The owners may be trying to sell the racecourse but tomorrow's ultra-competitive Ayr Gold Cup promises to be one of the Scottish track's highlights of the season. David Nicholls, who has a decent record in this race, fields six of the twenty seven runners. All week the going has been described as heavy, the consensus being that a high draw is likely to be something of an advangtage; that theory will be put to the test later today when the Silver Cup is run at 4.40. In the last ten years only one animal has won the Gold Cup carrying more than nine stones three pounds. I've concentrated on horses at the lower end of the handicap that are likely to handle the conditions and have a favourable draw; Tajneed at around 11/1 is the each-way selection.
On official ratings Perks, currently joint favourite for next month's Cambridgeshire, looks the one to beat in the Doonside Cup. Bushman could prove the danger - at the prices on offer I'll watch this from the sidelines.
Another Cambridgeshire entry, Luca Cumani's Ask The Butler, is likely to be popular in the John Smith's Heritage Handicap at Newbury. However, as he has nineteen opponents to beat home, I don't think I'll bother backing him...
Friday, September 19, 2008
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There was much discussion before the Ayr Gold Cup about whether it was an advantage to be drawn high or low. The first horses home in Friday's Silver Cup had all come from low berths. Several commentators felt that was where the advantage was and, as the field split, Channel 4's coverage concentrated on low-drawn runners on the far side. In the end though it was stands-side horses who took the spoils with Dandy Nicholls' Regal Parade (18/1) winning this with more than a little to spare on his first try at the trip. Tajneed, 12/1 in the opening show on course, ran a commendable race to finish second at 8/1, some two and a quarter lengths behind his stablemate.
Even money favourite Perks was beaten into third by Lady Deauville with Bushman well beaten in seventh.
I guess those who took the odds about Luca Cumani's Ask The Butler will be a bit miffed the favourite was trounced by one of the the stable's other runners, Presvis. Available at 9/1 in the morning the winner was sent off at 11/2 and looked in a different class to his rivals. On Saturday evening Perks is a best-priced 14/1 for the Cambridgeshire (with totesport) while Ask The Butler is 16/1 with Skybet. After the race the trainer indicated Presvis would be suited by a step up in trip to twelve furlongs.
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