Saturday's Meetings Ayr Flat 8 Races 1:15-5:20p.m. Curragh Flat 8 Races 1:20-5:25p.m. Newbury Flat 7 Races 1:30-5:00p.m. Listowel N/H 8 Races 1:35-5:40p.m. Newmarket Flat 7 Races 1:40-5:10p.m. Catterick Flat 8 Races 1:45-5:40p.m. York Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:30p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 8 Races 5:24-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
15:35 Ayr Gold Cup, Class-2 Handicap over 6f on forecast good-to-soft ground. Selection, Juan Les Pins, has taken a new lease of life since joining the Mick Appleby yard. This fine sprinter has performed with real merit since the move. Certainly has as good a chance as any in this mad dash up the Ayr 6f straight! Weather forecast for Saturday is sunny, so maybe the ground will dry-out to good, but will have to wait and see. Alistair Rawlinson rides for the Mick Appleby stable. Best price at this early time is 9/1 (BetMGM/BetUK), which looks pretty reasonable for a possible 2nd favourite? E/W I guess is the best option. Enjoy the racing, folks!
I took a good long look at his form last night as the ATR had him due to go up 8lbs since the publication of the weights. However, as a five year old with plenty of experience the handicapper is basing his new rating purely one the one run. All previous form lines with many of todays opposition do not point to him being particularly well in. Not saying he wont win as he certainly has a chance but I very much doubt that he is 8lbs ahead of his mark. I like BIELSA. Good luck Swanny.
In this age of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League it should perhaps be no surprise that the Ayr Gold Cup has spawned the Ayr Silver Cup and the Ayr Bronze Cup. Quality over quantity seems to be the norm these days in Britain whereas in Ireland one handicap on Sunday pays more prizemoney than the three Ayr Cups put together. I expect the Ayr Gold Cup festival will be expanded to 3 days soon to include the Porcelain Cup, the Pewter Cup and the Merit Badge Handicap.
Really suprised to see the dancing poet in double figures at a very rewarding c/d and the conditions will suit , win only for me but this should be in the 5s or 6s as 365 were offered on opening . Langholme 13/8
Ayr 14,25 Aplomb 12/1 e/w WH and bet365 six places, 11/1 sky seven places 15,35 Significantly 9/1 e/w WH, bet365 and PP six places, 17/2 sky seven places Listowel 15,20 Kellie's Dream 11/1 e/w sky five places, 10/1 others 15,55 Blenheim Belle 16/1 e/w PP five places, betfair three, 14/1 sky five places
With the prevailing going at Ayr, Newbury and York (pretty much the same for all three meetings at this time of year annually), I will only be watching. As the ground at HQ is just on the easy side of good that looks of more interest, although several small fields and short-priced favourites quickly eliminates much of the card. In the mile handicap at 2:15, I do not think that William Buick is going to have it all his own way on favourite Shining Jewel, who opened her account in a moderate five runner affair on the Chelmsford kitty litter last time from the front. Hughie Morrison’s Azahara Palace has won three of her last four – all at Chepstow – from up with the pace, has David Probert in the plate today and receives more than a stone from the Appleby filly. Speriamo also receives a stone from the favourite and she made all last time on the July course on quick ground; however, the concern with her is that she has run poorly on easy ground three times and Buick was aboard that day not Marco Ghiani. Six year old Don’t Tell Claire carries the same weight as the Godolphin filly and is not without a chance if returning to the form of her second in the Kensington Palace at Royal Ascot. The two at the top of the card met last time out with Lady Alara prevailing at 25/1 after a run of moderate efforts and she now races off a 6lb higher mark. The runner-up Maggie’s Way is 5lb better off for two lengths so could overturn that form, lightly raced High Spirited was fourth and Don’t Tell Claire was an eased distant eighth. It is difficult to make a case for rank outsider Eximious as all her form has been on quick ground and she finished mid-division in the Sandringham and was only third on the Wolverhampton kitty litter in August when favourite. With virtually all those mentioned so far being front running types, there should be pace here and hold-up horse Canoodled has three course victories to her account and should give a good account having been third in a blanket finish at Haydock last time after winning over seven on the July course – with Buick in the plate both times. The one I am going to take a chance on, however, is FIVE TOWNS. She followed up a good second on her first attempt at a mile at Haydock with a win in a six runner event at Windsor; and William Buick has never ridden her! Raised 5lb for the two length win last time, the risk here is that she has never run on easy turf although she did win on Standard/Slow kitty litter at Kempton. With just six races on the board, Hayley Turner’s mount can improve to win here.
Two speculative punts in the two big races at Ayr today for me: 2:25 - Punchbowl Flyer 66/1 3:35 - Gweedore 33/1 Both 7 places with Sky. ew singles and ew double.
Ayr gold cup I am interested in paws for thought 28s ew 6 places , good claimer in the plate taking an extra 5lb off. The track should suit and the conditions should be fine . Another that jumps out at 16s is ramazan the drop back in trip should be a big help. Not going wild with them more for interest
My only fancy for the Ayr Gold Cup is, unfortunately, playing truant, so I'll just watch. However, will be interested in seeing how Northern Express and Significant perform. One fancy I have today is in the (1900) at Wolverhampton, a 7f affair on the Tapeta surface. The Cota Glory filly, Glory Sky, has a squeak in this at the current decent pre-race odds. Apprentice Joe Leavy (7) on board for the Richard Hannon yard. 9/1, available in many places, is top price at time of writing. E/W best option.
Shout with Significantly, Pilgrim, bravo! Would have won easily but for severe interference twice during the race?
That Ayr Gold Cup really is becoming very, very draw dependent as the winner emerged from box 14. The last 7 winners of the race (there was a dead-heat in 2018) have now emerged from a double digit stall. Furthermore, there has been no winner of the Ayr Gold Cup from the lowest 7 stalls, when run at Ayr (the '17 renewal was run at Haydock), since 2006. Is it just me or are so many races these days becoming very draw dependent??? And next weekend we have the Cambridgeshire and the Arc!!! Going on recent history 2 of the most draw dependent events of the entire year. Well done to Julie Camacho. Another big winner following on from the exploits of old boy, Shaquille. Will she gain another one with the legendary Tactical by the end of the term?!? I think he's certainly handicapped to do so as any rate... Finally, can I also say a few words about the above mentioned, Juan Les Pins. I also liked him very much for the race and feel that old girl Mother Nature robbed the 6YO of a great opportunity. He would have ran off 98, at Ayr, (as it is an early closing race). Juan Les Pins is now perched on 106 so any forthcoming handicap engagement is going to be much, much, much tougher....
Do you remember old boy "1.02" ArkleSupreme telling us all with confidence and swagger a few years ago that the winner of the Ayr Gold Cup will be drawn 13 or higher? I think it was 30 runners that particular year. Top, and I do mean Top Draw tipping.
