One of the best quality dual-purpose tracks in the country, Haydock Park in Merseyside is the only northern track aside from York to host a Group 1 race on the flat.

In the shape of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase the course also hosts one of the key Cheltenham Gold Cup preps, with its National Hunt schedule the envy of many other tracks.

Haydock Track Details

Haydock is left-handed and features flat, hurdle and chase courses. The run-in is around four-and-a-half furlongs which can be tough to get as it rises slightly throughout.

On the flat course, contrary to popular belief, the emphasis is very much on speed here as long as the ground is described as good or faster. Those who like to go forward as a result have a slight advantage.

Regardless of the length of the run-in, many horses ridden positively on quick ground have been able to get away from their field on this course but it is entirely the opposite when the heavens open, which is a regular occurrence in this part of the world.

When it’s soft here, look out for those with proven stamina at their distance and with a liking for being ridden patiently.

On the jumps track in fact, underfoot conditions can be particularly burdensome in the winter months. It’s all about stamina here despite the relatively flat topography, but in itself this is something that catches punters out when the major betting race, the Swinton Hurdle, comes around.

Staged in May, when the ground dries up this barely two-mile event puts the emphasis back on speed for jumps punters and that is worth keeping in mind.

Top Performers at Haydock

One handicap betting angle is to check out who has been doing well at Haydock Park in recent years. The top trainers here are:

• Tom Dascombe*
• Mark Johnston*
• William Haggas*
• Mick Dods*
• Sue Smith
• Donald McCain Jr.
• Paul Nicholls
• Jamie Snowden
• Colin Tizzard
• Ian Williams
• Nigel Twiston-Davies
• Nicky Henderson

The better-performing jockeys in terms of strike-rate are:

• James Doyle*
• Jim Crowley*
• Oisin Murphy*
• Jason Hart*
• Franny Norton*
• Charlie Deutsch
• Will Kennedy
• Sean Bowen
• Danny Cook
• Sam Twiston-Davies
• Noel Fehily

* Flat racing, others are all National Hunt

Major Haydock Park Handicaps

Flat racing at Haydock is as prevalent as National Hunt, however given the nature of the flat game the Sprint Cup, Lancashire Oaks, the Temple Stakes and the Rose of Lancaster take priority. Over the jumps there are more handicap betting opportunities for value-hunting punters.

Flat

Race	Meeting	Grade	Distance
Silver Bowl	Temple Stakes Day, May	Class 2	1 mile, 30 yards
Old Newton Cup	Old Newton Cup Day, July	Class 2	1 mile, 3 furlongs, 175 yards

Jumps

Race	Meeting	Grade	Distance
Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle	Betfair Chase Day, November	Grade 3	2 miles, 7 furlongs
Tommy Whittle Chase	Tommy Whittle Chase Day, December	Class 2	2 miles, 6 furlongs, 204 yards
Peter Marsh Chase	Peter Marsh Chase Day, January	Grade 2	3 miles, 1 furlong, 125 yards
Grand National Trial (Chase)	National Trial Day, February	Grade 3	3 miles, 4 furlongs, 97 yards
Swinton Hurdle	Swinton Hurdle Day, May	Grade 3	1 mile, 7 furlongs, 144 yards