Ayr plays host to it’s biggest flat meeting of the season on Saturday, with the Ayr Gold Cup the feature race across their three-day meeting. As well as the Ayr Gold Cup, there’s also the Group 3 Fifth Of Clyde and the Listed Doonside Cup Stakes to look forward to.
Tote are guaranteeing a huge £150,000 in the Placepot for it, so our editor has given his selections in an attempt to land the big prize pot.
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Leg 1: 1.15pm
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Redarna
There’s only one that I’m really keen on in the opener, and that’s the course specialist REDARNA. He’s won an impressive seven times from 12 races he’d had at Ayr, and he’s now rated 4lb lower than when fourth in this race last year. Considering he was 3/4 of a length behind Revich in the race last year, yet he’s 4lb better off with that rival this time, I’m struggling to see why Redarna is such a big price for this.
Leg 2: 1.50pm
Leg 2 Selections: (6) Royal Rhyme
After bolting up at Goodwood last time out, it’s easy to see why ROYAL RHYME is set to go off as favourite, and I’m struggling to see any reason why he wouldn’t finish in the top two. He’s 3/3 on ground softer than good, and he’s 2/3 since stepping up to this trip. If he puts in a similar effort to what he showed at Goodwood, he should prove tough to beat.
Leg 3: 2.25pm
Leg 3 Selections: (9) Wobwobwob (10) Monsieur Kodi
I’ve had to study the recent trends for the race to whittle down the runners for this, and I’ve come down on two, with both of them running the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last month. First up is WOBWOBWOB, who was by far best of those to race on the near side and with the draw being kinder here, I expect him to be thereabouts at the finish.
The other I’m siding with is MONSIEUR KODI for Richard Fahey. He has a solid record at Ayr (only failed to finish in the top three once from four races), and it’s good to see Oisin Orr back on board, with his impressive strike rate when riding him (4 wins from 9 rides). 4YO’s have won two of the last three renewals and he looks the pick of that age group in this, so I expect him to run well at big odds.
Leg 4: 3.00pm
Leg 4 Selections: (9) Raqiya (4) Great Generation
RAQIYA has made light work of her last two races, and the way she powered clear at Haydock last time was a joy to watch. She looks like she has serious potential and I would be surprised if she wasn’t in the top three here. The only doubt is she is yet to race on anything other than good ground, but I still think she has the quality to prevail.
To play it safe I’ll also add in GREAT GENERATION, who is 2/2 currently and looks another with a bright future ahead. Both wins came on good to soft so the ground won’t be an issue, and she looks the biggest danger to the favourite. If Raqiya doesn’t handle the ground, Great Generation will be there to take full advantage.
Leg 5: 3.35pm
Leg 5 Selections: (12) Albasheer (9) Aberama Gold
The Ayr Gold Cup should be a cracker of a race and there’s two I’m siding with for it. First up is ALBASHEER, who would’ve beaten Summerghand with a clearer run in the Constantine Handicap at York last month, and had similar trouble in running when behind the same rival at the Curragh earlier this month. If Hollie Doyle can get him in a good position and has a bit more luck on him, I think he looks the best option to land the honours.
The other one I want to side with is ABERAMA GOLD, who has already beaten plenty of these rivals (including Albasheer) when winning at York and Goodwood during the summer. The ground won’t be an issue and with Mark Winn taking 3lb off his back, I fully expect him to outrun his big price.
Leg 6: 4.10PM
Leg 6 Selections: (1) City Burglar
Ralph Beckett’s CITY BURGLAR should be able to make a winning start on his handicap debut, with his first three races full of promise. The form of his runner-up effort at Newbury received a boost when the third-placed Boiling Point won easily next time out, and although he was no match for the first two at Salisbury last time out, he did best of the rest and beat some promising rivals in the process. I’m confident he’s up to winning this, so I’d be shocked if he wasn’t in the first two home.
Suggested Placepot
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Redarna
Leg 2 Selections: (6) Royal Rhyme
Leg 3 Selections: (9) Raqiya (4) Great Generation
Leg 4 Selections: (9) Wobwobwob (10) Monsieur Kodi
Leg 5 Selections: (12) Albasheer (9) Aberama Gold
Leg 6 Selections: (1) City Burglar
8 Lines x £1 = £8
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