Controversy reigned at Lingfield after Welsh Dragon was declared a winner - only for judge Jane Stickels to change her mind.

After a driving finish to the first division of the littlewoodspools.co.uk Handicap, 9/4 favourite Welsh Dragon and 14/1 shot Miss Dagger forced a photo-finish.

Stickels initially called the Andrew Balding-trained Welsh Dragon, ridden by champion jockey Jamie Spencer, as the winner with Miss Dagger, handled by John Best and partnered by 7lb claimer Kylie Manser, second.

But moments after the weighed-in signal was given, Stickels decided she had made the wrong call and reversed the placings.

After a stewards' inquiry into the incident, the original result stood for betting purposes, but the final outcome was reversed.

Stipendiary steward Richard Westropp explained: "Basically what has happened is the judge quickly called a result and that was the incorrect call which was noted after the weighed-in notice was given.

"So, under rule 26, we have corrected the judge's original call."

Balding was aghast at Stickels' decision, adding: "It looked pretty close to me but I was very disappointed when the result was amended.

"The weighed-in signal had been made after the result was announced in our favour so I can't see how it can be changed."

Although Best was pleased to be handed the win, Miss Dagger's owners, The Fruit Cake Partnership, were less than impressed.

"My owners are screaming as although they are not huge gamblers, this is their only horse and they've gone out there and had a bet," Best told At The Races.

"I was just surprised by how quickly she called the result as it was called before the horses came off the track and it was obviously very close.

I thought the horse (Miss Dagger) had won.

"Obviously it was much closer than I originally thought but as they went over the line, I thought we had won

"Jamie Spencer couldn't believe he had won as he was walking up the chute - he was adamant he had finished second."

Prize money will be distributed in accordance with the amended result and the matter is now set to come under the Jockey Club's internal procedures.

"A report will be sent in from the stewards and then there will be an internal procedure that we will follow to see if any action will be taken," said Jockey Club spokesman Paul Struthers.

"There will be an internal review much as in the same way anyone who works for any company with internal procedures.

"It would be totally inappropriate to comment on what they might be."

Outspoken bookmaker Barry Dennis could not conceal his disgust and moaned: "That has probably cost me £10,000.

"We've paid out already and some have had to pay out twice.

"I don't know how you take this further now. I shall start by suing Stickels and if she won't pay, I shall sue Lingfield Park racecourse - then I shall go on to the Jockey Club.

"Someone else has got to pay - the bookmakers have had enough of this."

Under the rules of racing, bookies are obliged to settle in favour of Welsh Dragon, but Coral were the first to confirm that they had decided to pay out on both 'winners'.

"Punters who backed Miss Dagger would rightly feel aggrieved if we didn't pay them out after they've found a 14/1 winner," said Simon Clare, Coral spokesman.

"This dreadful cock-up has cost us a substantial amount of money as the 'wrong winner' was a very well backed favourite, and this embarrassing and costly episode must not be allowed to happen again."

Totesport also revealed later that they would pay out on both horses.

Spokesman Damian Walker said: "It is a very unfortunate situation.

"We will pay out totesport punters on both horses, but for totepool purposes we have no choice but to go with the official result with number four Welsh Dragon as the winner. This obviously affects the totewin and the toteexacta."