PUNTERS prepared to wait for a perfect betting opportunity will feel they had their reward at Haydock on Saturday.

In her David Simcock days the five-year-old mare Bateel had never been beaten on soft ground. Still owned by Al Asayl Bloodstock but trained now by Francis Graffard at Chantilly, she found conditions very much to her liking in the Group 3 Betway Pinnacle Stakes over a mile and a half and easily justified 2/1 favouritism.

Haydock needs relatively little rain for the going to become quite testing. Patiently ridden by Richard Kingscote, Bateel was always going well and moved through to take it up approaching the furlong marker. In control from then on, she had a length and half to spare over Dubka and Ryan Moore, with recent Goodwood winner Ajman Princess back in third.

This is very smart form and Bateel should be able to win again, especially when she has her conditions.

“She’s a different class of filly on the soft,” remarked Al Asayl racing manager Johnnie Peter-Hoblyn. “I hope we end up at Ascot on Champions’ Day because it’s often quite wet. The big autumn target is the Prix de Pomone. She’s a very talented mare and you’re seeing the best of her now.”

The other Group 3 event, the Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes over seven furlongs, went to Andrew Balding’s Absolutely So (6/1) who went right through with his effort and got up close home to beat Jallota by half a length, with So Beloved, Mitchum Swagger and Breton Rock a series of necks behind in a blanket finish. Absolutely So, third in this two years ago, is seven and holds his form very well, and Balding’s Kingsclere stable remains in excellent form. It is also good to see David Probert keeping the ride on talented horses, given the options at the trainer’s disposal.

“David has given him a lovely ride and I’m so pleased for the owners (The George Smith Family Partnership) because Absolutely So has had a few hiccups. He’s shown he’s as good as ever,” said Balding’s wife, Anna Lisa.

Probert was completing a double as he has earlier ridden David Barron’s Handsome Dude to win the Betway Dash Handicap by a head from Major Pusey.

DOUBLE FOR HAGGAS

Like Balding, William Haggas has been in form since the season began and he added two more winners to his tally. The 5/1 chance Pennsylvania Dutch was just too strong for Bellevarde and Fantasy Keeper in the six furlong Betway Sprint Handicap, while Zwayyan (4/1) held Pat Shanahan’s raider Ionization by a head in the last.

Ionization has now been beaten a neck and a head on her last two visits to Britain, her penultimate run was at Hamilton.

She is a game filly and deserves another race but she just might need to come down a couple of pounds in the handicap, which is tricky given her consistency.