The Ayr Gold Cup meeting begins on Thursday afternoon with the first of three cracking days of action from Scotland’s premier racecourse.
There’s an eight-race card to enjoy on day one (1:42-5:23) with the Kilkerran Handicap at 3:42 the feature race on the card.
Underfoot conditions are forecast to be good and we have picked out a trio of runners to follow on the opening day of Ayr’s Gold Cup Festival.
Racing tips
2.42 Ayr – Water Of Leith
3.42 Ayr – Have Secret
4.15 Ayr – Dancingwithmyself
2.42 Ayr – Water Of Leith
Jim Goldie’s tally of 72 winners at Ayr over the last five seasons comfortably leaves him as leading handler at the course, and Scotland’s top Flat trainer will be targeting further success over the next three days
Goldie’s WATER OF LEITH is already a dual winner at the Scottish track, including at Thursday’s five-furlong trip, and he registered the fourth turf success of his career at Carlisle (6f, good) in early August.
The Kodiac gelding went to Doncaster last week and looked to be coming home best of all under claimer Amie Waugh, only to be overhauled late on by a pair of rivals on the opposite side of the Town Moor finishing straight.
That was a solid effort, however, and Ayr’s leading rider, Paul Mulrennan, takes over in the saddle on Thursday from an unchanged mark. Good ground will suit and Water of Leith could take all the beating in what is a lesser contest.
3.42 Ayr – Have Secret
Richard Fahey is another trainer who should have plenty of live contenders at Ayr’s flagship Flat meeting of the season.
The Kilkerran Handicap over 1m2f is the feature contest on day one and HAVE SECRET can go well for Yorkshire-based Fahey in the hands of jockey Oisin Orr.
The son of Havana Gold has been extremely consistent this season without getting his head in front but that may change on Thursday.
He has finished second at York and Chester this season, both over a similar distance, and was a tad unfortunate to find one too strong on the Roodee last time after being forced to wait behind rivals before making his move.
A first-time visor is tried and there is every reason to believe the four-year-old will run a big race after his promising effort at Chester five days ago.
4.15 Ayr – Dancingwithmyself
Michael Bell’s filly DANCINGWITHMYSELF is our final selection on Thursday’s card and she may hold the best claims of our three picks.
The daughter of Phoenix Of Spain was victorious over a mile in novice company at Chelmsford last year but her first two runs back this season hinted she was ready for a more exacting test of stamina.
And so it has proved with Dancingwithmyself recording back-to-back wins at Ripon over 1m2f in June and 1m4f last month.
She is 2-2 in the hands of Callum Rodriguez – a jockey in superb form at present – and a 6lb rise may not be enough to stop the unexposed three-year-old from landing a hat-trick at Ayr on Thursday.
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