Haydock Park, Saturday 9 May 2026 — Tips & Preview

Haydock Park, Saturday 9 May 2026 — Tips & Preview

Haydock serves up a proper Saturday card with three featured races worth your attention, spanning flat Listed action and two competitive hurdle handicaps. Good ground suits a range of profiles today, and with William Haggas firing at 12/43 over the last fortnight and Dan Skelton clocking an impressive 9/29, stable form is a key angle across the card. Let's get into it.

12:45 — Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle (3m½f, Good, 15 runners)

This is a cracking puzzle of a staying handicap, but the race resolves itself pretty neatly around two horses once you strip away the pretenders.

Serious Chat has to head the market on raw evidence. Donald McCain's seven-year-old won this course and distance last month on good ground, travelling powerfully before asserting from two out. That was a career best, and he's paid the price with a 5lb rise. Still, he's clearly thriving and C&D form in a race like this is worth its weight. McCain's yard is ticking over (1/12 last 14 days) rather than flying, which is the only note of caution.

The real interest at the prices is Matty's Getaway Each-Way at 15/2 with Boyle Sports and Betfred. Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls have a 1/2 recent strike rate, small sample but positive. This seven-year-old is a handicap debutant, which is always interesting when a horse has genuine ability. He won a maiden at Doncaster comfortably over 2m5f in November, beating a subsequent Grade 2 novice winner in the process. He had wind surgery, came back with a perfectly satisfactory second of four here at Haydock over 2m5f last month, and now steps up to 3m-plus for the first time. The extra distance looks tailor-made. He's unexposed, lightly campaigned, and the handicapper hasn't had long to frame a mark against him. At 15/2 in a 15-runner handicap with four places paid, this is a proper each-way angle.

Eagle Fang Each-Way at 7/1 also makes the shortlist. William Durkan's gelding was a class second of 22 at Aintree four weeks ago on return to hurdling in a first-time visor, always prominent over 3m. He's up 2lb for that run but remains competitive. A four-place race at 7/1 is genuine each-way territory.

Selection: Matty's Getaway (each-way, 15/2 Boyle Sports/Betfred)

1:15 — Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (1m7½f, Good, 17 runners)

The Swinton is one of the premier staying hurdle handicaps of the spring season and this renewal looks wide open. Five places are on offer, which softens the blow in a deep field.

Tellherthename is the horse the race is built around. Dan Skelton's yard is in sharp form at 9/29 over the last fortnight, and Harry Skelton in the saddle is always a positive. The seven-year-old is lightly raced for his age and the County Hurdle run at Cheltenham told a compelling story: twelfth of 23 officially, but he was travelling smoothly in the straight and finished full of running after encountering traffic. He needs a clear passage today but the form is strong, the going is ideal (best efforts on good), and the first-time hood adds intrigue. He missed the Scottish Champion Hurdle when the rain arrived, which confirms connections are managing him specifically for conditions like today. He has every right to outrun his 11/4 price if things fall right.

Indemnity at 5/1 is a solid alternative. Emma Lavelle's six-year-old is 4/6 on good ground over hurdles, returned from a break to win at Plumpton last month at 15/2, and clearly loves conditions. The 10lb rise is the hurdle, but he's thriving and Jonathan Burke is a confident booking.

Gibbs Island at 4/1 has to be respected as a major player per the form book, coming off that County run and 1lb lower than at Cheltenham. Tom Lacey has been quiet (0/3 last 14 days) which is a small concern.

Selection: Tellherthename (11/4 Boyle Sports/Betfred)

3:40 — Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes (Listed, 7f, Good, 11 runners)

This Listed sprint looks like a two-horse race on the figures, and William Haggas makes a compelling case for favourite punters while the value play is clear at bigger odds.

Lake Forest at 7/4 is the obvious selection for most, and the case is strong. He won the Gimcrack at two, finished second in the Group 1 City of York over 7f on good to firm, and is now dropping into Listed company after being gelded following a disappointing Australian campaign. Haggas has been in fine form (12/43), and Cieren Fallon takes the ride. Six months off is the risk, but the yard handles horses fresh and this trip on this going is exactly his profile. He's a class above most of these on his best form.

The value selection, though, is Myal Each-Way at 13/2 with all three firms. Steph Hollinshead's five-year-old has a 7/18 career strike rate, which is outstanding. He shaped well in a Listed race at Doncaster on reappearance before digging deep to win a conditions race at Thirsk over 7f on good ground. That last detail matters: Myal has just proved he handles today's conditions and is building race fitness. David Allan knows the horse. He may not have reached his ceiling yet, and 13/2 in a small-field Listed with a realistic placed chance is a fair each-way proposition if Lake Forest underperforms on his comeback.

Holguin at 6/1 is worth noting as a dual winner of the Chester Listed equivalent. He's fresh (no run since his Chester win) and his trainer has a quiet 14-day record, but he has form when returning from a break. He's opposable but not ignorable.

Selection: Lake Forest (7/4 Boyle Sports/Betfred)

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