15:50 Ayr

Saturday 21 September 2019

All13:2514:0014:4015:1515:5016:2516:5517:30

William Hill Ayr Gold Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 1m 9.26s

(1)

Mr Lupton²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 110| D

20/1

Just about a career best when landing a slightly below par Group 2 at the Curragh on seasonal return. Highly tried and well beaten in recent starts; holds no secrets from the handicapper.

Form: 2-16609

(20)

Major Jumbo¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 108| D

16/1

Game front-runner who won a valuable handicap at York last October. Placed at Group level this campaign, and while he's found Group 1 class tough, he was impressive when dropping in class at Chester in Listed company two starts ago; on a fair mark.

Form: 323917

(25)

Bacchus^p⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: C O'Donoghue| T: B J Meehan| OR: 106| D

33/1

Impressive when winning the Wokingham at Royal Ascot in 2018. Hasn't been in the same form since but only 1lb above his last winning mark as a result and goes well fresh.

Form: 4/1400-0

(21)

Buffer Zone⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 99| D

10/3

Impressive when winning a valuable handicap at the Curragh last time out on just his fourth start and seemingly thriving since joining these connections. Has a 5lb penalty for the win last time (due to go up another 3lb) and ought to run well.

Form: 47-1251

(5)

Laugh A Minute^b1⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Varian| OR: 103| D

12/1

Losing run stretches back over one year now and while he's run some fair races in defeat in that subsequent time, there's no real suggestion he's well-handicapped from this sort of mark. First-time blinkers need to improve him.

Form: 24-4320

(8)

Hey Jonesy^v1⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 103| D

10/1

Hans't won since landing a novice event at York as a juvenile, his sole success to date. Not disgraced from a 3lb higher mark in this year's Wokingham but perhaps wants softer ground to be seen at his best. Wears first-time visor.

Form: 2-25920

(13)

Summerghand³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| D

11/1

Hasn't won so far this year but could hardly have been more consistent and only found a progressive sprinter (subsequent Listed winner) too good at Ripon last time; can give another good account.

Form: 225342

(23)

Gunmetal^b1⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: T D Barron| OR: 101| D

20/1

Progressive when joining this yard last year, winning three times in as many months. Started off this campaign running well in defeat but form has dipped subsequently and still above his highest winning mark. Wears first-time blinkers.

Form: 546000

(2)

Justanotherbottle⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 96| D

25/1

In and out performer who has done most of his winning at 5f but showed he was capable at this trip when only narrowly denied in last year's renewal of the Stewards' Cup. On that same mark here taking his 5lb penalty into account; interesting.

Form: 005910

(12)

Merhoob⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: B A Curtis| T: J Ryan| OR: 99| D

66/1

More consistent on AW than turf but did manage to land a decent pot at Chester earlier in the campaign. Not in the same form in recent starts though and well beaten behind Major Jumbo in Listed class last time.

Form: 310069

(7)

Intisaab^p,t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁷⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| CD

14/1

Dual C&D but hasn't won since landing a valuable handicap at the Curragh in July 2018. Becoming well-handicapped and wasn't disgraced when third at Doncaster last time out; apprentice well worth his 7lb claim.

Form: 044093

(22)

Stone Of Destiny¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 99| D

33/1

Stayed on well to land a 5f race at Ascot at the Shergar Cup meeting but beaten a long way in two starts since and this is clearly more competitive; others preferred.

Form: 068108

(24)

Angel Alexander²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 101| BF

28/1

Could hardly have been more impressive when winning at Chester on soft in July, landing a third win of the season. However, handicapper has had his say subsequently and while only beaten 1L last time, this is clearly more competitive; up in trip.

Form: 152183

(15)

Good Effort²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: P Mulrennan| T: I Mohammed| OR: 98| D

33/1

Got his head back in front when dropped in class at Newmarket two runs back but couldn't back that up in Listed company last time; hard to imagine he's well-handicapped.

Form: 709018

(9)

Gulliver^p,t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Jason Hart| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| D

8/1

Gained a second turf success when bouncing back to form at York earlier in the campaign, a first win since 2017. Produced a very eye-catching run when a fast finishing third of 24 to Buffer Zone last time and only up 1lb for that; can go well.

Form: 106003

(17)

Arecibo^v⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| C| D

10/1

Sole win for this yard came over 5f at this venue earlier in the campaign. Put up a big effort when fourth in the Portland at Doncaster last time out and can compete from 2lb lower here; each-way player and seemingly first-string on jockey bookings.

Form: 220324

(11)

Cold Stare^t¹⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: R P Downey| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| DWS

40/1

Very useful performer when he gets his conditions, as seen when winning a competitive race at Haydock last time out on heavy ground. Hasn't looked as effective on a quicker surface though and others preferred; first start since a wind operation.

Form: 582-901

(4)

Staxton^p³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 98| D

16/1

Got his head back in front at Newcastle earlier in the campaign but more effective on slower ground and well beaten in last year's renewal of this race; has plenty to find.

Form: 881305

(19)

George Bowen^v³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 96| D

33/1

Well beaten in this race last year but has become alarmingly well-handicapped, despite winning at Kempton earlier in the campaign (6lb below last winning mark). Drying ground will suit and worth monitoring in the market.

Form: 867900

(3)

Soldier's Minute^h1⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 96| D

18/1

3L winner of a competitive heat at York in May. Only 4lb above that winning mark here but arrives out of form and others make more appeal. Wears first-time hood.

Form: 501000

(6)

Barbill⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Evans| T: M R Channon| OR: 97| D

25/1

Listed winner at Chantilly last year but yet to hit the frame in seven starts this year and the handicapper has been slow to relent.

Form: 400556

(18)

Growl²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| BF| D

28/1

Eventually got his head back in front at Ripon two starts back, a first success since 2016. Still feasibly handicapped on old form but well beaten in this race last year and that was when conditions were more to his liking.

Form: 207916

(16)

Embour⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: P Mathers| T: R Hannon| OR: 95| D

20/1

Has an excellent strike-rate of six wins from 20 starts but appears to be in the handicapper's grip judged on his more recent efforts. Step back up in trip will suit but others make more appeal.

Form: 450236

(10)

Louie de Palma⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: H Crouch| T: C G Cox| OR: 95| D

20/1

Had nearly four years off the track following a couple of wins in 2014 and got his head back in front at Ascot earlier in the campaign on soft ground. Running well in defeat since but opposable in a race this competitive.

Form: 0-51233

Non-Runners

(14)

Air Raid⁴⁹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: Jedd O'Keeffe J: J Garritty

Forecasts

Buffer Zone (10/3), Gulliver (8/1), Arecibo (10/1), Hey Jonesy (10/1), Summerghand (11/1), Laugh A Minute (12/1), Intisaab (14/1), Staxton (16/1), Major Jumbo (16/1), Soldier's Minute (18/1), Embour (20/1), Louie de Palma (20/1), Gunmetal (20/1), Mr Lupton (20/1), Air Raid (20/1), Barbill (25/1), Justanotherbottle (25/1), Angel Alexander (28/1), Growl (28/1), Good Effort (33/1), Stone Of Destiny (33/1), George Bowen (33/1), Bacchus (33/1), Cold Stare (40/1), Merhoob (66/1)

Buffer Zone is likely to be popular after his cosy win at the Curragh last weekend and he's well in on official ratings but it might be worth taking a chance on GEORGE BOWEN who finds himself 6lb below his last winning handicap mark and gets conditions to suit. Intisaab is another well-handicapped contender who represents David O'Meara, 2014's winning trainer of this contest. Bacchus is likely to be primed for this having failed to land back-to-back renewals of the Wokingham when last seen.