Absolutely So wins John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock

16:05 Haydock Park

1st Absolutely So 6/1
2nd Jallota 6/1
3rd So Beloved 8/1

Click here for the free video replay

Report

Absolutely So stuck on in determined fashion to lift the Group Three spoils in the Betway John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock.

The Andrew Balding-trained seven-year-old, who was third in this race in 2015, revelled in the rain-softened conditions to go two places better.

That Is The Spirit set the pace but he was the only one to stick to the far side when the field hit the straight.

Jallota led the near-side group, but he could never go clear under his 3lb penalty. Though he kept on going, Charlie Hill's charge was unable to hold Absolutely So (6/1), who got the verdict by half a length to give David Probert a double after his earlier success on Handsome Dude.

Jallota was second with So Beloved only a neck away in third.

Reaction

David Probert: "He's such a tough character, he doesn't know how to run a bad race. The ground probably helped him and he knuckled down well.  He's had his issues and it's a good training performance."

Balding has now missed his three biggest winners of the season having been absent at Chester when Montaly claimed the Chester Cup and Blond Me won the Middleton Stakes at York.

His wife, Anna Lisa, said: "David really did give him a lovely ride and I'm so pleased for the owners, the Smith family, they've been very patient as he's not been that straightforward with a few niggles.

"It's brilliant seeing him win a nice race, it's just reward for them.

"Even though he's now six he's shown he's as good as ever. We'll make a plan when we see how he comes out of this."