Sky Bet Sunday Series guide to the tracks: Haydock Park

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Date: Sunday 10th August 2025

Location: Haydock Park Racecourse, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 0HQ.

Haydock is a left-handed oval track. Galloping in nature, the overall circumference is approximately 1m4f, with a lengthy run from the final bend of four-and-a-half furlongs.

Located in the North-West of England, the racing surface must withstand some of the harshest weather in the country. The fact that Haydock can provide two distinct sprint tracks - an inner and an outer course - for races run over 5f and 6f offers an asset to the Jockey Club.

Haydock staged the fifth Sky Bet Sunday Series fixture of the year on Sunday August 4.

Jim Goldie arrived at the Lancashire venue with high hopes of landing the £100,000 Sky Bet Sunday Series Bonus with Letsbefrank and American Affair, seeking history-making third series wins.

However, there was to be frustration, for at least another fortnight. Firstly, Letsbefrank going under by a neck to Arrange (Martin Todhunter), and then American Affair also beaten by the same margin, the tables turned from Thirsk by Jer Batt (David & Nicola Barron).

The Haydock action had commenced with a winning favourite; Solomon (William Haggas) proving way too strong for First Officer, but the remainder of the afternoon went the way of the bookmakers.

Karl Burke’s better-fancied Airspeed caught close home by stablemate Qaseem in the Nursery, and the dropped-in-trip Angel Hunter (third) not finding top stride until too late behind the £65,000 breeze-ups purchase Leonardo Dax (Patrick Owens) in the 6f juvenile maiden.

The other winners on an eventful afternoon at Haydock Park were Sunfall (William Haggas), and Trilby (Sam England).

David O’Meara (11-49; 22%; +£28.70) was leading trainer at Haydock Park in 2024, his most notable winner being Epic Poet in the Old Borough Cup.

William Haggas (10-36; 28%; +£39.34) took the prestigious Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup with Montassib (25-1), also notching a Sky Bet Sunday Series double courtesy of Solomon and Sunfall.

Ed Walker (8-23; 35%; +£17.59) saddled various novice, maiden, and nursery winners, while his progressive Wootton Bassett gelding English Oak delivered in the New Boston Handicap prior to Royal Ascot success in the Buckingham Palace.

Hugo Palmer (7-36; 19%; +£27.83) and Clive Cox (6-17; 35%; +£35.50) fared best of the remainder. Cox winning the Group 2 Betfred Temple Stakes with Kerdos, his third win in Haydock’s early season feature since 2016.

Daniel Tudhope (11-45; 24%; +£30.85) was leading rider at Haydock Park in 2024, his partnership with David O’Meara yielding Old Borough Cup glory on Epic Poet. However, Tudhope also enjoyed his fair share of success for other trainers, with Believing (Achilles Stakes), and Luther (Ascendant Stakes) notable Listed winners for George Boughey and Charlie Fellowes, respectively.

Oisin Murphy (10-33; 30%; +£2.47) finished the Haydock Park season a single winner behind Tudhope. The Roaring Lion filly Queen Of The Pride scoring twice for Murphy, including in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks.

Tom Marquand (9-41; 22%; +£28.37) was one further back again, Tiber Flow (John Of Gaunt Stakes) the most significant of his nine winners, denying Murphy aboard the runner-up Sirona. Callum Rodriguez (6-37; 16%; -£4.55) and Rossa Ryan (6-47; 13%; -£18.02) were best of the rest.

“There isn’t that much to say about Haydock. It is a fair and level track. The bends are tight enough, but you have long enough in the home straight to get your position and go from there.”

Four horses, Old Cock (Ed Bethell), Nellie Leylax (Tom Dascombe), Queen Of The Pride (John and Thady Gosden), and Myal (Steph Hollinshead) were unbeaten, all 2-2, at Haydock last year, but Sam England’s Trilby (3-5; 60%) was most successful overall. Those three wins coming over 5f-6f, on a wide range of ground conditions right the way through the entire Flat season from April to October.