Saturday 20th September 2025
AYR GOLD CUP FESTIVAL SELECTIONS (DAY 3)
1.15 Ayr: NORTHERN EXPRESS – 6/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
Kicking things off for me this Saturday on Gold Cup Day at Ayr will be the 1:15, and this is a Class 2 handicap contested over a mile. I like the chances of Northern Express here for the team of Michael Dods and Paul Mulrennan. He’s been running with credit among competitive Class 2 handicaps this season. Most recently, he was just two lengths behind the progressive Bullet Point at York’s Ebor Festival when finishing sixth, and he’s been dropped a pound for his troubles there. He’ll contest this off four pounds lower than his last winning mark, and he’s versatile when it comes to the ground. I think that He’s got every chance of getting involved once again here
3.35 Ayr (Gold Cup Handicap): PUROSANGUE – 9/1 (Each-Way) & AIN’T NOBODY – 11/1 (Each-Way) (6 places)
I’ve got two selections in the feature race of the afternoon, and this is the Ayr Gold Cup, which is a Heritage Handicap over a distance of six furlongs. The first of my picks comes in the form of Purosangue for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy. This four-year-old has become slightly frustrating this term; however, I still believe that there could be a big handicap pot in him off this mark, and it could well be this particular affair. He was only beaten by a length and a quarter in a Class 2 handicap at Doncaster last week, and he should have every chance again here off just a couple of pounds higher here. He always has the services of Oisin Murphy on board on this occasion
I also like the chances of Ain’t Nobody here, who represents Kevin Ryan, and is the mount of James Doyle. He ran a mighty race on his penultimate start when finishing second and a length and a quarter behind Asfoora in the Nunthorpe Stakes, and a repeat of that level of form would be good enough to win this. He’s effectively thirteen pounds well in among handicap company here, and he should also be fine on potentially soft ground, having won on good to soft previously.
5.15 Ayr: SILENT MOVE – 11/2 (Each-Way) (4 places)
My fourth and final selection of the evening comes within the 5.15, and this is a Class 4 handicap that’s contested over a distance of seven furlongs. I’m with Silent Move here for Richard Fahey and five-pound claimer Warren Fentiman. The four-year-old gelding appears to be returning to form, judging by his last two efforts, where he’s finished three-quarters of a length second of seven at Carlisle, and fifth of fifteen at Thirsk most recently. He’s also started to look well-handicapped, as he’s now two pounds below his last winning mark, and also has a further five coming off his back here via his rider’s claim. I think he should be weighted to go well here
