Ayr Gold Cup

Today´s card at Ayr is the best of the year for flat racing in Scotland, with the Ayr Gold Cup, a valuable handicap over furlongs at 16.50 CET one of the hottest betting races of the year. This also applies to the Silver Cup, the consolation race at 15.40, and with 27 runners apiece they are extremely difficult to solve. Some trainers clearly target these races, notably Richard Fahey, who saddles a total of 13 runners (!!). We shall try to make things easier by elminating half the runners .- all those drawn 14 or lower. It was yesterday quite obvious that high numbers held a big advantage, and although this bias may not be so apparent a day later, we shall assume it is still the case. Our three against the field are therefore Ansaab (Alan McCabe/ Billy Lee), Huntsmans Close (Roger Charlton/ James Doyle) and Lexington Abbey (Kevin Ryan/ Pat Smullen) in the Silver Cup, and Blaine (Ryan again with daughter Amy up), Fast Shot (Tim Easterby/ Rachel Richardson) and Supplicant (Fahey/ George Chaloner) in the Gold Cup.

Best race in theory is the Group Three for 2yo fillies at 15.05. Qatar Racing has 3 runners here, with Irish-trained Ainippe (Ger Lyons/ Colin Keane) in the first colours. She was a disappointing favourite at Doncaster last week over 5 furlongs, but we hope that this trip will see her in a more favoúrable light. The listed race over 10 furlongs at 16.15 sees the return of Sky Hunter (Saeed bin Suroor/ Kieren Fallon), who was 3rd in the Prix du Jockey Club for André Fabre last season; his two runs in the U.K. in the spring were very feeble, but if he can recover some oh his old form, he would certainly win this; if not, then Gabrial (Fahey/ David Nolan) and Abseil (Sir Michael Stoute/ James Doyle) - very well bred but up in trip here - would be the likeliest winners.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Power Play - Jumeirah Glory - Chadic
2. Race: Ainippe - Prize Exhibit - Spirit Of Xian
3. Race: Redvers - Bogart - Lexington Abbey
4. Race: Sky Hunter - Sennockian Star - Gabrial
5. Race: Watchable - Alben Star - Mass Rally
6. Race: Top Of The Glas - Dusky Queen - Jacob Black
7. Race: Deauville Prince - Athletic - Earth Drummer
8. Race: Buthelezi - Pressure Point - Dark Ruler