It’s Gold Cup Day at Ayr on Saturday, the feature contest in their Flat-racing calendar.
The main dish is served at 3.40pm, with a 24-runner field set to contest this fiendish sprint. There’s some quality action on the support card, with eight races at Ayr from 1.20pm-5.20pm.
Our tipster has a look at the card race-by-race for Saturday afternoon at Ayr and you can watch every race from the UK and Ireland via live streaming when logged into MansionBet.
1.20 – Microtech Group EBF Nursery (1m)
He lost the race in the stewards’ room at Carlisle last month but KING OF YORK should still have learned plenty from that effort. Kevin Ryan’s son of Kingman can come forward for it and gain some compensation in this competitive nursery. Makalu bids for a hat-trick and is a live danger, while The Dunkirk Lads is a major threat too, having recovered from a slow start at Chester last week to finish second. This longer trip can bring more from him for the Tim Easterby team, on a card where they have plenty chances.
Selection: King Of York @ SP
1.55 – Virgin Bet Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed, 1m2f)
JUAN ELCANO came up short in the Juddmonte International at York last time but his earlier Group 2 second on the Knavesmire was further improvement, having bagged the Wolferton at Royal Ascot in June. With Euchen Glen off colour in his last two starts and the others with something to prove, Kevin Ryan could be looking at a quick-fire Ayr double on this prestigious card.
Selection: Juan Elcano @ 5/4
2.30 – Virgin Bet Ayr Silver Cup Handicap (6f)
Blackrod is progressing nicely and still looks to be on a workable mark for Michael Dods and Billy Garrity after wins at Newmarket (6f) and York (5f) of late. He had both Popmaster and ROYAL SCIMITAR behind at HQ in July and they are dangerous rivals now. Clive Cox’s inmate was again behind Popmaster at Ascot this month in second and that’s excellent form as he contests the big race on this card. With first-time blinkers added, Hector Crouch’s mount could have a major say in the Silver Cup outcome.
Selection: Royal Scimitar @ 8/1
3.05 – Virgin Bet Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3, 6f)
The Irish raider Head Mistress is very much one to respect for Ger Lyons. She’s 2-2 so far and there was much to enjoy in the way she went and claimed Loveday to win a Listed event at the Curragh last month. She has leading claims but SCOT’S GRACE was a luckless fifth in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton a fortnight ago, suffering ill luck in running before running home strongly. That went some way to confirming the promise of her debut success at the same track and, on turf bow, the Mehmas filly looks sure to contend for trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy.
Selection: Scot’s Grace @ 6/1
3.40 – Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap, 6f)
The aforementioned Popmaster should go well here under Hollie Doyle and joins Great Ambassador (2-2 since a cracking effort in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood) amongst the market principals in having a strong case. At decent odds, however, COUNT D’ORSAY is taken to back up his excellent third in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster last week off this mark. Tim Easterby’s charge has some really good efforts under his belt this season and he generally tends to do his winning in the autumn. He’s also proven he can back a run up quickly and has a featherweight to carry now.
Selection: Count D’Orsay @ 25/1
4.15 – Virgin Bet Handicap (1m)
DANCE FEVER has posted rock-solid efforts in defeat at Ascot, Doncaster and Goodwood since scoring at Leicester (7f, good) in July. Clive Cox’s inmate didn’t have things go his way three weeks ago at Goodwood and his Ascot form from last summer offers plenty of optimism that stepping back up to a mile can be a positive for him. Hong Kong Harry is 2-2 at Ayr (both this season) and should be sharper for his recent Lingfield effort which came off a break. He’s high on the shortlist for Richard Fahey and Paul Hanagan.
Selection: Dance Fever @ 7/2
4.50 – Download The Gribbens Taxi App Now Handicap (7f)
Redarna knows where the winning post is here as a six-time course winner (five at this trip) and is much-respected alongside former Ayr winners Cassy O and the mare Poet’s Magic. SUMMA PETO was on the up this season before a disappointing visit to Royal Ascot in the Britannia Stakes. He’d won both starts before that and was close third behind Redarna here over a mile when last spotted in early July. He didn’t quite last home but has won here over a mile before and there’s potentially still more to come from Keith Dalgleish’s son of Dialed In after a short break.
Selection: Summa Peto @ SP
5.20 – Jordan Electrics Ltd Handicap (1m5f)
Dark Jedi will have to leave behind a poor run at Doncaster last week to overcome top weight in this while Annandale – the only 3YO in the race – also must banish the disappointment of last month’s Melrose run at York. He takes on older horses now and could bounce back. The mare GREENGAGE won over C&D in July and is once again within reach of that winning mark. She’s got a chance back here.
Selection: Greengage @ SP
*All odds correct at time of writing.
