15:35 Ayr

Saturday 23 September 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 1m 10.77s

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Selected odds by:

(15)

Summerghand^v¹³^{(ex 5)}

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| BF| CD

10/1

A superb servant to connections who has got right back on song of late, dead-heating at York before posting a very good fourth of 22 at the Curragh (6f) when not enjoying the clearest of passages. Took this 12 monhs ago and he's a big player once more.

Form: 064214

(25)

Rohaan¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: B A Curtis| T: P D Evans| OR: 104| D

17/2

Smart 6f winner at his best but yet to hit top form this term, albeit not disgraced when tenth in Sprint Cup at Haydock 14 days ago. Enters calculations back in handicap company.

Form: 070760

(3)

Fast Response⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁷⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 103| BF| D

12/1

Signed off last term with 6f Doncaster listed success and just as good this term, runner-up in listed race at Chester (6.1f, heavy) 48 days ago. Can't be ruled out back in handicap now.

Form: 254202

(19)

Northern Express³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 103| BF| C

18/1

Consistent sort who has bagged Thirsk Hunt Cup and 7f York handicap this term. Good fifth of 19 back at York last time and this free-going sort is very much one for the shortlist dropped in trip.

Form: 133145

(9)

Desert Cop¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 104| D

40/1

Posted a smart effort to win a valuable conditions race at Newcastle (6f, AW) on Good Friday and also a good sixth in King's Stand at Royal Ascot. Well below par on his last two runs however so has something to prove.

Form: 172607

(10)

Montassib⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 101| D

10/1

Scored at Newmarket (7f) in May and got back on track when eighth of 25 in International at Ascot (7f, good to soft) 56 days ago. Possibilities off a 1 lb lower mark.

Form: 041008

(23)

Orazio⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 101| BF| D

8/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who looked a sprinter going places when landing 6f handicaps at Newmarket and Ascot during the spring. Only eighteenth of 27 in Stewards' Cup at Goodwood last time but remains handily weighted and shouldn't be written off after a break.

Form: 0/61160

(8)

Gweedore⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: William Pyle⁽⁵⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 100| C

11/1

Likeable type who won over 7f at Doncaster and Newmarket this summer. Rare below-par efforts on his last two runs however so needs to bounce back.

Form: 631197

(16)

Aberama Gold^v⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| CD

33/1

Dual winner for Keith Dalgleish in June and has taken his form to another level for his new yard with further 6f success at York and in Stewards' Cup at Goodwood. Well held in Portland at Doncaster last time but no surprise to see this C&D scorer get back in the mix.

Form: 851100

(17)

Escobar¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: D Allan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100

50/1

Smart performance when winning at Ascot (7f) last October. Yet to scale same heights this season though and only 20th in International at Ascot 14 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 008040

(11)

Gorak^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Mikkel Mortensen⁽⁷⁾| T: C Fellowes| OR: 100| C

50/1

Twice a winner in 7f handicaps this spring. Not so good on his last two starts though, coming in last of nine in 6f listed race at Newmarket 28 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 140709

(13)

Albasheer^b¹³^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 95| BF| D

12/1

Dead-heated in 6f handicap at York (with Summerghand) before posting a good eighth of 22 at the Curragh 13 days ago. Saddles 5 lb penalty but can go well again.

Form: 707818

(12)

Ramazan⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 101| D

16/1

Scored at Haydock (7f) in July and resumed his progress to land 7f handicap at Chepstow 44 days ago. Up another 3 lb but he's thriving so remains one to consider back at 6f.

Form: 3-39191

(1)

Bielsa⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Rowan Scott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 99| CD

12/1

2021 winner of this who has got right back to his best this term, third of 27 in Stewards' Cup at Goodwood last time having also scored at York in the spring. Must enter calculations for yard which has a fine record in this contest.

Form: 00-2103

(6)

Lethal Levi^v1⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 96| D

18/1

Yet to score this term but has posted some good efforts in defeat, fourth of 12 in 6.5f Doncaster handicap 8 days ago. Visor goes on and can make his presence felt again.

Form: 035574

(18)

Magical Spirit^p⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95| CD

50/1

Landed the Ayr Silver Cup in 2020 and arrives in decent nick this time around, sixth of 15 to Aberama Gold at York (6f) 56 days ago. No forlorn hope off an easing mark for yard with an excellent record here.

Form: 041376

(21)

Mr Wagyu^v¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 95| CD

14/1

C&D winner who has also finished fifth and third in the past two runnings of this. Back on track when third of 22 at the Curragh (6f) 13 days ago so he ought to be in the shake-up once more.

Form: 977493

(5)

Aleezdancer^p⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95| D

14/1

Kickstarted 2023 with success in the mud at Doncaster and back on form under similar conditions when fifth of 27 in Stewards' Cup at Goodwood last time. Not ruled out if conditions turn very testing.

Form: 160975

(4)

Probe^h⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Frederick Larson⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 95| D

11/1

Resurgent for his new yard when a 6f winner at Wolverhampton and Newmaket in the spring. Off the track since coming in 12th in Bunbury Cup on July course 70 days ago but he goes well fresh so shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 121500

(7)

Paws For Thought²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Robert Whearty⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 94| D

28/1

Rattled off a hat-trick of 6f/7f handicaps wins in the summer. Poorly drawn when eighth in handicap at Chester (5.5f) 21 days ago and is the sort to bounce back.

Form: 711158

(14)

Significantly^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 94| D

8/1

Resumed winning ways for current yard at Haydock in July and has continued in excellent form, just failing in Portland at Doncaster a week ago. Merits serious consideration off an unchanged mark.

Form: 8-41262

(2)

Mondammej¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 94| D

80/1

Useful gelding at his best but is on a lengthy losing run and has been below form in recent outings too. It's easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 540007

(22)

Lequinto^b¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Connor Beasley| T: A W Carroll| OR: 91| D

80/1

Quirky sort but he scored at Windsor in June and has posted solid efforts in defeat at Windsor and Wolverhampton since. This demands more, however.

Form: 552126

(24)

It Just Takes Time⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D C Costello| T: M Walford| OR: 91| D

80/1

Gained his second success of 2023 at Ripon in June but he arrives below form, only sixth at Doncaster 8 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: 162986

Non-Runners

(20)

Juan Les Pins¹³

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: M Appleby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Juan Les Pins (15/2), Significantly (8/1), Orazio (8/1), Rohaan (17/2), Montassib (10/1), Summerghand (10/1), Gweedore (11/1), Probe (11/1), Albasheer (12/1), Fast Response (12/1), Bielsa (12/1), Mr Wagyu (14/1), Aleezdancer (14/1), Ramazan (16/1), Lethal Levi (18/1), Northern Express (18/1), Paws For Thought (28/1), Aberama Gold (33/1), Desert Cop (40/1), Escobar (50/1), Gorak (50/1), Magical Spirit (50/1), It Just Takes Time (80/1), Lequinto (80/1), Mondammej (80/1)

A superb renewal of the Ayr Gold Cup and once more it could go the way of David O'Meara's most likeable veteran SUMMERGHAND who shows absolutely no signs of slowing down at the age of nine and can swoop late to repeat his fine 2022 victory. Significantly just failed in Doncaster's Portland and seems sure to be in the mix once more along with last year's third Juan Les Pins. Orazio remains with potential and also can't be ruled out. Bielsa, Northern Express and Ramazan complete the shortlist.

Previous Winners

2022

Summerghand

Weight: 9-5 |Age: 8

J: D Tudhope | T: D O'Meara

12/1

Prize Money

1st: £92,772.002nd: £43,506.003rd: £21,762.004th: £10,872.005th: £5,436.006th: £2,718.00

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