Hats off to Prescott for mastering the system - but it's a system that's broken

Glenister had shown virtually no ability before running in the Class 6 handicap at Lingfield on Tuesday. He had run three times in Class 5 novice and maiden races, finishing eighth of 11, ninth of 12 and tenth of 13, beaten between 11 and 21 lengths on each occasion. His starting price in each race ranged from 25-1 to 150-1 and he had registered a best Racing Post Rating of 46.

Yet his enormous improvement to win at Lingfield was no surprise whatsoever. Certainly not according to the market – he was sent off 13-8 favourite – and not to those of us familiar with how racing works.

The stewards didn’t even feel the need to inquire into the performance, knowing without asking what the explanation would be: having run three times over seven furlongs, Glenister had simply improved for the step up to a more suitable trip of a mile and a quarter.