A hugely popular race, the Old Newton Cup is the most valuable race on Haydock’s Saturday card despite the presence of the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks.

£150,000 is in the prize fund for this mile and a half event, one in which 16 runners take part with these six being our suggested bunch to take against the field:

Main Contenders

Alright Sunshine

At only 40 years old, Keith Dalgleish saddles his final runner as a trainer in this race which is a sad situation.

The popular Scot may be back, but we can also say that no stone will have been left unturned in an attempt to make Dalgleish’s final runner a winner and it’s up to Alright Sunshine to make it happen.

An eight-year-old veteran of 35 races, this horse has no improvement left in him but if his very best form can be coaxed then he would be around 5lbs well in which gives him a chance.

La Yakel

It’s obvious to us all that William Haggas’ La Yakel is well ahead of the handicapper and we just hope he is fully ready to go after so long off the track.

Third on debut to Secret State, he was placed again on his second start before winning easily at Southwell last summer.

He followed that up with a win in a valuable handicap at Ascot and it seems that he could be heading for near-enough Group level.

He was favourite to finish with a win in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket (fourth), and was ante-post favourite too for the Jorvik Handicap before being pulled out. Conditions are fine and he is frankly the best handicapped horse in the race.

Maksud

Hughie Morrison really is an underestimated and underappreciated trainer on the Flat. His Maksud is bang in with a chance in this valuable race too despite form figures of 070 either side of his winter break.

That doesn’t tell the real story. This horse got to a mark of 102 within five runs last season. He then ran second in a Listed race before the three runs mentioned above.

He ran to no more than around 92 to finish last term, starting off this season with a 90 or so. Last time out he was midfield in the Duke of Edinburgh at Ascot running to approximately 97 so it seems he is coming to himself.

He is down to a mark of 97 now and looks sure to better that, meaning he too is well handicapped.

Onesmoothoperator 

Brian Ellison’s runner has shown some good form in middle-distance races recently having come down from staying trips.

He is consistent rather than improving, but he will not be going down without too much of a fight which is a good quality to have around Haydock.

Sheer Rocks

Eve Johnson-Houghton’s Sheer Rocks comes into this race looking for a hat-trick.

Not only has the gelding won both of his races this season after being gelded, but he has done so on two very different surfaces and as a four-year-old surely has more to come yet.

He is the classically well handicapped type, we just cannot know how well in he truly is.

Teumessias Fox

Much like Sheer Rocks, Teumessias Fox went into his latest assignment on a hat-trick. In this case, he was sent off favourite for the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot which shows the sort of level he is at.

He had form last season with the likes of Secret State and Soulcombe, while this season has been very positive overall and so after one defeat it is way too early to write him off in valuable handicaps for the Andrew Balding team.

Summary

The battle-hardened Teumessias Fox remains an obvious type in races like this for a powerful yard and a jockey in Harry Davies who takes off a genuinely valuable 3lbs.

If we’re right about Maksud heading in the right direction this season then he too is guaranteed to be well in, but in a handicap of this nature a few pounds won’t do you much good and the race may go to one who is heading way out of this company.

That being the case, LA YAKEL is the horse who could be best in at the weights. Rated only 92, this horse finished last season a strong favourite to beat the likes of Al Nafir, Wild Crusade, First Ruler and Sheer Rocks and he’ll be fitter and stronger now.