Saturday 19th September 2026
1.02 Newbury – (World Trophy Stakes) (5f) (G3)
STARLUST – (5/2) (Win) (NAP)
This is highly competitive; however, Ralph Beckett’s five-year-old comes into the race in very solid form, despite not winning since his 2024 Breeders’ Cup success. He finished a length and a quarter behind the exceptional Bacio in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York on his penultimate start, before finishing a couple of lengths behind Comanche Brave in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh last week on Champions Weekend. Repeating either of those runs would be enough to go extremely close at this level.
1.20 Ayr – (Class 2 Handicap) (1m)
MCMURRAY – (7/2) (Win)
There are a lot of exposed-looking types here; therefore, George Boughey’s three-year-old son of Mehmas makes plenty of appeal on paper. He’s not been seen since winning at Chester’s May Festival in May, where he notched up a fourth success in a row within a Class 2 handicap. He’s been gelded since that run, and is still open to further improvement off just a four-pound higher mark. He has to be considered as a serious contender under Jack Callan.
1.37 Newbury – (Autumn Cup Handicap) (C2) (1m 5 1/2f)
INSANITY – (9/2) (Each-Way)
You could make a case for a lot of them here; French Duke will be popular; however, I believe that Alan King’s charge could have a big say under Rossa Ryan. He’s been lightly campaigned this term, and shaped with promise following a couple of months off the track, when sixth in the Shergar Cup last time out in August. He should take a step forward following that effort, and can go well in this assignment off a pound-lower mark.
1.55 Ayr – (Doonside Cup Stakes) (Listed) (1m 2f)
ICE MAX – (3/1) (Win) (NB)
A lot of those that take their place here have a few question marks hanging over them, and I think that Karl Burke’s runner looks like a solid option. All of his best form has come on testing ground, which it’s almost certainly going to be here, and he comes into the race fresh, having not been seen since finishing fourth behind Seagulls Eleven in Group 3 company at Epsom in June. The last time he contested a Listed race on soft ground he won, with that success coming at Nottingham almost twelve months ago, and he looks to have a lot in his favour on this occasion.
2.12 Newbury – (Mill Reef Stakes) (G2) (6f)
NABATI – (4/1) (Win)
Arapaho Gold will be the all the rage here at the top of the betting, and rightfully so, given his recent success in the Gimcrack Stakes, taking his unbeaten winning streak to four. I’ve tried to take him on, though, with Charlie Appleby’s colt; he was only a neck behind the favourite at Newmarket earlier in the season, and he now has a three-pound swing at the weights. He was only third at Doncaster in Listed company last week when a short-priced favourite, however, that was over seven furlongs, and he’s likely to be more effective back down to six here. Appleby won this last year with Words Of Truth.
2.30 Ayr – (Silver Cup Handicap) (C2)
TOYOTOMI – (5/1) (Each-Way)
The ground may cause problems for many in this particular affair; however, Toyotomi should relish underfoot conditions, and is only a pound higher than when winning a handicap at Goodwood in June. He met trouble in running last time out at the Curragh, being denied a clear run on several occasions when eventually finishing midfield, and I think that he can make amends here with more luck for the team of David O’Meara and Oisin Murphy.
2.47 Newbury – (Dubai Duty Free Handicap) (C2) (1m 2f)
GONNA FLY – (8/1) (Each-Way)
This is another extremely competitive affair; Boyfriend, Balzac, and Almekaram all have solid claims; however, I’m happy to take a chance on this Ralph Beckett colt, Gonna Fly. He won a couple of novice events and posted his best effort to date in three runs within handicap company when finishing fourth of eleven at Sandown last time out, just a length and a quarter behind the winner. He should take another step forward here off the same mark, and is open to improvement at the back end of the season.
3.05 Ayr – (Firth Of Clyde Challenge Cup) (G3) (6f)
DARK ISSUE – (5/2)
Several nice types could feature here, with many likely to improve; the expensive Silent Beauty could prove the best of them. However, on this day, it may pay to side with the Hannon filly, Dark Issue. She was fourth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, and backed that run up last time out when being narrowly denied in Group 3 company at Salisbury, finishing half a length second of eleven. That run came on good-to-soft ground, and she’s a massive player if she takes another step forward.
3.40 Ayr – (Ayr Gold Cup) (Heritage Handicap) (6f)
FAR ABOVE DREAM – (7/1) (Each-Way)
The Ayr Gold Cup is one of the most competitive betting heats of the flat calendar, and it will once again take a bit of luck finding the winner in this year’s twenty-five-runner renewal. Binhareer has been the favourite for a while, and is an obvious William Haggas improver in a big-field handicap. I like the James Owen charge though: Far Above Dream, who’s the mount of Jason Hart, who had a great day here on Friday. He went extremely close in a competitive contest at York last time, finishing a nose second of twenty-two, and if he’s in the same form, he has to enter calculations off a three-pound higher mark. He’s also won on heavy ground previously, so the conditions won’t be an issue, and if he gets some luck in the run, he has every chance.
