North-south divide may prevail over jumps but Flat is a level playing field as Haydock prepares for big two months

One of Britain’s busiest courses is entering its most important period of the year, with Haydock staging the first of its two top-level races on Saturday.

Just over two months separate the Sprint Cup at the end of the Flat and Betfair Chase at the beginning of the core jumps season so it’s an exciting time for followers of northern racing.

For many, though, Haydock is a northern track in location only. Situated a stone's throw from the M6, its accessible location means it attracts runners from everywhere and a typical card in either code tends to feature a far greater representation from the south than the north.