17:25 Ayr

Monday 24 August 2020

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1516:5017:2518:00

QTS To Sponsor Ayr Gold Cup Handicap

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 1m 43.51s

(8)

Star Shield²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: R P Downey| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81| D

11/2

Eleven runs since last win in 2019 but (13/2) respectable fourth of 9 in handicap at Ascot (8f) 29 days ago. Consistent sort so sure to be in the mix once more.

Form: 042254

(3)

Boston George⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: S A Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 80

12/1

Winless since 2018 and has yet to strike form in two runs since the restart. Handicapper now relenting but still needs to show more.

Form: 5369-76

(9)

Ulshaw Bridge^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: K Stott| T: J D Bethell| OR: 78| D

11/2

Fourteen runs since last win in 2018, and (tongue strap on) only thirteenth of 17 in handicap at York (7f) 30 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 07-5740

(10)

Hajjam¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: D Nolan| T: L Bailey| OR: 78| C

10/1

Course winner here but that came back in 2018 and he has sometimes flattered to deceive since, only fair fifth at Wolverhampton last time. Needs more if he's to end lengthy losing run.

Form: 7-88725

(4)

Dubai Acclaim²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77| CD

15/2

Cashed in off reduced mark when landing 11-runner handicap (9/1) over C&D 27 days ago. Hit with 6 lb rise now though so needs more off career-high level.

Form: 02-7951

(11)

Real Smooth³⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Megan Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 77

33/1

Fair maiden in 2019 but he ran poorly on handicap bow final start for Richard Hannon. Returns from 13 months off here so plenty to prove for his new yard.

Form: 2/57226-

(12)

Eagle Court³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| D

3/1

33/1, left debut form well behind when cosy winner of 1m maiden at Pontefract 32 days ago, getting up late under hand riding. Well bred and more to come now into handicaps so interesting contender.

Form: 5-1

(2)

Clay Regazzoni⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 77

12/1

Has steadily found his form since resumption, and good third of 9 in handicap here (7.2f) last time. Winner over 1m so considered off unchanged mark.

Form: 13-4953

(5)

Strong Steps²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: C Lee| T: J S Goldie| OR: 64| CD

22/1

C&D winner but arrives on back of modest fifteenth of 18 in handicap (33/1) at Redcar (8f) 28 days ago. Has work to do now.

Form: 2100-70

(1)

Mustaqbal⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 63| CD

14/1

C&D winner who has made encouraging start to season, eye-catching sixth of 12 here last time when faring best of those held up. Back on a winning mark so rates a big player for in-form yard.

Form: 5897-46

(6)

Cassy O^b⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 67

15/2

Modest maiden who arrives on back of good fourth of 16 in handicap at York (7f) 46 days ago. That form has been franked and should prove effective over 1m so worth considering off 2 lb lower here.

Form: 569-44

Non-Runners

(7)

Global Spirit²⁹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 5

T: R Fell & S Murray J: B A Curtis

Forecasts

Eagle Court (3/1), Global Spirit (4/1), Ulshaw Bridge (11/2), Star Shield (11/2), Dubai Acclaim (15/2), Cassy O (15/2), Hajjam (10/1), Boston George (12/1), Clay Regazzoni (12/1), Mustaqbal (14/1), Strong Steps (22/1), Real Smooth (33/1)

Ready preference is for C&D winner MUSTAQBAL who has slipped to a very handy mark and signalled he's ready to go in again when a promising sixth here last time. David O'Meara's Pontefract scorer Eagle Court and fellow 3-y-o Cassy O, from the in-form Tim Easterby yard, look the two to chase him home.

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