16:50 That’s about it from Haydock where it is still overcast and sticky. Some interesting racing but it has to be said the soft going definitely had an impact on the results.

There is racing here again tomorrow night and Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile we will bring you jumping action from Worcester tomorrow afternoon.

From Haydock a very goodnight.  

16:45 A mile and a quarter handicap to end proceedings on day one of this three day meeting.

High Five Society set off to make all under Micky Fenton and it looked to be a successful tactic until a furlong out the top weight Hurlingham, who had been tracking the leaders under Paul Mulrennan, made a decisive move to take up the running.

The only challenger looked to be the favourite Mae Cigan who came from the main bunch but only got within 2¼ lengths of the winner with Three Strings denying the front runner a finish in the first three.  

16:25 Some more news from the Stewards room, Neil Callan picked up a two day ban for careless riding following his ride on Madam Trop Vite in the second race. The ban is on the 23rd & 24th August.

16:15 It is a funny old sport this racing. In the soft going here at Haydock they have been strung out like the washing in the sprint events. Yet we have a 1¾ mile mini-marathon and we have a really close blanket finish, for the places at least.

Boucheron under Paul Hannigan set the pace which was steady rather than frenetic, no surprise given the prevailing conditions.

Indeed the early pace was such there was little change in the first mile of the race, with the favourite Woodcutter settled mid-division and the eventual winner Daraahem tracking the leaders.

Three out the favourite made a challenge on the near rail but the grey met some interference, having said that it is unlikely he would have won. Allied Powers the main perpetrator eventually took third place.

The winner meanwhile came down the centre of the course, which is where the better ground appears to be, having a clear run and running on to win by 2½ lengths.

There was a real blanket finish for second with Meshtri , who came from the rear, just getting the better of Allied Powers and Manyriverstocross.

A running on eye-catcher was Henry Cecil’s Sevenna.   

16:05 Some news from the 3:10 race, apprentice Neil Brown can consider himself very unlucky to pick up a 1 day ban for not riding to his draw.

Drawn 10 he drifted to the right coming out of the stalls and although there were no runners on his outside he was still banned - somewhat harsh in the view of many observers.

15:45 A one mile slog this time and again the runners seemed to be treading water – it is going to be difficult for “come from behind” runners today.

Instead we saw a bold front running display from Mangham although he was never in a commanding lead at any point. As they passed the furlong pole there were seven runners almost in line any one of which could have won if good enough.

His closest rival at the line was Unbreak My Heart who was running on, of sorts, although walking on may be more technically correct, and my well have got up had the going been better or the race 50 yards longer.

The favourite Stevie Thunder had every chance at the furlong pole but was soon treading water to finish a disappointing fourth, being pipped by Reel Buddy Star for third place.

Winning first season trainer David Brown said afterwards, "This horse has so much speed that we had to try him over this shorter trip.

"We've had 15 runners so far and 11 of them have made the frame."

15:15 Another race over the six, this time for three year olds and I have to admit it looked like watching a race in slow motion as all the runners appeared to be treading water in the final stages and the field was certainly strung out. (The race after next race will certainly be interesting as it is over 1¾ miles).

Bonne the 5/2 favourite hung coming out of the stalls, giving a lead to all her rivals.

The field was well spread across the course in the early stages, with Whiteoak Lady and Tadalavil setting the pace, although Big Slick and Foreign Rhythm were not far behind on the near side.

Approaching the furlong pole it was the centre field runners who had the advantage with Whiteoak Lady and Tadalavil  fighting it out. Bonne did try to come with a run but never troubled the leaders, looking to be feeling the ground more than most.

Strawberry Moon, another who broke badly, made some late progress to take third place.    

14:45 Another two-year-old race for our second event, this time over six furlongs. There were only five runners but all of them are previous winners.

As would be expected in the conditions the pace was steady, with three of them Rafiqa, Madame Trop Vite and Caranbola leading and First City and the favourite Sneak Preview settled in behind.

As they approached the final furlong Rafiqa was the first of the leaders to crack with Madame Trop Vite to follow shortly, leaving Caranbola in the lead and Sneak Preview looking the only challenger.

Inside the half furlong it looked to be a two horse race with the favourite gaining on the leader but somehow not finding enough to get her head in front, leaving Caranbola to hold on by a head.

14:15 The opener was the first mile contest for two-year-olds this season.

Fourteen went to post but only 13 started as Noble Artist refused to enter the stalls, luckily he was a 100/1 shot so there was no impact on the betting. Ironically Tombov who had played up in the parade ring entered the stalls with no problems whatsoever.

Russian George one of the 3/1 joint favourites set the early pace accompanied by the other joint favourite Splinter Cell, accompanied by Victorian Tycoon.

Turning for home it was the market leaders plus Union Island who seemed to have the race between them with most of the remainder treading water.

It was Russian George who cracked first, ceding the lead a furlong from home leaving Splinter Cell under Jamie Spencer in front, Union Island was the main challenger with Ubi Ace in third place. In the end the favourite came home by 3 1/2 lengths.

The only eye catcher was Huxaar who made some good progress inside the final furlong to finish a never closer sixth.

Looking at how spread out the field were I think the ground is going to play a significant role this afternoon.

14:00 Looking at the runners for the first in the parade ring, Tombov is being a real bugger, whinnying, rearing and bucking - he's so bad he has been taken back to the pre-parade ring - good luck to jockey Eddie Ahern.

Splinter Cell looks the most relaxed in the ring.

13:40 Good afternoon from Haydock Park where the weather is overcast and there is a distinct muggy feeling in the air.

The official going is Soft and we have seven non-runners so far.

Return to race archive

Non-Runners

2:10
9 Noble Artist (refused to enter stalls)

3:10
11 Wave Hill (going)

3:40
2 City Of Kings (going)
5 Last Three Minutes (going)

4:10
10 Wells Lyrical (bad scope)

4:40
4 War Of The Roses (going)
6 Lilac Moon (going)
14 Sweet Seville (coughing)

Results

2:10

1st 4 Splinter Cell 3/1 jf
2nd 1 Union Island 9/2
3rd 5 Ubi Ace 100/1
13 Ran w/d No 9
Distances3 1/2L & 2L
Tote
Win £3.50
Place £1.60 £2.00 £24.10
Exacta £23.10
No rule 4

2:40

1st 3 Caranbola 9/4
2nd 2 Sneak Preview 15/8 fav
5 Ran
Distances Head
Tote
Win £3.00
Place £1.50 £1.30
Exacta £5.00

3:10

1st 3 Whiteoak lady 11/1
2nd 2 Tadalavil 7/1
3rd 4 Strawberry Moon 5/1
10 Ran NR 11
Distances Head & 2 1/2L
Tote
Win £13.90
Place £3.70 £2.20 £1.70
Exacta £111.30

3:40

1st 11 Mangham 6/1
2nd 1 Unbreak My Heart 14/1
3rd 12 Reel Buddy Star 12/1
10 Ran NR 2 & 5
Distances 1L & Neck
Tote
Win £8.10
Place £2.40 £3.40 £4.20
Exacta £101.40

4:10

1st 2 Daraahem 11/1
2nd 4 Meshtri 9/1
3rd 3 Allied Powers 11/2
10 Ran NR 10
Distances 2 1/2L & Short Head
Tote
Win £15.20
Place £3.60 £2.50 £2.00
Exacta £108.10

4:40

1st 1 Hurlingham 10/1
2nd 2 Mae Cigan 4/1 fav
3rd 12 Three Strings 14/1
13 Ran NR 4 , 6 & 14
Distances 2 1/4L & 1 3/4L
Tote
Win £15.20
Place £3.20 £1.90 £5.10
Exacta £51.60