Ayr Gold Cup day

The Ayr Gold Cup day is the biggest fixture of the year in Scotland and today´s card is excellent, though very tricky for punters. The Gold Cup itself, a 6 furlongs handicap at 16.20 CET, is a 6 furlongs handicap with the maximum 27 runners and is always one of the hottest sprints of the season. The effect of the draw is always a debatable point - yesterday the high numbers seemed to have an advantage but we would not bank 100% on this today.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that several trainers have multiple entries, including David Nicholls, who has won this race 5 times in the last 10 years, with 5 runners, course specialist and in-form Richard Fahey 6 and David Barron 3, including the likely favourite Poet´s Place (Phillip Makin), drawn 12 and carrying a 5 kbs penalty for winning in last week´s Portland Handicap at Doncaster. He is one of several leading fancies with a draw in the middle, while the best of the high numbers could be Victoire de Lyphard (Nicholls, with his son Adrian in the saddle), drawn 24. He is the onlY 3yo in the field, but this age group has a poor record here and we prefer to stick to the older runners. 8yo Knot in Wood (Fahey/ Paul Hanagan), drawn 13, could run well at a big price, while Genki (Roger Charlton/ Steve Drowne), drawn 11, is another who can go well from the centre of the track, together with Hawkeyethenoo (Jim Goldie/ Ted Durcan), bidding to become the first Scottish winner of this event for over 30 years. Others who must be mentiond are Tom Dascombe´s pair Noverre to Go (Ross Atkinson) and Jonny Mudball (Seb Sanders), while Evens and Odds (Nicholls/ Billy Cray) had several of these behind him when winning the Stewards Cup at Goodwood.

The Silver Cup, the consolation race at 15.15 is equally difficult, although Definightly (Charlton/ Adam Bschizza), drawn 13, must go close after his listed win at Goodwood last time. Hajoum, one of 4 Mark Johnston runners with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, was also a Goodwood winner last time, while Hogmaneigh (Sanders) looks the best of Jim Goldie´s runners and Joseph Henry the best of David Nicholls´ with son Adrian aboard.

Supporting these 2 handicaps are the Group Three Firth of Clyde Stakes for 2yo fillies at 15.45 and the listed Doonside Cup over 10 furlongs at 17.30. In the latter event Saeed bin Suroor saddles 2 runners, Vesuve and Kirklees, and although Dettori partners the former, we prefer the latter who has Ted Durcan in the saddle; he has not run for almost a year, but is the class horse in the field. In the 2yo event, there are 3 unbeaten runners- Finoon (bin Suroor/ Durcan) Tallahasse (Alan Swinbank/ Peter Mcdonald) and Barefoot Lady /Fahey/ Hanagan), while Godolphin´s other runner Ragsah (Dettori) and Rimth (Paul Cole/ Jamie Spencer) are also dangerous.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Cosmic Moon - Raucous Behaviour - Diamond Penny
2. Race: Definightly - Irish Heartbeat - Hajoum
3. Race: Rimth - Barefoot Lady - Ragsah
4. Race: Poet`S Place - Victoire De Lyphar - Hawkeyethenoo
5. Race: Justonefortheroad - Captain Ramius - Docofthebay
6. Race: Kings Gambit - Vesuve - Kirklees
7. Race: Our Joe Mac - Tamaathul - Colepeper
8. Race: Lady Luachmhar - Dazzling Light - Bollin Felix