1:15 Ayr
The first race from Ayr is a Class 2 handicap over the mile trip.
The horse I like is THUNDER ROAR (10/1) EW. He caught the eye with a staying on 4th placed effort last time at Ascot, suggesting he was coming to the boil nicely for targets towards the end of the season. He is handicapped to go close, and he now returns to Ayr, where he has won before. He’ll appreciate the softer surface too, being a winner on soft ground, and a bold bid has to be expected today.
1:30 Newbury
The first contest from Newbury is the Group 3 World Trophy Stakes over 5f.
I like COVER UP (10/1) EW here for the Crisford stable. He comes into this race on the back of a career-best performance when winning at Ascot in taking fashion back in July. That will have given him a world of confidence, and I’m hoping he can kick on now. That win entitled him to try this company and it isn’t the strongest of Group 3 races on paper. Williams Buick is a positive jockey booking, and I’m hoping for a bold display.
1:50 Ayr
Next up is the Doonside Cup, a listed race over 1m2f.
I’d be chancing CERTAIN LAD (11/2) in this, who sets a high standard on the best of his form for the younger brigade to aim at. He’s run respectably on his three starts this season, but they’ve all been on quicker ground than he’d like, so there’s plenty of optimism now that, for the first time this year, he’ll be able to get his toe in. This should result in a seasonal best performance. If he runs his race on ground he enjoys, it’ll take a decent one to beat him.
2:05 Newbury
The 2:05 is the Autumn Cup Handicap over the extended 1m5f trip.
It is MAJESTIC WARRIOR (9/2) NB for me who ran with plenty of promise last time out when finishing 7th in the Ebor. He was bang there inside the last furlong and given he hadn’t had much racing, he was entitled to do just that. The drop to 1m5f looks an ideal trip, and with that run under his belt, he can come forward. He’s shown plenty of ability in the past and has several strong pieces of back form to his name. Despite being a 5-year-old, he’s arguably still completely unexposed, and I think he could be better than this level if he manages to stay injury-free. Hopefully, he can justify that today.
2:25 Ayr
The 2:25 from Ayr is the competitive handicap that is the Silver Cup over 6 furlongs.
The one for me is FAR ABOVE DREAM (12/1) EW for the shrewd James Owen yard. Last seen bolting up at Goodwood, he appeared to relish the show ground there, and with rain coming at Ayr, you’d hope he’d get that chance again today. He’s drawn around the better horses with pace also among the high numbers too, so he looks to be well aided to make another bold bid. He likes to be held up and come with a run. Here we have a big field over the straight course at Ayr and that looks sure to suit.
2:40 Newbury
It is back to Newbury next for a very trappy handicap over 1m2f.
It is DANTE’S LAD (8/1) EW I like in here. A progressive profile, this 3-year-old can serve it up to his elder rivals today. He was unlucky not to win at York last time out, where he was just headed close to home by Zain Blue. If you ignored his Goodwood run where he lost his action, he’d have been looking to complete a hat-trick there, having won his two previous starts. Useful claimer Jack Callan takes off a valuable 5lb, and I think that could prove to be significant.
3:00 Ayr
The 3:00 from Ayr is the Firth Of Clyde, a Group 3 for the 2-year-old fillies over 6 furlongs.
It is CATCHING THE MOON (9/1) EW for me for Richard Fahey. She stepped forward from an encouraging debut second at Leicester to win well at Beverley on her next start. She showed plenty of pace there, but she wasn’t stopping come the line, winning easily in the end. The Fahey yard have won this twice in the last five years, so they know what it takes, and I can see Catching The Moon taking another step forward here and running a huge race.
3:15 Newbury
The feature race from Newbury is the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at 3:15. A 6f contest for the 2 year-olds.
It is ROCK ON THUNDER (10/3) NAP I like in here. He comes into this race with the best form, and this prominent racer looks sure to be suited by the test of Newbury. He’s shown that already with a fine second two starts ago, but it was his Gimcrack second last time out, which was very appealing. Well-backed on the day, he looked the winner for the majority of the contest before being closed in on late on. Kevin Stott potentially went for home a little too early that day and if he learns from that, I think compensation may well await here.
3:35 Ayr
We end proceedings with a historic handicap in the Ayr Gold Cup, always a competitive affair over the 6f trip.
The one I’ve landed on is STRIKE RED (12/1) EW for the Richard Fahey stable again. 10th in this race last year, better can be expected this time around with ground conditions more in his favour. He was an impressive winner at York around this time last year on soft ground in what was a similar competitive handicap. He’s just 2lb higher for this contest, and he’s been in decent nick this season too. A fine second behind Two Tribes in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood two starts ago, he ran well enough at York last time out, too, given the ground was far quicker than he’d like. Returning to a softer surface here, he can go close again at the very least.
