Free Racing Tip – Old Newton Cup
Free racing tip for the bet365 Old Newton Cup , the one mile three furlong Heritage handicap at 2.50 Haydock on Saturday July 2.
Pride of place on the day may go to Sandown who stage the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes but with ground conditions far from certain at the Esher track any ante-post investment has risks attached, unlike the high-class card at Haydock. Here, the bet365 Old Newton Cup at 2.50pm provides decent hurdler Gwafa with a great chance of adding the valuable handicap to his victory in the Grade 3 Swinton Hurdle on the course back in May.
The Paul Webber-trained five-year-old needs a couple above him to drop out in order to secure his place but that shouldn't prove a problem and off a Flat mark of 92 the grey son of Tamayuz may have been let in lightly on his first start on the level since finishing second at Ascot in 2014 when in the care of Marco Botti.
Providing the gelding can transfer his 2016 hurdles form to the Flat (three wins from four starts), the only blip coming when unseating Richie McLernon at the fourth in the Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree's Grand National meeting, Gwafa can land the extended 1m 3f contest at the 8-1 currently available with the sponsor.
The biggest dangers may turn out to be the bang-in-form Desert Encounter, Roger Varian's ante-post market leader King Bolete and top weight Revolutionist.