By Andrew Atkinson
A maximum field of 17 will go to post in the £100,000 bet365 Old Newton Cup (3.15pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday, July 6, with Kelly’s Dino and Al Muffrih tipped each way.
Kelly’s Dino, trained by Karl Burke, is said to be in fine fettle, with the main aim the Ebor at York, but Haydock’s £100,000 Old Newton Cup dangling carrot is worthy of a nibble.
“Kelly’s Dino is in good form. It was a good run at Ayr, where we were hoping he would win and get a penalty to get into the bet365 Trophy at Newmarket’s July Meeting.
“Our ultimate aim is to get him into the Ebor at York – as we feel he is probably better over a bit a further nowadays.
“Having said all that, the bet365 Old Newton Cup is a very good prize to go for and hopefully a good run will see him rated high enough to get into the Ebor.
“He has relatively few miles on the clock for a six-year-old, as he was on the sidelines with injury as a three-year-old and a four-year-old.
“The wind operation he underwent before Ayr has definitely helped him, and we are hoping he is a horse we can now enjoy for the next couple of seasons.
“As you would expect for a £100,000 race, the Old Newton Cup is a very competitive contest, but we are going there in good form and hopefully he can run a good race,” said trainer Burke.
Al Muffrih (8st 12lb) is saddled by the in-form pair of trainer William Haggas and jockey Danny Tudhope. The four-year-old son of Sea The Stars has won twice, including last time out under Tudhope, in the Zetland Gold Cup over 10 furlongs at Redcar in May.
The 17 runners field includes Eddystone Rock (John Best/Kieren Fox, 8st 7lb, 18/1) with victories in competitive handicaps at Leicester and Chester.
The seven-year-old has also twice run well over the mile and a half Derby course at Epsom Downs, taking second to Soto Sizzler in the Great Metropolitan Handicap in April and third last time out behind the same rival in a valuable handicap on Derby Day, June 1.
“Eddystone Rock is a very consistent horse, who has always run his race for us since we got him.
“He has run well twice at Epsom this season, but I don’t think it is a track that suits him that well as he doesn’t really come down the hill.
“The Old Newton Cup is obviously going to be a very tough race as you would expect, but I think we are going there with a decent each-way chance, ” said trainer Best.
Dual-purpose trainer Ian Williams, enjoying a tremendous Flat season, has two representatives – Byron Flyer (David Probert, 9st 5lb, 12/1), and Restorer (Pat Dobbs, 8st 13lb, 25/1).
Godolphin is represented by Lucius Tiberius (Charlie Appleby/Brett Doyle, 9st 2lb, 10/1), fourth in the G2 Prix d’Harcourt at Longchamp, France, in May.
Cheshire-based Tom Dascombe is the leading trainer on the Flat at Haydock Park over the past five seasons and is represented by Epaulement (Richard Kingscote, 8st 13lb, 12/1).
G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes fifth Bombyx (James Fanshawe/Daniel Muscutt, 8st 13lb), Melting Dew (Sir Michael Stoute/Pat Dobbs 8st 12lb) and consistent Koeman (Mick Channon/John Egan, 8st 11lb), a staying-on seventh in the 2018 bet365 Old Newton Cup, also line up.
Bet365 Old Newton Cup, bet365 odds: 9/2 Al Muffrih; 11/2 First Eleven; 10/1 Lucius Tiberius, Infrastructure; 12/1 Byron Flyer, Epaulement; 14/1 Charles Kingsley, Bombyx, Island Brave, Aquarium, Melting Dew, Kelly’s Dino, Koeman; 18/1 Eddystone Rock; 20/1 Society Red; 25/1 Indianapolis, Restorer, Grandee; 33/1 Everything For You. Each-Way: 1/4 odds 1-2-3-4.
The bet365 Old Newton Cup, which evolved from the Newton Gold Cup first run in 1807, represents one of the last tangible links with the old racecourse on Newton Common.
Haydock also features the £93,000 bet365 G2 Lancashire Oaks (2.40pm). 5/2 joint-favourites with bet365 are Dramatic Queen (William Haggas/Richard Kingscote) and tip Enbihaar (John Gosden/Dane O’Neill).
The duo met last time out in the G3 Bronte Cup over a mile and three-quarters at York on May 25, when Dramatic Queen came out on top, by half a length.
Gosden is seeking a record-breaking eighth victory in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks, and also relies on G3 Nayef Stakes winner Highgarden (Robert Havlin, 5/1).
Haggas also saddles Klassique (Danny Tudhope, 7/2), who landed the G3 Pinnacle Stakes over the course and distance on heavy ground on June 8.
Also lining up are Nyaleti (Mark Johnston/Franny Norton, 8/1) and Shailene (Andrew Balding/David Probert, 16/1), who scored in Listed company at San Siro, Italy, on June 23.
bet365 Lancashire Oaks – bet365 prices: 5/2 Dramatic Queen, Enbihaar; 7/2 Klassique; 5/1 Highgarden; 8/1 Nyaleti; 16/1 Shailene. Each-way 1/4 odds, 1-2
Haydock’s card opens with the £100,000 bet365 Handicap (2.05pm) over a mile and three quarters for three-year-olds.
Mark Johnston saddles four runners in Sir Ron Priestley (Franny Norton, 9st 6lb, 3/1 favourite with bet365), selection Mind The Crack (Richard Kingscote, 9st 1lb, 100/30).
Johnston also runs Summer Moon (Ben Curtis 9st 7llb, 6/1) and Themaxwecan (Dann Tudhope, 9st 6lb, 9/2).
Arctic Fox (Richard Fahey/Paddy Mathers, 9st, 11/2), is on a four-timer, following a win at Newmarket and two successes at York.
bet365 Handicap, bet365 bet:
3/1 Sir Ron Priestley; 100/30 Mind The Crack; 9/2 Themaxwecan; 11/2 Arctic Fox; 6/1 Summer Moon; 7/1 Prefontaine; 16/1 Tidal Point
Each-way 1/4 odds, 1-2.
Haydock tips.
2.05 Mind The Crack. 2.40 Enbihaar. 3.15 Kelly’s Dino ew, Al Muffrih ew. 3.50 Iva Reflection. 4.25 Danzeno. 5.00 Gabrial The Devil ew. 5.35 Mutaraffa.
Sandown tips.
1.50 Garrus. 2.25 Mojito ew. 3.00 Encapsulation. 3.35 Enable. 4.10 Magical Wish. 4.45 Mekong. 5.20 Light Up Our Stars.
Beverley tips.
2.00 King’s Caper. 2.35 Istanbul ew. 3.10 War Whisper ew. 3.45 Bighearted. 4.20 Kilbaha Lady. 4.55 Lady Scafferley ew. 5.30 Dream of Honour.
Leicester tips.
1.35 Backstreet Girl. 2.30 Calippo. 3.05 Innocent ew. 3.40 Zofelle ew. 4.15 Society Guest ew. 4.50 Cambric. 5.25 Ghazan.
Chelmsford tips.
1.40 Oh Purple Reign. 2.15 San Carlos ew. 2.50 Merchant of Venice ew. 3.25 Vivionn. 4.00 Inference. 4.35 Classic Star ew. 5.10 Astonished ew.
Nottingham tips.
5.40 Bollin Ted ew. 6.10 Exclusively. 6.40 King Crimson. 7.10 Swordbill ew. 7.40 Chance. 8.10 Corncrake. 8.40 Smeaton ew.
Carlisle tips.
6.00 Prestbury Park ew. 6.30 Cruising. 7.00 Debawtry ew. 7.30 Dutch Coed ew. 8.00 Marshall Dan. 8.30 Gold Arrow. 9.00 Dante’s View.
