Ayr’s Listed Rothesay Stakes is one of the feature races across the UK on Wednesday, but with no local or northern interest, every yard is making quite some pilgrimage in search of success. We have examined every runner’s chances alongside bet365, who are offering £50 In Free Bets to new customers, when you bet £10.
Achelois (Andrew Balding, P. J. McDonald) 403 miles 3/1
Daughter of Zoffany who was only narrowly denied on return at Epsom. That came in handicap company, but was probably career best as she was only beaten by a course specialist and pulled over five lengths clear of the third. Only prior effort at this level saw her finish fourth of 18 on soft ground at Doncaster last season, but was beaten fewer than two lengths. Clearly not averse to travelling therefore and potentially on the up.
Angel Power (Roger Varian, David Egan) 372 miles 11/4
Prolific in 2020, being first past the post on five occasions (disqualified once) and second the other twice. Easily won a Newmarket Group 3 and an Italian Group 2 that autumn and looked destined for the top, but disappointingly winless last season. Second in Saint-Cloud Listed race was the highlight, but well-beaten on other two occasions she was seen. ONly third of four on reappearance with that form not franked since. If she replicates three-year-old form, she is very dangerous, but hard to trust on recent efforts.
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Luisa Casati (Tom Ward, Daniel Tudhope) 382 miles 22/1
Struggled early in her career, but won a Class 6 auction event so comfortably at Lingfield to get off the mark that trainer Tom Ward pitched her into Listed company next time out in France. Was not disgraced either in finishing fifth, albeit that is a long way from winning potential for this. 12-length sixth of ten on return in a Newbury handicap and she has a fair bit to find.
Magnificence (Brian O’Rourke, Jason Hart) 382 miles 25/1
Like Tom Ward, Brian O’Rourke is based 382 miles from Ayr in Upper Lambourn. His four-year-old got her career off the mark at the fourth attempt in a 7f Redcar handicap. That was from a mark of 72, but was nevertheless tried in Listed races the last twice. Only beaten 2¼ lengths at Kempton over 1m most recently, but nearly two lengths adrift of the less exposed My Astra, and little to suggest she will reverse that form upped to 1m2f.
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Minister For Magic (Harry Dunlop, David Allan) 384 miles 33/1
Winner of her only start prior to 2022, in a Killarney maiden when based in Ireland. Transferred to Harry Dunlop in December, ensuring a mammoth commute to Ayr for this contest. Has exclusively raced over further than this and nearly backed up debut victory when second under a penalty in a Kempton novice in January. Disappointing last of four on handicap debut off a mark of 81 thereafter and significantly more on her plate here.
My Astra (William Haggas, Tom Marquand) 372 miles 9/4
Lope De Vega filly who scored on her first two starts last summer by a combined 10½ lengths. Made favourite for Listed honours in France off the back of that, but denied late on over 1m2f on heavy ground. Arguably disappointing that she could not win again after a break at Kempton last time, but freshness, the drop to 1m and a first-time tongue tie may all have conspired against her. Likely to improve greatly and a real player here.
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The Blue Brilliant (Jessica Harrington, Paul Mulrennan) 251 miles 5/1
Incredibly has the shortest commute, albeit some of it over sea, from Jessica Harrington’s yard in County Kildare. Made a very consistent start to her career, winning twice, and never being out of the first three, in her first five races. Beaten just a nose in a Deauville Group 3 to conclude that run, though well below that form in two 1m4f races since. Yard does not especially excel with flat runners in Britain and has not been in great form under any code since last summer. Only worth watching for now, though drop to 1m2f is a positive.
Twisted Reality (David Menuisier, Kevin Stott) 453 miles 14/1
The longest round trip will belong to David Menuisier’s team, who have 900 miles to Ayr and back on Wednesday. Even more improbably, this will be the daughter of Fastnet Rock’s debut for the yard after transferring from Ralph Beckett’s only marginally closer stable. Won really well on debut as a juvenile at Nottingham and decent fourth to a Group 1 winner at Newbury at three. Well down the field the last thrice though and needs a drastic turnaround.
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Verdict
Only one yard will have made this marathon round trip a worthy one. The Blue Brilliant is probably as talented as any of these, but her stable’s form is a big worry, especially after her last two runs. This trip will possibly help her once again, but MY ASTRA can come good again back up to 1m2f. She almost won at this level in France last season and has more potential than any of her rivals.
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