13:50 Ayr

Saturday 23 September 2023

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

Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 2m 6.26s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Helvic Dream³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: N Meade| OR: 105| D

9/2

Group 1 winner at the Curragh back in 2021. Winless since and just a useful performer these days, though he stuck to his task well when third back at that venue a month ago. Tough ask with a couple of these.

Form: 876-743

(7)

Imperial Fighter⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 98

25/1

Third in last year's Irish 2000 Guineas but below that form since. Slightly better signs when fifth in Epsom Group 3 in June and raced in unfavoured centre when 23rd in Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last time. Harder to excuse subsequent Goodwood run.

Form: 0-65500

(4)

Pride Of America^t⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Frederick Larson| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 110| D

5/2

Much improved this term on the back of another breathing op, scoring at Chester in May and in John Smith's Cup at York. Another excellent effort at Goodwood and he's well worth his place in listed company.

Form: 461713

(8)

Batemans Bay⁹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 100

28/1

Shaped like a stayer on debut over 7f and improved for the extra furlong when winning Haydock novice. Ran well upped in grade/trip again when fourth in Zetland Stakes at Newmarket final start and he was far from disgraced set a stiff task over 14f on June's reappearance. Since left Ralph Beckett.

Form: 514-0

(5)

Royal Rhyme^t⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 108| D

6/5

Looked to be going the right way when ready winner of 10f Newmarket handicap (soft) in May and found another jolt of improvement when adding to his tally in a Goodwood handicap last month. Progressive, so worth a shot at this.

Form: 1-43101

(6)

Lakota Sioux³⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 96

50/1

Tail flasher but it didn't prevent her developing into a very useful juvenile, including a Group 3 win on the July Course (7f, good to firm). Brace of heavy defeat last autumn and off the track since. This is asking a lot on reappearance trying a new trip.

Form: 313100-

(2)

Luckin Brew³⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Jim Crowley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 94

10/1

Lope De Vega filly who confirmed previous promise and proved determined when off the mark in 11-runner Kempton novice (1m) in September. Excellent second in listed race at Pontefract (1m) a month later but she hasn't raced since.

Form: 2512-

Non-Runners

(3)

My Prospero⁵⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Royal Rhyme (6/5), My Prospero (5/4), Pride Of America (5/2), Helvic Dream (9/2), Luckin Brew (10/1), Imperial Fighter (25/1), Batemans Bay (28/1), Lakota Sioux (50/1)

PRIDE OF AMERICA has been in excellent form in handicaps and is the clear form pick now tackling listed company. Royal Rhyme has a bit to find with the selection but he's progressive and respected, while Luckin Brew has been placed at this level, and is lightly raced, but she's been off 11 months.