Saturday’s ITV feature at Haydock was thrown into disarray after a hole was discovered in the middle of the track, delaying Race 2 before the afternoon’s big Royal Ascot trial races were even run.
The meeting had opened with the Listed Hedge Of Oak Stakes, shown live by ITV Racing, and it was there that the problem first surfaced. Friendly Soul, the hot favourite despite having been off the track since October 2024, appeared to take a false step under Oisin Murphy and was immediately eased. The filly was pulled up but walked back without needing immediate veterinary attention.
Officials moved quickly to inspect the area where the incident happened. John Gosden and jockey Duran Fentiman prodded the surface with a stick, and one test went into the ground much deeper than the rest. A groundsman was then able to push his arm into the hole up to his elbow, confirming there was a serious issue beneath the turf. BHA stewards then posted: “Delay to Race 2 at Haydock due to inspection.”
A delegation of stewards and jockeys gathered with the clerk of the course for a further examination, and the track was judged to be no longer raceable. Dan Cooper said there was a significant drainage issue that had caused the misstep. He said: “In the first race Friendly Soul took a misstep so so straightaway we asked our team to go and look at the surface there. We would do it anytime.” He added: “I suggested to the BHA stewards that straighaway this is formal inspection grounds, so we have just conducted that. We have looked at the track here and decided there is a significant drainage issue that has caused the misstep.”
Cooper said the course could not safely continue as planned. “Therefore this wouldn't be safe to race on today was my advice to the BHA. They are going to conduct a formal inquiry now and decide what to do for the rest of the day,” he said. Staff began preparing Haydock’s inner course as a possible alternative, and an inspection of that track was due to determine whether it could take over for the rest of the meeting.
The disruption mattered because Saturday’s card was set to feature the Temple Stakes and Sandy Lane Stakes, both Group races and key Royal Ascot trials. Instead, the focus shifted from the track’s marquee contests to whether racing could safely continue at all. The scene also recalled a similar track incident at Cheltenham in January, underlining how quickly a hidden surface problem can overturn a major fixture. For Haydock, the immediate next step was the BHA’s formal inquiry and the verdict on whether the inner course could rescue the rest of the day.
