Ian Ogg analyses the last 10 renewals of the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday and picks out the key statistics.
Following Brando's victory in the 2016 renewal of the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup from top-weight and a rating of 110, it's hard to rule any of this year's line-up out on the grounds of their official mark.
He had, though, run in the Nunthorpe on his previous start and has gone on to win at Group One level this season and it's doubtful that Kimberella has the scope to follow suit.
No other winner in the last decade has been rated higher than 105 but four of them, including Brando, have been trained by Kevin Ryan and that remarkable record ensures that the Hambleton handler's runners merit close scrutiny.
He relies on Teruntum Star on this occasion but the five-year-old has not, so far, taken to this test beating only one horse home in total from runs in the Silver Cup (2015) and Gold Cup (2016). He arrives in better form than in the past though having worn cheekpieces the last twice and ticks a number of the key boxes.
It's no surprise that some of the season's big sprint handicaps have historically been contested by winners of this race and both the Stewards' Cup and Wokingham form is worth a second look.
SHANGHAI GLORY and Donjuan Triumphant finished fifth and ninth in the former race and both should relish the testing conditions and deserve their places towards the top of the market.
The betting has by no means been a bad guide to this race with shock winners few and far between but Kickboxer takes the eye at a slightly longer price having made an immediate return to form in May on debut for Mick Appleby who saddled Poyle Vinnie to finish second 2015.
Get Knotted was runner-up in last season's Silver Cup from a similar mark and could go well again but the credentials of Shanghai Glory are hard to knock and his claims are preferred.
- Winners have been aged three, four (4), five (3) and six (2).
- Winners have been weighted between 8-10 and 9-10 with seven between 8-13 and 9-6.
- Winners have been rated between 97 and 110.
- Three winners have been drawn between 2 & 8, six between 15 & 22, the other in 12.
- Winners have been priced between 6/1 and 20/1; one favourite has won and five have been placed.
- All winners had either won or been placed in a class 2 handicap.
- Kevin Ryan has saddled four winners and a further three placed runners.
- Six winners finished in the first four on their previous start.
- Three winners were scoring for the first time that season.
