slightly built, and is unlikely to handle too much hustle and bustle over the bigger obstacles. After two hard fought wins in the mud, Santando lost his way a little over hurdles, although running at Cheltenham was asking a lot in one of them, and here he was second for the second time in chases. In neither race has he convinced that he has the zip required for a win at the moment, but softer ground - the chase course was firm prior to the morning downpour - might help him. Montys Island jumped well and ran to his best in holding off Almizan, again lackadaisical away from Fontwell. The latter was closing on the leaders when knocked back by a blunder 6 out, something he avoided on his chase debut.

The one pic from the day not bedraggled by drizzle, as Joe Lively sees off Santando

Lingfield Park for Weddings Handicap Hurdle [2m 7f]

1: Herecomestanley     2: Caught In Time     3: Salopian

Winner owned: Christopher Shankland & Barbara Woodcock, trained: Milton Harris, ridden: Charlie Poste

All the rage in the betting ring, what was left of it, was Salopian, well treated on his first run for seventeen months, when a step up in trip on fast ground had almost paid dividends. He ran well for a long, long way today, but just faded out of the picture late on, as if the run would fine tune him. Herecomestanley could be opposed on the basis of ground (four wins before today came on good through to heavy) and the absence of a hood, which normally makes him look like an equine terrorist. That, plus a six month break, added up, one might imagine, to a warm up for returning to chasing, but he overcame the negatives to outlast Caught In Time, where Time = The Run In (what have you got to say to that, Steven Hawking!). The second had run all four times at two miles, including one chase, but this raising of the stamina bar - a bit of 4 x 2? - was the first time he has threatened to trouble the scorer. He looks like a little win is possible, but the O'Neill / McCoy combination will prevent a worthwhile price about it. A couple with some encouraging placed form flopped. Cornish Orchid went off too fast in front, and wilted badly half a mile out. His best runs have been about this trip on fast ground, but in smaller fields than today's 13. Watch for the odd long priced place when he gets those conditions. Here To Eternity has gone off the boil lately, and was unproven beyond 2m 1f, so went off at about 25/1. Instead of inadequate stamina, a tendency to clatter through each of the hurdles ruined his day, but he is better than shown when on song.

Arenaleisureplc.com Handicap Chase [2m]

1: Rapide Plaisir     2: Alrafid     3: Avesomeofthat

Winner owned: Another Comedy Partnership, trained: Richard Lee, ridden: Robert Thornton

On the upper rating limits this was the best race of the day, and despite only seven runners going to post, they did accumulate the most reasons between them for not backing a horse, exceeding the very high standard set in the opener. The other cause for not betting was the race was packed full of apparently fussy front-runners, so a fearsome duel for the lead was on the cards. It did not happen, leaving outsider Golly to set an average pace for three-quarters of the race. Rapide Plaisir took advantage, which was nice to see as after a win on his debut for the current yard, runs had been sparse, and the form shown regressing. He shrugged off a fall last time (4 months ago, so quite a quick reappearance by his standards) to get back to his best. Alrafid did not find the rest stopping in front, as he needs, and made his usual 'threatening move but that is is far it goes' sort of effort. One of the ones that changed tactical tack for today was Avesomeofthat, who ran quite well in the circumstances, without ever looking like he would catch the first pair. Of the others, the main observation is that Smoke Trail would not have been suited by Lingfield at all (see Ones to Note). 

Play Golf at Lingfield Park Novice Handicap Hurdle [2m ½f]

1: Mister Right     2: Backlash     3: Double Spectre

Winner owned: The Dragon Partnership, trained: Dominic ffrench Davis, ridden: Robert Thornton

The final race over obstacles was something of a cavalry charge, with none of them standing out as poised for a spring into a greater limelight than a rainy day at the end of September. Mister Right proved to be favourite, and delivered on the honour bestowed, finishing strongly to see off Backlash's run from well off of the pace. The runner up got within a length or two at the final flight, by Mister Right had a bit up his sleeve, and the race was soon won. Rather like the first two home, Double Spectre had been hovering around the frame in this level of race without seeming to have a ghost of a chance of plucking a win from the ether. Eventually, a group of similar horses washed up together and one of them had to win. Perhaps Sky will buy the script to turn this one sentence pitch into six thirteen-episode series' of tortuous guff. Fourth placed Dancewiththedevil collects letters and the high numbers as a hobby and thus to have been fourth will have disappointed him, but that did involve a rapid weakening after two out, so maybe he is not too upset. 

Lingfieldpark.co.uk Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m ½f]

1: Outlandish     2: Generous Star   3: Brave Bugsy

Winner owned: LG Kimber & S Kimber, trained: Andrew Turnell, ridden: Barry Fenton

The ever modest all-weather bumper was set aside in favour of a turf variety, and the course management would have a good argument in observing that the standard of the competition did not improve a jot for the change. That will be of no concern to the winning trainer, whose celebration of the success was showed a degree of jubilation not in sync with the quiet vibe of the day. His fancied rivals had tended to be pottering around on the peripheries of places previously, and after taking a few strides to stamp his authority on the race, Outlandish was a fairly easy winner. Generous Star was placed for the second time and gives a good guide to the unexceptional standard on show. The money all came for Run To Me (33s to 12s), owner of a severe drubbing at Newbury just under two years ago. He made a challenge half a mile out, looking dangerous, but the effort petered out well short of the line.

Ones to Note

Herecomestanley: Well handicapped over hurdles when in this sort of mood

Here To Eternity: Has more ability than recently shown, and even on a good day, 2m 7f might be too far

Avesomeofthat: Not obviously well handicapped but showed enough to think another front running win is a possbility

Smoke Trail: Has to go on good to firm or faster, no more than 2m 1f and right-handed, so his presence here today was irrelevant to future days when this is met, as although two out of three ain't bad, it ain't enough either.

Ones to Avoid

Santando: Has done nothing obviously wrong, but is looking a little short of fizz

Grey Paint: Could be suited by a return to 2 miles and a pitifully low handicap mark, but just seems a phenomenally weak finisher.

UK-Jumping selections

Almizan: It weren't Fontwell, so he weren't up for it, as a football phone-in caller might have described it