Key talking points from Haydock, a 10-1 ante-post tip and a horse to follow

Key talking points from Haydock, a 10-1 ante-post tip and a horse to follow

By Alex Scott
Last Updated: Sun 6 Jul 2025
Most eyes on Saturday were at Sandown for a stellar running of the Coral-Eclipse, but some 200 miles further north, Saturday’s bet265-sponsored meeting at Haydock Park saw a bumper crowd in attendance and, as usual for the Merseyside track, some very competitive action.
Ironically, it was the four-runner Lancashire Oaks that produced one of the closest finishes of the day with Estrange getting the better of Scenic, and it was the big field Old Newton Cup that turned into a procession, with Plage De Havre galloping to a four-length victory.
Below are three key talking points from the meeting.

Thirty per cent

That is the strike rate at which Andrew Balding has been operating at over the past two weeks, and he has only had five horses finish outside of the first four so far this month.
He saddled an across the card 2699-1 four-timer on Saturday, with two of those winners coming at Haydock; Plage De Havre was a well-backed 5-1 winner of the feature handicap before King’s Lynn sprung a 14-1 surprise in the 7f handicap later on, with both horses ridden by PJ McDonald.
Balding has several big race chances over the coming days, including Furthur in the Bahrain Trophy and Comical Point in the July Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival on Thursday, whilst it would be dangerous to rule out any of his runners in the meeting’s handicaps.
The 10-1 on offer with Coral and Labrokes for Balding’s Urban Glimpse in Friday’s bet365 Heritage Handicap over 1m2f may be worth taking given the form of his second last time out. The winner and fourth have both won since and the three-year-old races off just 1lb higher this week, although it is worth noting he also holds an entry at Chester on the same day.
Plage De Havre was a facile winner of the bet365 Old Newton Cup 

Estrange loses nothing in defeat

Rarely am I left speechless when racing, but one look at David O’Meara’s filly in the paddock before the bet365 Lancashire Oaks was all it took for me to be lost for words!
The striking near-white four-year-old was a warm order to make it four wins from five starts, being sent off the 2-7 favourite, and whilst she duly won, some were left a little disappointed given she only won by a neck after such an authoritative display over course and distance in May.
However, the RaceiQ data shows us that this race produced a quick finish, with a finishing speed percentage of 113% for the winner and a final three-furlong time of 34.73 seconds.
Estrange pre-race at Haydock Park
I am not sure this kind of tactical race would have played to Estrange’s strengths and she is surely capable of better she gets some soft ground. It is also worth remembering that Scenic is far more experienced and has a preference for top of the ground, so to my mind, Estrange lost nothing in defeat.
David O’Meara reported post-race that his filly did not drop the bit and relax like she often does, and that she had to do a lot of the work to bring back the runaway leader.
She would remain of interest for the Yorkshire Oaks if the word soft was in the going description, whilst the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot in October may be the race for her later in the season, for all there is plenty of chat about the Arc.

Ammes one to follow

The form of the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot has been well advertised, particularly since the runner-up Serious Contender nearly landed the Irish Derby last weekend.
Sixth in that race having done all the work on the front end was James Owen’s Ammes, who travelled into the 1m6f handicap at Haydock on Saturday like a good thing, only to weaken out of contention late on to finish fifth of the ten runners.
He had the cheekpieces he wore at Ascot dispensed with on this occasion but still looked in with a big chance three furlongs out and it may just be that he did not last home. 
A return to 1m4f looks a sensible option and I still think he was plenty of potential off a mark in the mid 80s over that trip. He is one worth considering for your Racing TV tracker.
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