Haydock abandoned due to unsafe ground - but officials confident for Saturday

Racing at Haydock was abandoned after just two races of its evening meeting due to unsafe ground, but officials remain confident that Saturday's big-race card will go ahead as planned.

Senior jockeys William Buick, PJ McDonald and Cieren Fallon were among those to inspect the track after raising concerns about the ground being too slippery on both bends.

The ground was officially described as good and had been watered 8mm on Tuesday, before 6mm of rain fell over Wednesday and Thursday

Kirkland Tellwright, clerk of the course at Haydock, said: "After riding in the second race, two or three of them [jockeys] slipped. We held an inspection and there is nothing adequate that can be done to reassure everyone that the bend would be fit to ride later.

Haydock Saturday card

"We were going on yesterday's ground and it was fine for racing then, but I was not aware of any concerns with the bend yesterday.

Haydock clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright expressed his regret at the situationCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"I regret that this situation has arisen, and I honestly thought it was pretty much good, the state of the ground, with a good deal of cut in it but the jockeys have found it to be different."

There were still four races left of the six-race card at the time of abandonment, leaving many punters enjoying their night out disappointed

"I really regret that [spectators having to leave early]," Tellwright added. "At the end of the day the safety card is always going to trump any other card, so with much regret we are where we are."

Haydock hosts a valuable card live on ITV on Saturday headlined by the Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes (3.30), and Tellwright is confident the issues will be solved by then.

He said: "We’ve got a day to sort ourselves out and there are measures we can take to ensure there is no slipping on the bend tomorrow.

"We are on a different bend [tomorrow]. We are running onto the outer track and it is naturally a bigger radius and we’ll verti-drain it which will have the effect of putting more ease into the ground."

William Buick was reported to have said that he believed the ground to be good to firm around the bend, which Tellwright added in disbelief: "It's a mystery to me!

"They [jockeys] all held the same view that they weren’t happy to ride on it again. They clearly weren’t euphoric about it let’s be honest but they were resigned."

The BHA's official stewards' report on the abandonment stated: "An inspection was held after race two as a result of concerns raised by riders regarding horses slipping on both bends.

"They interviewed riders William Buick, PJ McDonald and Cieren Fallon, trainers Jim Goldie and Ivan Furtado, the clerk of the course and trainee clerk of the course. Having considered the evidence and being unable to find a timely or workable solution to the riders’ satisfaction, the stewards ordered racing to be abandoned."

Read Saturday's race previews:

1.45 Haydock: Will Dragon Symbol's class tell against some in-form Achilles rivals?

2.05 Beverley: 'She has a great chance' - why it could pay to oppose the unbeaten favourite

2.55 Haydock: Can racing's hottest duo Haggas and Marquand keep the winners flowing?

3.15 Beverley: 'He's one of our stronger ones' - quotes and analysis for Two Year Old Trophy

3.30 Haydock: Kinross seeks to deny a Dettori double in wide-open John of Gaunt Stakes

4.00 Navan: Group horse in a handicap? Sun King out to defy big weight in red-hot contest

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