15:15 Haydock

Saturday 6 July 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

bet365 Old Newton Cup Handicap

(5)

Astro King¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: James Doyle| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 109

Inspired buy by connections, winning a nice prize at York Ebor meeting before following up in Cambridgeshire in September. Reached the frame twice at Group level at Newmarket this spring and probably worth forgiving a lesser run in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot.

Form: 16-8249

(9)

Relentless Voyager^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 108| BF| D

Smart performer who confirmed the promise of his reappearance when ready winner of 14-runner handicap at Epsom (1½m, good to soft) last month. Good third in a York listed race since. Low-mileage sort who could still have a bigger performance in him. High on the shortlist.

Form: 436-313

(13)

Teumessias Fox⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 105| D

Found a little more progress when successful at Kempton (1½m) in January but last of 14 in Easter Classic at Newcastle on Good Friday and not seen since. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 455-510

(15)

Epic Poet¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100

Smart in France. Disappointed in 3 outings for the Meade stable last year but quickly back on track for David O'Meara, finishing an excellent second of 19 in Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot a fortnight ago. Big player.

Form: 2/670-62

(18)

La Yakel²⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 100| BF| D

Low-mileage sort who continued theme of steady progress last year, winning 5-runner Doncaster handicap (1¼m) prior to a good second at York (1¼m, soft) on final start in October. Could have more to offer as a 5-y-o but reappears in a very warm race and the draw could have been kinder.

Form: 14/2512-

(4)

If Not Now³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 99

Pretty smart handicap performance when third on Lingfield reappearance in May. Seemed unsuited by the track when well held at Epsom since. Being eased another 2 lb can only help and his yard is in good form. Considered.

Form: 3158-30

(16)

Chillingham^h,p⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: K Stott| T: E Bethell| OR: 96| D

Useful handicapper who has finished a creditable third over this trip at Ripon and York on his last 2 starts, latterly in this hood and cheekpieces combination. Ought to be competitive.

Form: 492-733

(11)

Sheradann²⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: L Morris| T: Ian Williams| OR: 94

Quickly reached a useful level in France last year, winning 3 times at up to 15f in the autumn. Interesting recruit for his shrewd new yard. Betting informative.

Form: 56111-

(10)

Iron Lion¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| BF| CD

Useful effort to take a C&D handicap last month but a 5 lb rise seemed to find him out when 4¾ lengths fifth of 9 to Euchen Glen at Ayr (13f, good to firm) 14 days ago. Tudhope prefers Epic Poet.

Form: 7-31615

(6)

Euchen Glen¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 8-9| J: Harry Davies| T: J S Goldie| OR: 92| C| D

Veteran course winner who showed he's still capable of useful form when snapping a losing run at Ayr (13f) 14 days ago. Suspicion a 4 lb rise will leave him vulnerable in a race as competitive as this, though.

Form: 0-09241

(2)

Sheer Rocks¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 92| D

Won twice at the start of last summer before finishing a creditable fifth in this race. Made a respectable return from a year off when mid-division in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot 15 days ago and should be sharper now. Respected from a handy draw.

Form: 99/115-0

(14)

King's Code¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Finley Marsh| T: P D Evans| OR: 91

Real success story for his yard, adding more wins at Southwell and Kempton (both 1m) at the start of the year. Proved he's as good on turf as AW when second at York (1¼m) in May. Respectable eighth of 29 in Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot (1m, firm) 17 days ago. Stamina the unknown on first attempt at 1½m.

Form: 772948

(3)

Loyal Touch⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 91

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Chester (1¼m, soft) last month but a 3 lb rise found him out at Newcastle last weekend. Steps up to 1½m for the first time in his career.

Form: 272015

(12)

Maghlaak^b1⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Saffie Osborne| T: C Hills| OR: 89| BF

Lightly-raced 5-y-o who overcame an 11-month absence to land 8-runner Goodwood handicap (1¼m, soft) in May. Not so well served by hold up tactics when seventh in Zetland Gold Cup (1¼m) 12 days ago and he's unexposed at this sort of trip. Blinkers on first time.

Form: 11/32-17

(1)

Mysterious Love³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: D Menuisier| OR: 89

Useful but just a maiden win to his name and she failed to make a significant impact in 2 handicaps in May. Being dropped 3 lb can only help but it's not enough to tempt. Tackles 1½m for the first time.

Form: 798-096

Non-Runners

(7)

L'astronome⁵⁸

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: H Palmer J: Jason Hart

(17)

Flash Bardot³⁵

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: J Channon J: George Bass

Forecasts

Relentless Voyager (4/1), La Yakel (5/1), Chillingham (13/2), Epic Poet (8/1), Sheer Rocks (12/1), Maghlaak (12/1), Iron Lion (12/1), Teumessias Fox (16/1), If Not Now (16/1), Loyal Touch (20/1), Sheradann (20/1), Astro King (20/1), Euchen Glen (20/1), Flash Bardot (25/1), King's Code (25/1), Mysterious Love (25/1), L'astronome (50/1)

EPIC POET represents the same connections as 2022 winner Get Shirty and is taken to build on his good second in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot. Relentless Voyager, a fine third at listed level last time, If Not Now and Sheer Rocks head the many dangers in a typically competitive renewal.