Graham Lee was more thrilled than most that yesterday's Sedgefield meeting went ahead despite the heavy rain as he ended a 'quiet spell' and reached his half-century for the season in tremendous style with a 951-1 treble on Grattan Lodge, Begsy's Bullet and Farne Isle.

The meeting had survived two morning inspections, but had came under threat again after the first race when several jockeys expressed some concern at the state of the ground.

But following a further inspection of the course when officials were joined by the northern jockeys' Safety Officer Russ Garritty and colleagues Lee, Richard McGrath and Davy Russell, it was decided racing should continue.

Grattan Lodge was on a hat-trick mission in Doug Jemmeson 'Lifetime In Racing' Handicap Hurdle and continuing to improve, he took up the running going to the second-last flight and saw out the marathon three miles three furlongs well to pass the post with six lengths to spare over Blue Irish.

Winning trainer Howard Johnson was taking his score for the season to 22, and he said: ''We had only 12 last season, but what has made all the difference this time is that we re-laid our mile all weather gallop with wood fibre.

''And the cold snap helped us too, we were a bit short on staff at the time so I decided not to do a lot with the horses and as a result they have had a break and I think that will help them last through the season - we usually go off a bit at this stage.'' As he returned mud-splattered to the weighing-room for the seventh time with his third winner in the bag, Lee said with a wry smile: ''It is bad, it is desperate ground, but I was on a losing run of 43 so I am pleased they gave it a go - last season was my best by far with 58 winners so that is well in my sights now.''

Begsy's Bullet, trained by Ginger McCain for his wife Beryl, and carrying the famous maroon and yellow colours sported by the mighty Red Rum on his three Aintree Grand National victories, gamely made all in the Celebrate Australia Day With Forster's (26th Jan) Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle.

There were several fancied in the Land Of The Prince Bishops Mares Only Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race, but the Geoff Harker-trained Farne Isle (a first winner by the stallion Midnight Legend)saw them off in no uncertain manner, bolting in by 14 lengths.

Harker said: ''This is a decent filly, I bought her off Bobby Brewis and his horses are always very tough and she has just taken a bit of time.'' And of his Patriach Express, winner of two bumpers, he added: ''He is a proper, proper horse and he will run at Newbury next month.''

Only Once is Cheltenham Festival bound after justifying Lenny Lungo's confidence with a convincing success on his debut under Rules in the Racecourse Video Services Maiden Chase.

Lungo elected to watch the race on TV in the press room, and as the runners milled round at the start he was most positive about the gelding's chance, reasoning: ''If he jumps he will win!'' This prompted a dash to the bookies by couple of members of the press corps to avail themselves of the 5-2 on offer.

Well, Tony Dobbin had the eight-year-old jumping well and travelling well, and taking up the running on the approach to what was the final fence (the last fence in the straight and the fence at the top of the hill were omitted because of the state of the ground), he kept on well and was ten lengths clear of Spot The Native at the line.

His Carrutherstown trainer said with a smile: ''I should get a good write up now don't you think boys!

"I bought him privately last spring in Ireland, he had run in two points, finishing second in one and first in the other at good courses and David Stevenson's Ashleybank Investments owns him now of course.