We must give racing every chance - so hats off to heroes of Haydock and Plumpton

Stone Roses singer Ian Brown once proclaimed 'Manchester's got everything except a beach'. Those familiar with the weather in the north-west of England will attest there's a good reason for that.

A major incident was declared last week as one of the wettest parts of the country was battered by heavy rain and gale force winds, putting large parts of the region under water.

It seemed inevitable Haydock's big Saturday meeting would be washed out, but to general amazement the track was described as raceable two days beforehand, something clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright labelled "a minor miracle".