Lingfield Park is a sharp, left-handed racecourse that hosts National Hunt, Flat and all-weather horse racing in Surrey. The track has both turf and polytrack surfaces. The future King Edward VII – then Prince of Wales – officially opened Lingfield races back in 1890 with the course initially only having jumps racing. That was short-lived, however, as in 1894 The Jockey Club allowed Flat racing to be held here. Horses competing on the level has since overtaken National Hunt as the course’s main function.
While it may be somewhat lacking in top quality races in terms of standard compared to other tracks, Lingfield results can be form guides to horses that run well in the Classics at Epsom Downs – The Derby and The Oaks – as trials for both are run here. Several Listed events are run on the all-weather after the official Flat season is over which maintains betting interest. Lingfield horse racing may seem a little jack of all trades, but that way it means you’re not short of things to bet on and enjoy. Let’s take a look in more detail at some of the racing highlights of the year to look forward to at Lingfield.
The main Lingfield racecourse events you can bet on
While the jumps action at Lingfield racecourse isn’t anything out of the ordinary, the Flat and all-weather horse racing is worth commenting upon. There are several meetings across all spheres throughout the course of a calendar year, but here are some of the main events to look out for.
Cleves Stakes and Winter Derby Trial fun in February
A couple of Listed event headline the second day of a two-day card in early February. Firstly, the Cleeves Stakes is a 6f race for horses aged four and up on the all-weather. David Barron is the trainer to follow here having previously saddled three winners. The 1m 2f Winter Derby Trial, meanwhile, gives horses a prep run over the same course and distance on the polytrack in preparation for that big race held a few weeks later. Marco Botti is a five-time winning trainer of the Trial. Four horses have gone on to land the Winter Derby itself, but more on that below…
Winter Derby a rare group all-weather prize supported by Hever Sprint
Towards the end of February or sometimes in very early March, there’s another two-day meeting of Lingfield races. The Saturday again hosts the main action with the Listed 5f Hever Sprint Stakes another chance for older horses to strut their stuff. As one of only four all-weather races to enjoy group status, the Group 3 1m 2f Winter Derby is the undoubtedly highlight of all horse racing at this venue. This again is open to four-year-olds and up and is usually as competitive as a handicap.
Spring Cup gets three-year-olds in on the act
Many of the polytrack races here are about giving older sorts the chance to run and stay fit. The Listed 7f Spring Cup is for three-year-olds only, however, and is run in March. Paco Boy, who would go on to taste Group 1 successes later in his career at Longchamp, as well as the Lockinge at Newbury and Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, is by far the most famous winner of this. William Haggas has been the trainer to follow in recent years, however, with three successes from 2014 onwards.
All-Weather Championships an Easter treat on Good Friday
The artificial surface gets one final use until the autumn during the Easter weekend thanks to the All-Weather Championships on Good Friday. Although none of the races give black type to the winners, they are very competitive class 2 events. This card contains a 7f apprentices’ handicap, a stayers’ race called the Marathon over 2m, a 7f fillies and mares only event, a 6f sprint for older horses and one for three-year-olds, a mile race and a middle distance contest over 1m 2f. That opener apart, the rest are all conditions stakes meaning horses have to won or run well in qualifiers in order to be eligible to run on All-Weather Championships day.
Oaks and Derby Trials on in May
More on those aforementioned Listed and extended 1m 3f Trials for The Derby and The Oaks at Epsom in a moment. One race does have group status across the two-day Flat turf meeting on May. That’s the 7f Group 3 Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes. Although open to horses aged three and up, the older mares have to give a whopping 12lb weight-for-age away. Amazingly, that hasn’t stopped those four-year-olds and up from having a strong record in the race.
There’s been an Oaks Trial at Lingfield Park since 1933. In its earlier days, it was certainly useful form-wise for Epsom, but less so nowadays. Aidan O’Brien trained filly Seventh Heaven went on to land the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks in 2016, however, so it’s still a useful race to keep an eye on. Lingfield results in the Derby Trial, however, are less relevant. Open to colts and strangely geldings, who cannot contest Classics in the UK, It’s been over 20 years since a trial winner landed the big one at Epsom. The 2018 runner-up Kew Gardens went on land another Classic, the St Leger at Doncaster, though, so it is still targeted by handy types. O’Brien has won the Derby Trial four times.
More Listed all-weather action throughout November
Once the Flat season proper is over, Lingfield brings the all-weather back with plenty of racedays. There’s a Thursday in early November with a couple of Listed events open to three-year-olds and up on the card. The Fleur De Lys Fillies’ Stakes put the females centre stage over one mile. William Haggas has saddled three winners of this. The River Eden Fillies’ Stakes also sees the girls race and is a demonstration of their staying credentials over a 1m 5f trip. Saeed bin Suroor is a three-time winning trainer of this event.
Later in November there’s a twilight Friday night card and Saturday racing back-to-back. The latter is home to two more Listed races open to the same horses on the all-weather. The Churchill Stakes is a 1m 2f race that can serve as a useful trial for the following year’s Winter Derby. There’s also a sprint over 6f called the Golden Rose Stakes here.
All-weather Lingfield races continue right through the winter and there’s a day of festive fun near Christmas. That card is headlined by the Listed 1m 2f Quebec Stakes, again open to three-year-olds and up. This one too can be helpful for estimating Winter Derby form. Jockey Luke Morris has done well in this race before, as the winning rider in both 2015 and 2017.
Who is the best bookmaker for betting at Lingfield racecourse?
No bookie sponsors more Lingfield racecourse events than Betway. That makes them the perfect firm to use when betting on the variety of horse racing on offer there. If you like to take a punt regularly, then their ‘Free Bet’ Club gives you bonuses for gambling a certain amount each week. While this may seem like a standard VIP style offer, it’s always better to take advantage of promotions than simply scoff at them. Naturally, the best odds guaranteed across all UK and Irish action – that include Lingfield horse racing – comes as standard.
As partners of all-weather events, Betway have also had a bonus for backing winners of race who won by a certain margin. If horse racing on an artificial surface is something you enjoy during those long winter evenings, then this is definitely an offer that appeals to you. They are also currently offering a bonus for punters who place lucky 15s on the horses that meet certain terms and conditions. A pick 4 competition has a daily prize of £1,000 – boosted tenfold to £10,000 if the meetings your selections are taken from are races broadcast on ITV Racing. It’s a great all-round horse racing betting package at Betway.
Lots of Lingfield racing tips on offer right here
Do you ever wish you could find a reliable source of horse betting tips? Well, you’re in luck! OpenOdds employ real experts in the field and provide punters with Lingfield racing tips and top selections from all the major UK and Irish courses, and even beyond! They go way beyond giving the name of a horse too. Our tipsters will put forward the case for what to back and why in detail. If it’s a whole racecard they’re looking ahead to, then you’ll find a NAP – the best bet of the day – and their next best selection, as well as a top each-way punt to consider. The experts often like to really drill down into the detail of a hot handicap or big group race, however. In an individual race preview, they put forward a main selection – the best value bet with the biggest chance of winning the event in question – and tell you which horses are the dangers.
Again, the each-way angle into a race is also carefully considered for your benefit. That way we’ve got every type of gambler covered and appeal to the widest audience. Sometimes our tipsters are for favourites and then on other occasions dead against them. Dark horses can lurk everywhere, with types capable of outrunning their odds and making the frame. It’s all included here, alongside where the best prices at the time of writing can be found and a simple scale of one to 10 of how risky each-way recommended wager put up is.
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Get a bit of expert advice to consider before betting on Lingfield races
Looking out for the latest Lingfield results can only tell you so much on their own. A news service when it comes to horse racing needs to do more. Announcements, developments, entries, injuries, results and weights all need to be set in some sort of context. That’s where OpenOdds with our betting first approach to news comes in. We know that developments can happen anytime, and they impact on the market. You can rely on us to delve straight to the very heart of the matter. Our experts are keeping across all the latest horse racing news, so you’re in no doubt as to what’s happening and how things that unfold or are revealed shaped the betting.
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