Saturday 21st September 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (@jordan_yates_)
Ayr Gold Cup Day
Feature Meetings: Ayr, Newbury
1.30 Newbury: Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes: This week’s Saturday Preview gets underway in the 1.30 at Newbury which is the Group 3 World Trophy Stakes over five furlongs. I’m with Relief Rally here for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. She was a very smart juvenile and has been given some time off the track since two encouraging runs here at the beginning of the season in Group 3 & Listed company, most recently behind Elite Status. The drop back down to five furlongs will see her to best effect and she should go well. Relief Rally – 6/1 (Each-Way)
1.50 Ayr: LiveScore Bet Doonside Cup Stakes: It’s over to Ayr for my second selection of the day and the 1.50 which is the Listed Doonside Cup Stakes over a mile and two furlongs. I like Enfjaar here for the team of Roger Varian and Jim Crowley. He won the John Smiths Cup at York earlier in the season before going close in another extremely competitive in the Chesterfield Cup at Goodwood. Most recently, he was slightly outpaced in Group 3 company at York but I think he’ll appreciate this step back up and still has potential moving forward. Enfjaar – 4/1 (Win)
2.05 Newbury: Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap: My third selection of the day comes in the 2.05 at Newbury which is the Autumn Cup Handicap over a mile and five and a half furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Chillingham here for Ed Bethell and William Buick. He was given some time off between May and August and returned to the track at York for the Ebor where he finished midfield, and that run wasn’t devoid of hope. He’s been dropped a further pound for that effort and I think the softer ground here should suit. Chillingham – 7/1 (Each-Way)
2.25 Ayr: Virgin Bet Ayr Silver Cup Handicap: The Silver Cup is up next for me which comes up at 2.25 at Ayr and is contested over six furlongs. I’m siding with Brooklyn Nine Nine here for the combination of Richard Fahey and Connor Murtagh. He comes into the race fresher than most having only had three starts this term, following a mid-season break and he returned to the track at Ascot earlier this month and ran a fine race when a neck second to Woolhampton. He’s been left on the same mark here and if he turns up in the same kind of form can go very close once again over this extra furlong. Brooklyn Nine Nine – 13/2 (Each-Way)
3.00 Ayr: Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Firth Of Clyde: I’m staying at Ayr for my next pick and that’s the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes for fillies over six furlongs. I’ve decided to take a chance on Royalty Bay here for John & Sean Quinn who’s the mount of Jason Hart. She was a short-neck second in Group 3 company in France on her penultimate outing before a slightly underwhelming effort in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last time. I think that the drop back down to six furlongs should see her to best effect here though, and she’ll have no issue with any cut in the ground. Royalty Bay – 8/1 (Each-Way)
3.15 Newbury: Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes: My penultimate selection of the day comes back at Newbury and in the 3.15 which is the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes over six furlongs. I like Shadow Of Light here for the Godolphin duo of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He won his first two starts in maiden and novice company before finishing three-quarters of a length second to Cool Hoof Luke in the Gimcrack Stakes at York last time out. It’s likely that he wasn’t on the right side of the track that day and he remains with significant potential, I think he can have a big say here. Shadow Of Light – 5/2 (Win) (NB)
3.35 Ayr: Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap: Next up it’s the feature race of the day at Ayr which is the Ayr Gold Cup, a Heritage Handicap over six furlongs. This is as competitive as they come, however, I’ve come down on last year’s second Ramazan to go one better this year for Richard Fahey and Oisin McSweeney who takes off three pounds. He’s posted several impressive efforts this term in competitive handicaps including his most recent start where he was three-quarters of a length second at Ripon in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap. He looks like a rock-solid option here and off just three pounds higher than the Ripon run, and he could well go one closer this time around. Ramazan – 10/1 (Each-Way)
3.55 Newmarket: Turners Cesarewitch Trial Handicap: I’ve got a solitary selection at Newmarket to sign me off for the day and this comes in the 3.55 that’s the Cesarewitch Trial Handicap which is a Class 2 handicap over two miles and two furlongs. I’m strong on Tactician here for Andrew Balding and Hayley Turner. He’s a progressive sort and looks the type to enjoy this step-up in trip given how he looked outpaced last time at York before staying on towards the finish. He still managed to finish sixth of sixteen on that occasion and if he does appreciate this new trip he can have a serious say off the same mark. Tactician – 13/8 (Win) (NAP)
