The Hawkesbury Gold Cup 2017 steals the show in Sydney this Saturday in Sydney and below are our insider tips plus the updated betting odds on the handicap clash.

Havana Cooler is the Races.com.au team’s upset Hawkesbury Gold Cup 2017 tip to win. Photo: Steve Hart.

A capacity field of gallopers is engaged for the $200,000 Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) this season and the current $5 favourite through Ladbrokes.com.au is Spectroscope.

John O’Shea’s Medaglia D’Oro four-year-old hasn’t raced since a mid-field 10^th in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 1 and will relish the easier assignment this weekend.

The imported stallion is up in weight to 56.5kg this weekend but still looks fairly weighted against this class as he looks to return to the form that saw him win his opening two Australian starts at Rosehill in March.

The main dangers looking at the latest Hawkesbury Gold Cup odds are Gai Waterhouse’s distance specialist Fabrizio ($7) and the O’Shea-trained market mover Moher ($9) backed in early from double-figures to improve on a first-up eighth at Randwick a fortnight ago.

So can Spectroscope salute or is there value to be found further down the Hawkesbury Gold Cup betting markets from the likes of last year’s runner-up Mighty Lucky ($13) carrying the 59kg top weight, another O’Shea-trained chance Havana Cooler ($16) who has an ultra-consistent place rate or even January’s Magic Millions Cup winner Testashadow ($21) for Gary Portelli?

1^st

#3 Havana Cooler ($16)

All the money is on the better fancied stablemates Spectroscope and Moher, but happy to tip a big boilover in this returning Godolphin veteran. The seven-year-old hasn’t raced since May last year when he was racing in ultra-consistent form placing third in three straight Sydney features after winning the Doncaster Prelude. Admittedly that was a year ago and he’s been off the scene, but has had two solid Warwick Farm trials and is a first-up flyer (6-3-1-1). If he is anywhere near where he was when he was sent out he can surprise at a huge price.

2^nd

#9 Marenostro ($13)

Chris Waller’s Duelled six-year-old returns to Hawkesbury for the first time since last August when runner-up to McCreery in the Rowley Mile. That was his second placing at the track and he gets his pet distance again. The gelding boasts five wins and two seconds from 10 previous runs over 1600m and is out to atone for a last start 11^th in the wet at Randwick. Gets firmer going for this and was a good third to Spectroscope the run prior in this year’s Doncaster Prelude. The distance will be key to unlocking his previous good form and even from out wide is a place chance at the price.

3^rd

#15 Kellyville Flyer ($13)

If not for the outside alley the odds on this Jason Attard-trained light weight would be much shorter. Getting in on the 53kg minimum again, the local Oratorio mare has plenty of good form at her home track and proved herself in good class winning a Benchmark 100 over 1400m at Randwick two weeks ago. Will appreciate getting back home in good form and it is always hard to knock a mare going well.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our insider Hawkesbury Gold Cup 2017 tips ensure you’ve got access to the season’s best racing odds and offers at Ladbrokes.com.au.