bet365 Lancashire Oaks
Group 2, Haydock Park 13:10 £93,000 added, Fillies 3yo plus, 1m 3f 175y, Class 1
Saturday 7th July 2018

1 Horseplay 11/4
2 God Given 9/4 f
3 Precious Ramotswe 4/1
7 ran Distances: shd, 1¾l, 1¼l
Time: 2m 28.56s (slow by 3.56s)

Horseplay and God Given in a tight finish - the decision goes to Horseplay in a photo

Horseplay
© Racehorse Photos

Andrew Balding's four-year-old, who had been fourth to the mighty Enable in last year's Investec Oaks at Epsom, grabbed a first win since last May when, under David Probert, she just grabbed Group Two glory from 9-4 favourite God Given.

Horseplay, who had been second to Coronet in the Betfred Middleton Stakes at York on here only start this season, was travelling well in behind.

She drew up alongside God Given in the final two furlongs with the duo going clear. In a real battle to the line, Horseplay managed to just hang on by the narrowest of margins, a short head.

Precious Ramotswe (4-1), who had been bidding to provide trainer John Gosden with a record eighth victory in the Lancashire Oaks, was a further length and three-quarters back in third under Robert Havlin.

Luca Cumani's God Given, who has won the Betway Pinnacle Stakes over course and distance last month, made much of the running under Jamie Spencer in the 1m4f Group Two event on Merseyside with Irish raider Flattering, from the Aidan O'Brien stable in her slipstream. 

But turning into the home straight, Spencer tried to stretch his rivals with several unable to go with God Given.

Bet365 Lancashire Oaks
£93,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 3f 175y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Firm