Harbour Lake and Helnwein back for more at Haydock Park

Rarely does lightning strike twice at the same meeting, but Alan and his team will be hoping for more of the same from Harbour Lake and Helnwein on their return to Haydock Park on Saturday.

Twelve months ago the pair walked away with a first and second at the meeting, with Harbour Lake landing the Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle, and Helnwein filling second spot in the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle.

First to grace the track will be Harbour Lake, who returns to defend his crown just a pound above his winning mark from last year. And having run a creditable race in defeat at Aintree last time out Alan is optimistic of another solid showing in the extended three-mile test.

Alan said: “It is usually a busy day at Haydock Park as this meeting is the last roll of the dice for some of the better jump horses. I would take last year’s results at the meeting and that would be good.

“Harbour Lake has been running pretty well, but he is probably still in the grip of the handicapper. He should run well as he loves top of the ground. His preparation has gone well since Aintree.”

As for Helnwein, who arrives on the back of a fall at Plumpton in the BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Handicap Hurdle, Alan believes the removal of the cheekpieces plus the return to a more suitable track can help the Walk In The Park gelding bounce back to form.

Alan said: “Helnwein was disappointing at Plumpton, and he was well beaten when he fell, but we didn’t find anything wrong with him. We did put cheekpieces and he might have just over raced in those so we have taken them off and gone back to the same as previous.

“He might not of handled Plumpton as not every horse handles the track there. If he runs as well as he did last year then he would be bang there. We will roll the dice and see where we are.”

For the second race in succession stablemates Aribidia and Sevenkingsmustdie will take each other on in the Pertemps Network ‘Junior’ National Hunt Flat Race after the pair finished third and sixth respectively at Warwick back in March.

Alan said: “Aribidia seems to be progressing. He came forward for his first run to finish third at Warwick. I think he has improved again. I don’t know what he is up against, but I would expect him to perform well.

“As for Sevenkingsmustdie I think he has improved a lot from his debut at Warwick and he has been working really well since then. A lot will depend as to what the oppossition is like as to whether we have a realistic chance of winning.”

In what is the only day where National Hunt and Flat racing take place alongside each other on the same card recent Beverley scorer Barbury Boy will bid to add to that success stepped up to an exteneded one-mile-and-three-furlongs in the Pertemps Newton Handicap.

Alan said: “He won well at Beverely on his comeback. The handicapper did hit us hard as he put him nine pounds, but the second has come out and won at Yarmouth last week.

“I’ve been very happy with him and he has come forward for the run so I hope he can run well. Rossa (Ryan) said we didn’t have to go up in trip, but it looked the right sort of race for him over this trip.”

Down at Ascot on the same day Deedaydiva, who finished third on her comeback at Nottingham, will contest the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies’ Handicap.

Alan said: “She has been training away well. She was only just ready to go at Nottingham on her return, and she over raced a little bit as the front two probably over did it.

“This will tell us whether she wants a mile or whether we need to look at stepping her up in trip in the future.”

Reverting back to the jumps Betterforeveryone is set to embark on the long journey to Northumberland for the Paxtons Now Stocking Stihl Equipment Handicap Chase.

And it will be a return to a happy hunting ground for the nine-year-old who, on his previous visit there in March 2025, landed the BK Racing Hexham Marathon Handicap Chase.

Alan said: “The old boy seems in good order and this will be his last run before he has his summer break. He has been moving well at home. He has got a lot weight on his back so let’s just see how he goes.”

Away from the action on the track news broke earlier this week that Ascot is to break away from the Racecourse Association (RCA), the trade body of the UK’s racecourses, at the end of 2026.

It was one of a number of tracks to demand the RCA carry out an urgent review into the way it operates and to put forward proposals for major reforms by the end of April.

However, while talks have been ongoing officials at Ascot believe the proposals didn’t go far enough resulting in their decision, one which Alan believes will hopefully bring about positive changes for the sport.

Alan said: “I think that was hopefully a positive move with Ascot pulling out of the RCA as it might just get things moving. We can’t be sitting still like we have been for the last few years.

“Hopefully it will be a positive move and I wouldn’t be surprised if a few other racecourses joined them.”