Don't miss our horse-by-horse guide to Saturday's big betting heat - the highly-competitive QTS Ayr Gold Cup Handicap.
QTS Ayr Gold Cup Handicap
- When: 3.40, Saturday
- Where: Ayr Racecourse
- Winner: £46,688
- Where to watch: ITV/Racing TV
- Odds: Sky Bet's live odds & offers
GULLIVER (Trainer: David O'Meara, Jockey: Jason Hart)
One of four for a trainer who struck with six-year-old Louis The Pious in 2014 and was beaten only a length into third in this last year. Went on to win at York and Southwell on his next two starts so he's still 7lb higher than last September and is likely to remain vulnerable.
KYNREN (David Barron, William Carver)
Fascinating contender on belated first try at the trip. Going back to 1996 for his trainer's sole win in the race but very much knows the time of day with sprinters and this is arguably one of the stiffest six furlong tests in the land. A mark of 105 demands a career best but he's only 4lb higher than when last successful. Has had wind surgery since last run in June and has gone very well when fresh in the past.
MAJOR JUMBO (Kevin Ryan, Megan Nicholls)
Likeable grey who falls between top handicapper and genuine pattern performer. One win since October 2018 doesn't really do him justice and the assessor has finally cut a bit of slack this summer. Fair second to Judicial in a Listed race at Chester in August shows he's still more than capable and a mark of 100 is 8lb lower than when well held (16/1) in this race last year. Also failed to make an impact in the 2018 edition.
HEY JONESY (Kevin Ryan, Kevin Stott)
Also trained by Ryan, who has won this event four times and, after several nearr-misses, got his day in the sun by essentially making all in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. Not so well suited by the speedy demands of the Stewards' Cup since then and remains 5lb higher than for June triumph but still just had the two runs in blinkers. Very capable of hitting the frame with decent ground to suit.
LAHORE (Phillip Makin, Rowan Scott)
Really helped put jockey-turned-trainer on the map, bagging two really nice prizes already this season. They came at Doncaster and York and he didn't shine in the Silver Cup here last year so one or two question marks over the nature of the track and this kind of test. Also looks handicapped right up to the max now and a supporting role seems more likely.
MR LUPTON (Richard Fahey, Billy Garritty)
Won with a bit to spare in the end at the Curragh last weekend and fair play to connections for immediately stressing the Ayr Gold Cup has been plan A all along and Irish Champions Weekend was a bonus they couldn't really resist. So with all that in mind, this classy Group Two winner has a huge amount to recommend him, including 5lb claimer Billy Garritty helping negate the weight penalty. One negative is that he's run here once in the past and only beat four horses home in this race last year, though he was rated much higher at the time.
BARBILL (Mick Channon, Franny Norton)
Has been in and out like many other sprint handicappers but can run right up to this mark on a going day and he didn't get the best trip when ultimately sixth to Stone Of Destiny in the Portland. More of a test here should play to his strengths in theory but he's another who ended down the field 12 months ago and isn't an obvious win candidate by any means, especially with a 5lb penalty for winning on penultimate start.
NAHAARR (William Haggas, Tom Marquand)
Here's a genuine contender, not least for the fact he was 3/1 favourite for the Stewards' Cup when last seen. The lively ground and fast track there didn't help his cause in the end but he wasn't entirely disgraced, beaten just three lengths. Also runs off 1lb lower mark, while horses proven over seven furlongs (and beyond) have tended do really well in this event over the years.
BIELSA (Kevin Ryan, Tom Eaves)
Clearly possesses a significant amount of ability and not short on potential still either, having just the ninth start of his life this weekend. Went off 5/1 favourite for the Wokingham on his seasonal return and really well backed again at Haydock last time but that's three outings without troubling the judge so far in 2020 and although his trainer may have been working back from this date all along, his latest showing - first run after wind op - was a proper backward step. 2lb wrong at the weights in relation to future mark.
WISE COUNSEL (Clive Cox, Danny Tudhope)
Another four-year-old whose best days could yet lie ahead of him and intriguing to see him back here after just two starts since winning over seven furlongs at the track at last year's meeting. Doesn't want extremes of going so should have conditions to suit and his trainer bagged top spot in this with Jimmy Styles in 2009. Hung right in the closes stages at Ascot earlier in the month, but Tudhope back in the saddle and first-time cheekpieces could certainly help in that regard.
KOROPICK (Colin Teague, Royston Ffrench)
Back from (presumably failed) spell at stud and hasn't raced in public for over a thousand days. Was a Group Three winner in his pomp and chased home Battaash in the 2017 Scurry Stakes at Sandown, but far too many question marks over him after such a layoff and likely to be the rank outsider of the party.
SPANISH CITY (Roger Varian, Ray Dawson)
So often promised to land a really big handicap of this nature and was only a length behind Hey Jonesy when third in the Wokingham. Runs off the same mark here with Ray Dawson's 5lb claim helping out, but he's been quite comfortably held under the same jockey the last twice and just looks vulnerable to better-treated rivals.
SOLDIER'S MINUTE (Keith Dalgleish, Callum Rodriguez)
Really good handicapper over the past couple of seasons and likes to hear his hooves rattle so the sunshine this week will have been welcomed by connections. Placed twice off similar mark at York this summer but rare no-show in the Portland last weekend and needs to hit back. Did bounce back from a lesser effort to be seventh in this race last year, albeit never really looked like winning and same could be expected here.
STONE OF DESTINY (Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy)
Lots of back-class to his profile and, just like last year, popped up with a win after sliding back down the weights when scoring from Danzeno in the Portland at Doncaster. Big different between that kind of test and this, however, and while he's officially 1lb well in under the penalty and still pretty well handicapped on his old form, he looks short enough in the market.
AYR RAID (Jedd O'Keeffe, Jack Garritty)
Had a productive campaign last year, winning three handicaps all at Hamilton Park including the Scottish Stewards' Cup off a mark of 95. Just 2lb higher now having gone up to 101 after that and signs that he's still a danger when third in the same Hamilton race in mid-July. Presumably laid out for this since and the stiff nature of the track promises to bring out the best in him. All in all he looks quite a solid each-way proposition from a middle draw.
ANOTHER BATT (David Barron, Connor Beasley)
On his fourth trainer now so clearly hasn't been the easiest but dropping back in trip did the business on his stable debut at Thirsk in early-August and he was only 5/1 for a major seven furlong handicap at Leopardstown last Saturday. Hung badly right throughout there which is a bit of a concern but if you're willing to forgive and forget a lesser effort like that then he could be a player as he's not handicapped out of it on his best form.
RAYONG (Karl Burke, Ben Curtis)
In the same King Power ownership at Portland winner Stone Of Destiny, as well as Bielsa, and likely to be the biggest price of the trio, but he's not without hope. Didn't really have the race run to suit at Chester last time, when they quickened away from him off the front end, and possibly better judged on previous Pontefract run when he won narrowly from Garsman. Got away with the five furlongs there, according to connections, and could still have some upside from revised mark of 98. Two of the past five winners were aged three and he's only one of two in the field.
YOUNG FIRE (David O'Meara, Shane Gray)
Not as unexposed as some in this field but did appear to post a career-best effort - for current connections at least - when winning from off the pace over seven furlongs (soft ground) at Haydock last time. The second has franked the form with a subsequent victory of his own so 6lb rise in the ratings may not be too harsh on the face of it. Drop to six furlongs for the first time in his life shouldn't be much of a concern in this particular race, but a wet week would have been more suitable.
COLD STARE (David O'Meara, Paul Mulrennan)
Another O'Meara runner who would have been much happier if the mud were flying. Won a shade cosily at Goodwood last time but hasn't always been able to back up a good run like that and he could only muster a mid-pack finish in this last year. Jockey booking clearly a tick in that particular box.
GABRIAL THE WIRE (Richard Fahey, Paul Hanagan)
Spent most of his time running at Chester but well held there last three starts, having won at Musselburgh in July. Only 1lb higher in the ratings now but not much margin for error off 93 on all known form and might just lack the touch of class required to take top spot.
BUNGEE JUMP (Grace Harris, Richard Kingscote)
Potential pace angle and could give those drawn high a nice target to aim at. Drying forecast a positive for her, though, and she's not without hope from a handicapping perspective having won off 8lb lower at the start of the year. Jockey won the race last year but faces a tough task on balance.
ARECIBO (David O'Meara, Andrea Atzeni)
Kept extremely busy over recent months and continues to perform with credit without looking like a sure-fire future winner. Change of jockey and headgear - with eyeshield/blinkers combination replacing cheekpieces - another roll of the dice from connections but chances are he'll keep flattering to deceive. Another who is 2lb wrong on official figures.
WENTWORTH FALLS (Geoffrey Harker, Sam James)
Strong traveller who needs everything to fall perfectly his way, which happened at Doncaster at the end of June. He looked good there but the assessor stepped in, since when he's managed no better than fourth in three starts. Due to go down another 2lb in future so not obviously well treated and could also have his stamina stretched over this stiff six if they go really hard out in front.
STAXTON (Tim Easterby, Duran Fentiman)
Found himself really well handicapped this summer and duly capitalised with back-to-back wins at Ripon, arguably stepping up on previous form when landing the Great St Wilfrid last time. A 5lb penalty means he's 2lb wrong based on revised official rating but that doesn't quite tell the whole story as his latest effort has worked out really well, including subsequent wins for the likes of Hyperfocus, Abel Handy, Dakota Gold and the reopposing Mr Lupton. Kept fresh for this since and lots to like at 12/1 having crept in at the foot of the weights.
LEXINGTON DASH (Richard Hannon, Sean Levey)
The other three-year-old to have made the cut and he's not performed badly at all since winning back-to-back races at Newmarket at the start of the season. Last three runs have all been at seven furlongs and dropping back could help unlock a little improvement, something to which he's clearly still open, which isn't necessarily the case with a fair chunk of his rivals this weekend.
Verdict
STAXTON has been in great form this summer and can carry on into the autumn having been laid out for this since the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon. Five nice winners have come out of that race and, based on the pick of his earlier form, a 5lb penalty may not be enough to prevent Tim Easterby's horse bagging the hat-trick. Rayong is an interesting alternative for each-way players as he might have the race run to suit, while the likeable Kyren is also backed to be there or thereabouts when the music stops. A thriving Mr Lupton is hard to leave out of the reckoning, while Nahaarr should really enjoy this test more than the Stewards' Cup and he'd looked on a steep upward curve at Newbury previously.
- STAXTON
- Rayong
- Kynren
- Mr Lupton
- Nahaarr
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