THE Old Newton Cup, run at Haydock over a mile and a half in early July, could hold the key to the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup back at Haydock today over two furlongs further.

Plage De Havre ran out an impressive winner of the July race, and he would have been a really interesting contender for the Ebor had he made it to York.

Paddy The Squire finished second in the Old Newton Cup, and he won his next two, off handicap ratings of 87 and 96 respectively. He is up to a mark of 101 now, 16lb higher than he was for the July race, but Iain Jardine’s horse could still be a big player in today’s race.

That said, Stressfree, fifth in the Old Newton Cup, could be an even bigger player.

David O’Meara’s horse stayed on well from the rear to finish fifth in the July race. Well back in the field early on, he had to switch towards the far side early in the home straight, he had to make his ground furthest from the stands’ rail, and he couldn’t get close to the impressive winner, but he kept on to finish fifth.

He was just two and a half lengths behind Paddy The Squire, and he is 16lb better off with that rival today.

Stressfree was well-beaten next time at Goodwood, but that was a race in which they went a sedate pace and in which the prominent racers dominated, which wasn’t ideal for a hold-up horse.

He finished ninth in a race in which the first eight home all raced in mid-division or better from early.

The Anodin gelding was seen to much better effect in the Ebor last time. They didn’t go a breakneck pace or anything like it in the Ebor, and he was held up again, as is his wont.

No better than 16th passing the two-furlong marker, he stayed on well from there on the far side, again furthest from the favoured stands’ rail, to finish fourth, beaten just a length and a half for second place behind Ethical Diamond. He was second fastest through the final three furlongs, slower only than the winner.

Saw it out well

That was just his second run over a mile and six furlongs on the flat, and he saw it out well. He is not lightly raced, but he is unexposed still over this type of trip. The handicapper raised him by just 1lb for his Ebor run to a mark of 102, and that is more than fair.

His run in the Ebor was up there with the best runs of his life, he goes into the race in good form and, as long as this race doesn’t come up too quickly after his exertions at York, he could be primed to go well again.

He is well-suited by tracks with long home straights, his best runs have been at York and Doncaster and Haydock. Significantly, he won a 12-furlong handicap earlier this season on his only run at Haydock before the Old Newton Cup.

There should be a good pace on, and that means that Danny Tudhope should be able to drop Stressfree out and deliver him late.

Superior Mile

Earlier on the day, Suite Francaise could be the answer to the opening Group 3 contest, the Group 3 Best Odds on the Betfair Exchange Superior Mile.

Charlie Johnston’s filly has run four times, and she has won three times, two of those wins coming at Haydock.

Prominent from early when she won a novice stakes over today’s course and distance in May, she led from flagfall last time in the Listed Dick Hern Stakes, back over today’s course and distance.

Joe Fanning set a nice pace on her, and she had her rivals in trouble even before she quickened at the two-furlong marker.

She did have the run of the race, but she didn’t set sedate fractions, she set a good tempo and she quickened off it, and she left the impression that she was winning with more in hand than the two-length winning margin.

As a bonus, the third filly from that race Shuwari enhanced the form when she won a listed race at Longchamp next time.

This is another step up in grade for Suite Francaise, and taking on the colts and geldings for the first time, but, a three-year-old who has run just four times, there is every chance that she can improve again on what she did last time.

She may have competition for the early lead from Balmacara, but she proved in May that she doesn’t have to lead and, actually, she could do even better if she could take a lead through the early stages of the race.

A sister to Francophone, who won the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes over 10 furlongs, out of Francophilia, who won over a mile and a half, she could get further in time.

For now though, we know that a mile around Haydock suits her very well. She has never raced on soft ground, but her sister handled good to soft ground well, so she should be okay if the rains arrive.

She is a filly of significant promise and she could go well again today back at Haydock, back over a course and distance over which she remains unbeaten.