Haydock Park Racecourse hosts Betfair Chase

Haydock Park is located in Newton-le-Willows and it’s one of the biggest racecourses for National Hunt racing, with several meetings taking place throughout the calendar year. Between November and May, you can place horse racing bets on National Hunt races, with competitive races guaranteed.

During the spring and summer months, Haydock Park racecourse hosts Flat horse racing meetings, with the first meeting taking place in May and you will then get races all the way through to September. It means that punters who enjoy National Hunt and Flat racing can visit Haydock to get their fill of racing.

Haydock Punters Love Betfair Chase Day

The biggest race meeting at Haydock Park is Betfair Chase Day, which naturally features the Betfair Chase. This three mile, one furlong encounter is traditionally the pre-cursor to the Cheltenham Gold Cup that takes place in March, with the Betfair Chase being a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase.

The Haydock track is different to Cheltenham by virtue of the fact that the racecourse is flatter, with Bristol De Mai having won the Betfair Chase in 2017 and 2018, while Kauto Star was able to win the race on four occasions.

The Paul Nicholls-trained charge first won in 2006 and doubled up in 2007, while there were further successes in 2009 and 2011. Similarly, Cue Card has been hugely successful and triumphed in 2013 before further successes in 2015 and 2016.

On the same day as the Betfair Chase, we have the chance to place horse racing bets on other races on the card including the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle. This often provides clues for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with the race having the distance of over three miles and a true test of stamina.

In 2018, Paisley Park was the winner of the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle before going on to win the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2019, with Sam Spinner and Dynaste among the previous champions.

Plenty More National Hunt Racing at Haydock

There’s a December meeting at Haydock Park Racecourse, with the Tommy Whittle Chase taking place over two miles and seven furlongs, while there’s a Champion Hurdle Trial that takes place in January and this is a race where The New One triumphed on four successive occasions between 2015-2018.

There are several other high-profile National Hunt races in January, with the Altcar Novices’ Chase having been won by Bristol De Mai before the same horse then won the Betfair Chase. There is also a Novices’ Hurdle in January where horses often thrive and kick on to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle which is the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival.

Bristol De Mai also won the Peter Marsh Chase in 2017, with the Nigel Twiston-Davies horse being the ultimate course specialist at Haydock Park, with this race being a Grade 2 National Hunt chase available to horses who are five years old or older.

In February, there are several classy renewals taking place on the National Hunt calendar, with the Rendlesham Hurdle among the Grade 2 heats and that’s a tough test of stamina over three miles. Kasbah Bliss was a notable winner of this race in 2008 and 2009.

Since 1947, Haydock Park Racecourse has hosted a Grand National Trial in February, with several horses going on from this race to compete in the Aintree spectacular. It’s a twenty-two fence affair, with horses having the chance to run their prep race at Haydock before heading to a nearby Aintree racecourse.

Enjoy Flat Horse Racing at Haydock Park

Between May and September, Haydock switches from National Hunt meetings to Flat meetings, with the Merseyside course hosting several classy races in May and that includes the Swinton Handicap Hurdle, Spring Trophy, Silver Bowl and Temple Stakes.

The Spring Trophy is a listed race that is run over seven furlongs, with the Silver Bowl being a handicap race over one mile, while the Temple Stakes is a Group 2 renewal which attracts a prestigious field.

In June, there are another spate of excellent betting races for Flat racing fans, with the Sandy Lane Stakes among the Group 2 races, while the Pinnacle Stakes and John of Gaunt Stakes are Group 3 encounters, while we have a listed race in the form of the Achilles Stakes.

In July, we have the Old Newton Cup and Lancashire Oaks, while August brings further quality races in the form of the Dick Hern Fillies’ Stakes and Rose of Lancaster Stakes.

Before the racing returns to National Hunt, there is a September meeting which includes the Ascendant Stakes, Haydock Sprint Cup and Superior Mile. The Haydock Sprint Cup is a Group 1 race. It’s a six furlong encounter and serves as a fitting end to the Flat season at Haydock.