High Action the obvious winner

High Action could be called the winner from a long way out in the ladbrokespoker.com Stakes at Lingfield and he did not disappoint.

After a steady early pace in the two-mile all-weather event, Richard Hughes made smooth headway from midfield aboard the Ian Williams inmate (12-1) and cruised to within a length of long-time leader Peak Of Perfection.

After that rival dropped away, Salute and Golden Quest took over, but Hughes was sitting with a double handful off the turn and he edged to the front a furlong from home before asking the five-year-old to stride out.

He did so to good effect to pull away from Golden Quest and Swift Sailor for a length and a quarter victory.

After collecting the winner’s cheque of £29,000 (€24,200) for owner Carl Barnes, the Alvechurch handler is eyeing a bigger pot.

“He has an entry in the Ebor and the quicker the ground, the better for him,” said Williams, who has just 14 Flat horses in his dual-purpose yard.

“He disappointed at Newcastle last time, but the ground and the draw were against him there. He had the run of the race today and though it is great to win a good prize such as this, it is difficult to know what to do with him, because we initially bought him as a hurdler.

“He likes fast ground, so you would be worried and would not necessarily want to risk him over hurdles.”