Ayr and Newbury

Both Ayr and Newbury stage good cards today, although tomorrow´s fixtures are even stronger. At Ayr on the second day of the Western meeting, the Ayr Silver Cup at 17.40 CET is the days big betting race. With 27 runners in this 6 furlongs handicap that did not make the cur for tomorrow´s Gold Cup, this is a typically wide open sprint, made more difficult by the uncertain effects if the draw (high numbers possibly favoured, but not necessarily), by the fact that many of thse horses hae run against each other already several times, notably last week at Doncaster, and by the fact that the two top trainers for suc events, David Nicholls and Richard Fahey, each saddle 5 runners. In that Doncaster event, Nicholls´ Gift Horse (Lance Betts) and Joseoh Henry (Silvestre de Sousa) finished second and third, but iut could well be that Northern Dare, well behind that day, could come out on top this time; he is the choice of Nicholls´son Adrian and always runs well at Ayr.

Fahey´s best chance should be the consistent Harrison George with stable jockey Paul Hanagan up, while Ralph Beckett´s Mullein (Richard Kingscote) could well start favourite; however this lightly-raced 3yo filly, an impressive Windsor winner last time, looks rather inexperienced for a race of this type. At Newbury, the grandly-named Arc Trial, a Group Three over 11 furlongs at 15.40, will certainly have no bearing at all on the Longchamp race in 16 days, but is still an interesting event. Henry cecil´s Multidimensional (Tom Queally)has not really lived up to expectations, but ran a good race when 4th to New Approahc in Irelabd last time, and is the obvious form choice. Both Halicarnassus (Mick Channon/ Sam Hitchcott) and Blue Monday (Roger Charlton/ Steve Drowne) have won this race before and should not be underestimated, while Spanish Moon (Sir Michael Stiute/ Ryan Moore) is inconsistent but good enough on his day. However regime (Michael Bell/ Hayley Turner) looks the best each-way alternative. The class 2 conditions race over a mile at 16.20 has been won by some top performers in the past, but this renewallooks sub-standard. However it offers a good opportunity to Full Toss (Richard Hannon/ Ryan Moore) to keep up the good run this season of his owner, H.M. the Queen. The listed race over 7 furloings at 15.10 has a huge field, but easily the most interesting runner is Mike de Kock´s Royal Vintage (Kevin Shea), who had excellent form at Dubai´s Racing Carnival but has not been since. Hotel du Cap (Geoff Wragg/ Steve Drowne) won this race last year last year and would be a hugely popular winner, as his veteran and much-respected trainer is soon to retire after a lifetime in racing.