Haydock forced to eject punters after fight breaks out

Haydock Park officials were in discussions with police last night after a brawl during the meeting’s final race.

On a day that should have focused on Clan Des Obeaux’s victory in the Betfair Denman Chase at Ascot – which boosted his Cheltenham Gold Cup claims – racegoers were seen throwing punches on the Haydock concourse, while footage emerged on social media of security protecting a woman as she carried a young child away from the incident.

It took place during the Walrus Open Hunters’ Chase and marred an eightrace meeting that included the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase. It follows brawls that broke out at Ascot and Goodwood last year, prompting a security clampdown at major venues.

A Haydock Park spokesman said: “We take a zero-tolerance position on antisocial behaviour. The perpetrators were ejected at the time and we are continuing to work with the police on this matter.”

The fight took place less than a month away from the Cheltenham Festival. The Denman chase, a trial for the blue riband, had been swiftly rescheduled for Ascot after the abandonment of racing at Newbury a week ago because of the outbreak of equine influenza.

With last season’s Gold Cup hero Native River not running, Clan Des Obeaux’s task appeared significantly more straightforward than it would have been at Newbury a week ago – and he was priced up accordingly as the 2-5 favourite for Paul Nicholls.

Nicky Henderson’s grey, Terrefort, led the four-strong field for much of the three-mile journey under Nico de Boinville, with Clan Des Obeaux always in his wing mirrors in the hands of an ultra-confident Harry Cobden.

Terrefort stuck to his task gamely, but Clan Des Obeaux breezed alongside before taking over on the run to the final fence – and a huge leap sealed his victory. Paddy Power cut his price for the Magners Gold Cup on March 15 to 6-1 from 8-1.

Nicholls said: “I was a bit nervous running because you don’t want anything to go wrong this close to Cheltenham. Every time he runs, he learns a little bit. Last year, he was a big baby, looking about in front, but this year he has come together. That will have done him the world of good.

“It is now about putting the finishing touches to him to get him to perfection for Cheltenham. Like a lot of horses, it has taken him a while to get to that mature stage, but he is there now. Kauto Star was seven when he won his first Gold Cup, and this horse is the same age, so we are exactly where we want to be.”

Cyrname produced a tremendous front-running display for a wide-margin victory in the Betfair Ascot Chase.