ANTHONY Honeyball’s Urca De Lima battled hard to beat rival Little Rich in Fontwell’s staying novice hurdle.

Lily The Pink almost added to Honeyball’s tally but came up short against Eglantier.

Writing on his official website, Honeyball said: “On a day when many trainers and jockeys boycotted the meeting in protest at poor prize money at racecourses run by ARC, I chose not to enter two horses in the maiden hurdle at Fontwell.

“As a rule I always steer clear of entering horses in races worth less than £5,000 apart from bumpers. But the novice hurdle in which Urca De Lima was entered originally advertised prize money of £6,300.

“The race was an ideal opportunity for her, though with only a handful of entries she ended up rewarding the patience of her owner Roger Devlin with prize money of just over £4,000.

“Although boycotting races offering poor prize money is fine by me I am not so sure about boycotting races worth upwards of £5,000.

“So Urca De Lima took her chance and despite losing concentration in front she picked up willingly after the final flight and was galloping on strongly in the closing stages.”While I haven’t quite got everything right with her she is still a baby and will progress with experience.

“Finally, well done to the team for continuing our great record of Best Turned Out prizes – with another double added to the tally.”

Meanwhile, Honeyball’s National hope Ms Parfois was defeated into second place as Potters Corner gave Christian Williams the biggest win of his fledgling training career with a dour staying performance in the Marston’s 61 Deep Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.