All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield

Winning Story was an authoritative winner of the Betway All-Weather Marathon at Lingfield.

A huge crowd flocked to the Surrey circuit for All-Weather Championships Finals Day and two miles faced the 14 runners in the first championship event of the afternoon.

John Reel took the field along for much of the journey before the hat-trick-seeking Watersmeet was sent on by Joe Fanning before the home turn.

Saeed bin Suroor's 7-1 shot Winning Story swiftly went in pursuit under Silvestre de Sousa and battled his way to the front inside the final furlong before going on to score by a length and three-quarters.

Steve Rogers was a clear third.

De Sousa said: "He travelled strong off a strong pace and picked them up well.

"There was a lot of trouble on the inside and I had that much horse underneath me that when I asked him to go, he went on for me."

Bin Suroor said: "He's doing really well and the jockey gave him a very good ride.

"The trip was brilliant for him and Silvestre looked after him in the race. He won it really well.

"He could be one for the Chester Cup or maybe we might wait a week later and take him to the Yorkshire Cup.

"I think the two-and-a-quarter-mile trip of the Chester Cup on the tight track will suit him."

Mark Johnston, trainer of Watersmeet, said: "Nothing had won beyond stall eight and I was going to use that excuse if the winner had not been drawn in 12!

"He ran a great race. It doesn't help he was drawn out wide there as he had to use a bit early on. He did get a good position.

"I could see a long way out he was travelling well but I didn't see what was in behind. Coming off the last bend I thought he was going to win.

"I've never said he is better on the all-weather, just that he is more consistent. He has run some great races on the turf but he is in the form of his life at the moment.

"The Northumberland Plate has got to be in our minds as has the Chester Cup. We will take it one race at a time."

Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni combined to land the 32Red All-Weather Fillies' And Mares' Championships Conditions Stakes with 6-1 shot Realtra.

A Listed winner in France in December, the five-year-old was well beaten twice in Dubai earlier in the year, but appeared much improved by the application of blinkers.

Shypen led the field into the straight, but was claimed by Realtra deep inside the final furlong and the grey passed the post a neck to the good over hot favourite Muffri'Ha.

The William Haggas-trained Muffri'Ha was the even-money market-leader after being placed at Group One level at Meydan on her latest appearance, but although both she and Ashadihan got rolling late, they had to make do with minor honours in second and third respectively.

Atzeni said: "She's a filly that did well two years ago and she was a little bit disappointing in Dubai for some reason.

"I think the blinkers helped and the guys have done a great job at home with her.

"I was caught three wide, which I wasn't very happy about, but I was drawn 12 and the pace was quite slow, so I had to sit and suffer.

"She probably gets a mile, so she saw the trip (seven furlongs) out really well.

"She's getting better as she's getting older."

Varian said: "It's great to get a winner here today. I didn't have much confidence as she ran two terrible races in Dubai and I could not for the life of me put the finger on why.

"We went for the blinkers today, whether it was solely that or being back on home soil I don't know. It is good to see her come back to life today.

"We are really delighted to have her back to form again. On her best form she is a very talented filly. She is a previous Group Three winner and I'm delighted she has bounced back to her best today.

"We worried about the draw going into the race. Andrea said they didn't go very quick. Although she was trapped three wide she was close enough if good enough.

"I was a bit worried a finisher would come and get her. She idled in front a bit but when they got to her girth she went again.

"We could come back here for the Chartwell Stakes as she won a Listed race at Deauville in December and I think her penalty has dropped off now.

"Seven furlongs seems to be her trip as that is where her best form is."

Earlier, Forceful Appeal, returned at 33/1, came home a nose to the good from 100-30 favourite War Glory in the opening Sunbets All-Weather Championships Apprentice Handicap.

Forceful Appeal, was ridden by five pound claimer, Paddy Bradley, who hails from Epsom, with the winner trained in Epsom by Simon Dow.

Bradley said: "First of all, I just want to thank Mr Simon Dow. I had my doubts about seven furlongs for Forceful Appeal - I thought it might be on the sharp side - but Simon was very confident and filled me with confidence this morning.

"I had a dream run around the inside and fair play to horse, he stuck his head out. It got a bit tight early on but he was travelling well. He is a big horse and can hold his position.

"Hollie Doyle came at me late and I wasn't sure pulling up. I thought I might have held on.

"Wins like this are very hard to come by and when it comes off on a day like today, it is amazing."

Stable representative Karen Latchford, added: "Simon spoke to Paddy this morning and he has run an absolutely ideal race.

"The horse was drawn one and likes running round the rail, so we told Paddy to get a horse to follow, which he did. In these apprentice races they tend to go a little bit quick anyway and around the final bend they normally drift out a little, so we had room to come up the inside. He does get further so you know that he is going to plug on.

"It is absolutely brilliant, especially for a little yard.

"It is a good day for Epsom. Simon has gone to Bath today as we have two runners there. It was a toss up this morning but it was easier for me to come here as I am on crutches having come off something in the yard earlier in the year.

"We have no plans as yet but he the horse is in such good form it would be good to keep going. We will see how he comes out of it."