We head up north for Ayr’s biggest meeting of the year, with the Ayr Gold Cup taking centre stage on Saturday afternoon.
Our horse racing betting expert is here with his views on the big handicap and the other fetaure races throughout the Festival.
Thursday – Doonside Cup
The feature race on day one has attracted a high-quality field, with Richard Fahey’s Forest Ranger the obvious star turn.
He picked up back-to-back Huxley Stakes, but has a 7lb penalty for that feat and that makes this a much tougher task, plus he comes here on the back of two poor showings.
That is reflected in his odds of 11/2, and with that in mind, my preference is for Iconic Choice at 5/1.
Tom Dascombe’s filly was nosed out in a photo finish in the Fred Darling in the spring, before a seventh-place finish in the 1000 Guineas.
She steps up to 1m2f for this contest, but that should be no issue, and with the fact she goes well on any ground, she looks the one for me.
Friday – Rosebery Stakes
Thirteen will be fighting it out to win the Rosebury Stakes tomorrow, and the market is led by Dylan De Vega, but my preference is for Mrs Bouquet.
She’s bidding to become a four-timer and though she is closely matched with Isabeau on form, Mrs Bouquet looks the more solid prospect.
Lady Penelope also looks like one with potential following a win at Down Royal but may be best watched on this occasion
Saturday – Ayr Gold Cup
An Irish raider took this race two years ago when Gerard Stack’s Son Of Rest was victorious and they look to hold a strong hand this year with Buffer Zone.
Ger Lyons’ four-year-old was a good winner of a competitive handicap at the Curragh last Sunday and runs here under a five-pound penalty. If in similar form here, he must surely go close.
Major Jumbo has to defy a big weight at the weekend, and Kevin Ryan’s stable has previous in this with stalwart Brando winning this race in 2016 before Donjuan Triumphant repeated the feat in 2017.
Kevin Ryan’s speedster has been holding his own in Group company this term and will be towards the top of the handicap this weekend, but my preference is for Summerghand who has been banging on the door in these big handicaps for a while now.
The five-year-old has run six times this season and his worst finish was a three-length fifth in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot.
I’m slightly concerned that he seems to run well often without getting his head in front and he’s off a career-high mark, however, he seems really well suited to this type of race and that’s so important. He looks the most solid option at 12/1 with Grosvenorsport.com.
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