15:30 Ayr

Monday 21 July 2025

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0516:4017:15

Fergie & Myra Happel Ayr Gold Cup Trial Handicap

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 1m 13.36s

(13)

Badri¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Dylan Hogan| T: M Herrington| OR: 90| D

16/1

Finished second of 8 in a 6f handicap at Pontefract (11/2) 13 days ago, getting back to form on turf and sticking to the task late on. Looks capable of another bold showing.

Form: 050382

(9)

Archduke Ferdinand^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: D Swift| T: S Spencer| OR: 89| D

20/1

Won over 6f at Redcar in May but 12th of 14 in handicap at Newcastle (10/1) 24 days ago when bumped at start and never dangerous over 5f. Return to 6f should suit better but yet to defy a mark this high.

Form: 045150

(3)

Fivethousandtoone^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 89| D

16/1

Enhanced fine record at the course when winning handicap at Newcastle (25/1) 23 days ago, making late headway to lead in final strides. Could be interesting off 8 lb lower turf mark.

Form: 409851

(16)

Apotheosis^t⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 88

5/1

Dual juvenile winner placed third in handicaps at Goodwood and Newcastle in May before running poorly when 13th of 14 in 7f handicap at Doncaster (5/1) 44 days ago, raced too keenly. Hood removed today but others more convincing.

Form: 114-330

(7)

Pals Battalion^v¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88| D

12/1

Consistent performer who ran well when third of 13 in handicap at Thirsk (7/1) 19 days ago. 4 of 5 career wins have come on the all-weather but should still remain competitive on turf.

Form: 722583

(1)

Almeraq³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: C Lee| T: W J Haggas| OR: 90| BF| D

2/1

Lightly-raced and well-bred colt. Won a soft-ground novice at Yarmouth last October before he finished second of 8 (winner is useful) in a novice at Yarmouth (4/9) 39 days ago, unable to build on previous win on quicker surface. Makes handicap debut with potential for better on more suitable ground.

Form: 21-2

(18)

Wicket Keeper²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 90| D

4/1

Progressive 3-year-old who has won both starts this season, most recently a novice race at Doncaster (6/4) 23 days ago where he kept on well over this trip (runner-up has franked form). Makes handicap debut and sure to go on to better things.

Form: 3-11

(12)

Woven⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 83| D

33/1

Recent form has been below par in 6f handicaps, finishing 11th of 16 at Haydock (33/1) 51 days ago after diving right at the start and making no impression. Needs to recapture earlier form to be competitive, though he has run some creditable races over this C&D previously.

Form: 1040-90

(8)

Oriental Prince^h³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 81| D

25/1

Won at Haydock (7f) in May but ran poorly when 11th of 12 at Hamilton (5f) on latest start (7/1) 36 days ago with usual hood left off. Hood is back on today which could help spark a revival though his best turf form has come on a sounder surface.

Form: 146130

(5)

The Caltonian^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 80| D

40/1

Winner at Newcastle (AW) in January and second there in February, but eighth of 12 in handicap at this C&D (25/1) 14 days ago. May strip fitter now but wouldn't want too much rain here.

Form: 6-19208

(14)

Mostar Dreams¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: J S Goldie| OR: 80| D

17/2

Won a 5.8f handicap at Carlisle in May (both career wins have come there) and ran respectably when 4th of 11 in a 5.8f handicap at Carlisle (7/2) 11 days ago, making headway under pressure. Should give a good account.

Form: 6-21484

(10)

Yaaser²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Lauren Young⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 80| C

20/1

Consistent performer who has won twice from last five starts. Won 7f handicap at Musselburgh 20 days ago, overcoming trouble from last to edge ahead near line. Effective at this track with four course wins. Highest he's been in the handicap for a while now upped in class for return to sprinting.

Form: 316441

(15)

Alpha Magic³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 84| D

20/1

Won a 14-runner handicap at Hamilton when held up, travelling well before just holding on by a neck, at 20/1 36 days ago. Form has taken a few knocks but remains lightly-raced for a sprinter.

Form: 1-301

(4)

Magic Basma²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 83| D

12/1

Maiden winner on debut last August who showed improved form when fourth of 18 in a handicap at York (40/1) 23 days ago. May build on recent improvement but will probably need a strongly-run race to be seen to best effect (shapes as though will stay 7f).

Form: 127-04

(19)

Monsieur Kodi⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76| CD

28/1

Won 7-runner 6f handicap at Hamilton Park (5/1) 9 days ago, given a good ride by claimer and getting off the mark for the year with little to spare. Previous course and distance winner was competitive off higher marks last season and won't be inconvenienced by any rainfall.

Form: 82-8731

(2)

Hour By Hour³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Mohammed Tabti⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 76| D

25/1

Won twice on softer ground in autumn 2024. Forced the pace and shaped well when fifth of 14 in handicap at Hamilton (16/1) 36 days ago, going with zest on return from 8-month break. Should last longer this time and has scope to return to winning form with give in the ground.

Form: 11618-5

(17)

Bonito Cavalo¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Rhys Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 75| D

125/1

Won 6 times at Newcastle early last year but finished last of 11 in handicap at Ayr (50/1) 14 days ago. Needs to settle better to have any chance.

Form: 11314-0

(11)

La Rochette³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: William Pyle⁽³⁾| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 74| D

100/1

Dual winner on soft/heavy ground in France. Recent UK form modest at best (finishing 18th of 19 in handicap at York (66/1) 37 days ago) for all those efforts came on quicker ground.

Form: 95-0650

Non-Runners

(6)

Queen's Guard³⁸

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: I Jardine J: A Mullen

Forecasts

Almeraq (2/1), Wicket Keeper (4/1), Apotheosis (5/1), Mostar Dreams (17/2), Magic Basma (12/1), Pals Battalion (12/1), Badri (16/1), Fivethousandtoone (16/1), Queen's Guard (16/1), Yaaser (20/1), Archduke Ferdinand (20/1), Alpha Magic (20/1), Hour By Hour (25/1), Oriental Prince (25/1), Monsieur Kodi (28/1), Woven (33/1), The Caltonian (40/1), La Rochette (100/1), Bonito Cavalo (125/1)

ALMERAQ makes his handicap debut with untapped potential and the well-bred 3-y-o is taken to make an immediate impact. Wicket Keeper looks similarly unexposed and rates the main danger ahead of soft-ground winner Hour By Hour, who shaped promisingly on return and should last longer now.