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A review of the pick of the rest of the action from Haydock Park

Dubai Hills ridden by Daniel Tudhope wins the haydock-park.co.uk Handicap Stakes
Image: Dubai Hills ridden by Daniel Tudhope wins the haydock-park.co.uk Handicap Stakes

Kieren Fallon pounced late aboard the Roger Varian-trained Steps to claim Listed honours in the Winning Express Achilles Stakes at Haydock.

Stuart Williams' stable stalwart Eton Rifles looked likely to emerge victorious after striking on heading towards the last of five furlongs, but six-times champion jockey Fallon weaved through aboard 6/1 shot Steps and got up by a neck. Da'Quonde was a couple of lengths further back in third.

Varian's assistant, David Eustace, said: "That was great. He's a star. Kieren gave him a great ride. He decided to cover him up and he actually ended up getting there too soon. He's not ungenuine, he just thinks he's done enough when he gets to the front.

"That's his level - Listed races or big handicaps - although we could even have a go at a Group Three at some stage. He loves it when they go quick in front."

Fallon, not normally associated with Varian's horses, said: "He got there in the end, I didn't want to get there too soon as pulls up in front and the line came just in time.

"It's frustrating for trainers (booking jockeys) with all these good meetings on today, but it's great to get on nice little horses like this, it builds your confidence."

  1. Dubai Hills ridden by Daniel Tudhope wins the haydock-park.co.uk Handicap Stakes
    Image: Dubai Hills ridden by Daniel Tudhope wins the haydock-park.co.uk Handicap Stakes
  2. Racegoers in fancy dress have fun at Haydock Park Racecourse
    Image: Racegoers in fancy dress have fun at Haydock Park Racecourse
  3. Sultanina ridden by William Buick (left) beats Freedom's Light at Haydock
    Image: Sultanina ridden by William Buick (left) beats Freedom's Light at Haydock
  4. Penitent ridden by Daniel Tudhope (left) beats Breton Rock ridden by Martin Lane to win the Timeform Jury Stakes
    Image: Penitent ridden by Daniel Tudhope (left) beats Breton Rock ridden by Martin Lane to win the Timeform Jury Stakes
  5. YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 31:  Clever Cookie riden by Graham Lee (L) and Ralston Road ridden by Ronan Whelan finish joint first in The Stowe Family Law LLP Grand
    Image: Meanwhile at York Clever Cookie and Ralston Road dead-heated in the Stowe Family Law LLP Grand Cup
  6. Jockey Kieren Fallon wears the Godolphin blue silks as he talks to trainer Saeed bin Suroor at Haydock
    Image: Jockey Kieren Fallon wears the Godolphin blue silks as he talks to trainer Saeed bin Suroor at Haydock
  7. Steps ridden by Kieren Fallon beats Eton Rifles ridden by Pat Smullen at Haydock
    Image: Steps ridden by Kieren Fallon beats Eton Rifles ridden by Pat Smullen at Haydock
  8. Dutch Rose ridden by Luke Morris wins The One Communications Stakes at York
    Image: Dutch Rose ridden by Luke Morris wins The One Communications Stakes at York
  9. Top Boy (18) ridden by Adam McLean wins The Bet Bright Trophy at York
    Image: Top Boy (18) ridden by Adam McLean wins The Bet Bright Trophy at York
  10. Aeolus ridden by Richard Hughes (right) wins the New Timeform Flags Sandy Lane Stakes
    Image: Aeolus ridden by Richard Hughes (right) wins the New Timeform Flags Sandy Lane Stakes
  11. Aeolus ridden by Richard Hughes wins the New Timeform Flags Sandy Lane Stakes from Betimes
    Image: Betimes was the nearest pursuer to Ed McMahon's impressive winner
  12. Racegoers enjoy the action during the Sandy Lane Stakes day at Haydock Park Racecourse
    Image: The crowd at Haydock are delighted with the result...........possibly.....
  13. Trainer Ed McMahon
    Image: Winning trainer Ed McMahon doesn't look quite as excited with the result
  14. Mister Universe ridden by Graham Lee wins The Yorkshire Regiment EBF Stallions Median Auction Maiden Stakes at York
    Image: Mister Universe, ridden by Graham Lee, was an impressive winner at York
  15. Lightning Moon ridden by William Buick wins the Racing UK Anywhere Available Now Handicap Stakes at Haydock
    Image: Lightning Moon ridden by William Buick wins the Racing UK Anywhere Available Now Handicap Stakes at Haydock
  16. Richard and Carolyn Piper who were married in the morning celebrate their wedding day at Haydock
    Image: Richard and Carolyn Piper who were married in the morning celebrate their wedding day at Haydock and why not?
  17. Farquhar ridden by Frankie Dettori wins the Download New Racing UK ipad App Handicap Stakes at Haydock
    Image: Farquhar ridden by Frankie Dettori wins the Download New Racing UK ipad App Handicap Stakes at Haydock
  18. Racegoers cheer on the action during the Sandy Lane Stakes day at Haydock Park Racecourse
    Image: There's nothing like cheering home a winner..........

Dubai Hills registered his first turf triumph in the best part of two years with a runaway victory in the haydock-park.co.uk Handicap on Merseyside.

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Formerly trained by Bryan Smart before joining fellow Yorkshire-based trainer David O'Meara at the start of the new campaign, the eight-year-old was a 4-1 shot for the curtain-raiser in the hands of Daniel Tudhope.

Dubai Hills tracked the front-running King Of Eden for the first half of the one-mile contest before being sent on three furlongs down and it was soon clear his rivals were struggling to bridge the gap.

Extraterrestrial came out of the pack in an attempt to throw down a challenge, but Dubai Hills passed the post with four lengths in hand.

"It's just taken a while to get him fully fit this year and he's had a few problems, but I'm delighted for the owners, who are nice people," said Tudhope. "The horse was tanking with me the whole way and I probably got to the front too soon, but he did it well. It's tacky ground."

Ed Walker's Lightning Moon (11-10 favourite) looks destined for bigger and better things after securing his second win from as many starts with a six-length romp in the Racing UK Anywhere Available Now Handicap.

Winning jockey William Buick said: "Ed has a lot of belief in this horse and he did it really well. He's got a lot of talent. I don't know how far he'll go, but he dealt with them pretty easily."

The concluding Download New RacingUK iPad App Handicap went to Dettori on Peter Chapple-Hyam's Farquhar (2-1 favourite).

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