15:15 Haydock

Saturday 3 July 2021

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:55

bet365 Old Newton Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:17 | Winning time: 2m 35.32s

(17)

Pablo Escobarr^t,v⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Haggas| OR: 106| D

15/2

Very consistent in 2020 and landed Group 3 at Goodwood. Respectable third of 6 to Outbox in listed race (15/2) at Newmarket (12f, good to firm) 7 days ago and in the mix if building on that.

Form: 3310-53

(7)

Zabeel Champion¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 104| D

5/1

Improving handicapper who completed a hat-trick at Newmarket in May. Good third of 14 off career-high mark at Royal Ascot (12f, soft) 15 days ago and another bold showing is on the cards.

Form: 6-21113

(6)

Alounak¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

14/1

Really smart at his best, second in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot in 2020, but below par since, only respectable seventh in 1m4f handicap there 15 days ago. More is needed kept in handicap company.

Form: 5685-77

(4)

Win O'Clock¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 102| C| D

15/2

Enjoyed a fine 2020, winning 5 times, and he arrives in good nick, not enjoying the best of runs when ninth of 14 in handicap at Royal Ascot (12f, soft) 15 days ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 211-549

(2)

Scarlet Dragon^h¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: A King| OR: 100| D

18/1

Very useful handicapper who returned with respectable sixth of 14 in handicap at Royal Ascot (12f, soft) 15 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Can give another good account eased 1 lb now.

Form: 754-356

(12)

Midnights Legacy²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 100| CD

10/1

Gained reward for his consistency when landing 1m4f handicap at Epsom four weeks ago by 2¼l from Soto Sizzler. C&D winner too so he needs considering despite 8 lb hike in the weights.

Form: 6-23521

(15)

My Frankel⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 100| D

11/1

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who resumed with stylish victory at Kempton. Proved a disappointment when only eleventh of 15 in handicap at York (11.8f, good) last time though. Not written off for leading yard.

Form: 7/110-10

(14)

Brilliant Light¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Marco Ghiani⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 99| D

9/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who had been running with credit at Meydan this winter but last of 15 in first-time visor in 1m6f Royal Ascot handicap last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 6-43340

(9)

Soto Sizzler²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: D Nolan| T: D Menuisier| OR: 98| D

12/1

Useful handicapper who proved better than ever for his current yard when second of 10 to Midnights Legacy in handicap at Epsom (12f, good to soft) 28 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 92/4272

(1)

The Trader²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95| D

28/1

Back to winning ways at Hamilton in May but he arrives on back of modest Epsom seventh last time. Others are better treated at these weights.

Form: 7-56147

(10)

Dark Jedi⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 94

5/1

Ended 2020 in top form, second of 4 in handicap at Pontefract (12f, heavy). Respectabe fifth in handicap at Windsor on return a week ago and should come of for that (won second start in 2020).

Form: 44222-5

(18)

Longsider¹⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 92| D

11/2

Very lightly raced but he made light of 13-month absence on yard debut when ready scorer of 1m4f Lingfield novice in February despite rearing start. Interesting contender on his handicap bow.

Form: 4/1-1

Non-Runners

(3)

Pirate King¹⁵⁴

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: C Fellowes J: K Shoemark

(13)

Aaddeey¹⁵

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: S & E Crisford J: Mark Crehan

(8)

Grand Bazaar⁶²

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: J & T Gosden J: R Havlin

(11)

Lost Eden⁵⁶

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: R Hannon J: Rossa Ryan

(5)

Valyrian Steel³¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: R Varian J: J Mitchell

Forecasts

Zabeel Champion (5/1), Dark Jedi (5/1), Longsider (11/2), Valyrian Steel (7/1), Grand Bazaar (7/1), Win O'Clock (15/2), Pablo Escobarr (15/2), Aaddeey (8/1), Brilliant Light (9/1), Midnights Legacy (10/1), My Frankel (11/1), Soto Sizzler (12/1), Alounak (14/1), Scarlet Dragon (18/1), Pirate King (20/1), Lost Eden (20/1), The Trader (28/1)

Plenty in with a shout in a cracking Old Newton Cup. VALYRIAN STEEL arrives very much on the up and is fancied to gain his biggest prize yet with this big field likely to play to the strengths of Roger Varian's strong-travelling son of Frankel. Mark Johnston's consistent Zabeel Champion is sure to be on the premises, with handily-weighted Aaddeey and unexposed Longsider both well in the mix too.