Well known Cessnock sporting identity and businessman Graham Payne, is expected to have one of the local aspirants in the Cup.

Payne trains Armidale Lass which has been in good form since joining the Cessnock stable.

Another Cessnock trainer Todd Howlett is considering a start for Tableaux and Music Man in the Cup.

Tableaux won the 2015 Tamworth Cup and Music Man won a TAB Highway Handicap over the Randwick ‘Mile’ last preparation.

The Cessnock Cup has been dogged by bad weather in the past, with six Cup days abandoned since its inception in 1978 including the 2013 and 2015 races.

Wine Country Race Club officials and course manager Steve Tapp will be hoping for a fine day next Monday.

Champion Cessnock jockey Robert Thompson has ridden five Cessnock Cup winners.

He was still an apprentice when he won the inaugural Cessnock Cup on Golden Slipper place getter Rosie Heir, trained locally by Beany Jones.

Thompson’s next Cessnock Cup winner was the Eric Sandford trained Full Alert, part owned by NBN Television personality Arthur Adams aka The Silver Fox.

The champion hoop rode two Cessnock Cup Winners for his father Arthur.

The late great Newcastle trainer Max Lees prepared Thompson’s fifth Cup winner Hot Aussie in 1995.

Retired jockey and now Newcastle Council alderman Allan Robinson rode four Cessnock Cup winners.

Cessnock trainer Todd Howlett won the 2014 Cup with the Singleton owned Aghamore.

Other Cessnock trainers to win the Cup have been Robert ‘Pud’ Davies (2010) and Kath Stewart (2001).

Admission is free to next Monday’s Tooheys New Cessnock Cup.