Jason Weaver: This 14/1 speedster is no Laughing matter at Ayr on Saturday

Newbury 13:45 Equilateral @ 5/2

He is extremely talented but a little bit tough to catch right. However, Ryan Moore had his measure last time at Doncaster, Dakota Gold is the red-hot favourite but whether he will be fully effective over the minimum 5f is open to question. The  trail-blazer Ornate in the line-up so it’s going to set it up for the selection to be produced late.

Ayr 14:00 Kynren @ 11/4

Has been so unlucky recently not to get his head in front and added to that the handicapper keeps on nudging him up a couple pounds for not winning. He’s finally been found an ideal spot to get his head in front and will have no problem lumping top weight. The 1m trip ground conditions are in his favour and a new pair of hands at the wheel won’t hurt either.

Newbury 14:20 Pondus @ 9/4

James Fanshawe’s runner is a bit of a sporting selection against Desert Enounter, but he has been getting better with every run this season. Although he was no match for easy winner Addeybb last time, he did look as if he was ready to step up in distance. He’s not had much racing like a few from this stable, so still has an upside and also gets the three-year-old weight- for-age allowance.

Ayr 14:40 Jawwaal @ 20/1 

Picked up from the horses in training sale by the Dods team fairly recently, he’s been knocking loudly on the door without managing winning. They reach for the cheek-pieces in the Silver Cup to give him some added focus and Sean Davies also takes off a valuable 3lbs. He is fairly flexible as regards tactics and that will help in this massive field  as the jockey can jump and sit wherever he finds a rhythm. Paddy’s paying the first 6 places.

Newbury 14:55 Malotru @ 6/1

I’m not saying he would’ve won the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes last month, but he would’ve gone very close to giving the winner Threat plenty to think if he had a clear passage. Short of room and momentarily caught on his heels, he had too much ground to make up but still hit the line quite strongly. That form was rubber-stamped last week at Doncaster when Threat followed up. Looks too big a price here.

Ayr 15:15 Al Rasmah @ 6/1

Went off at 12/2 on debut but made a mockery of that by winning virtually on the bridle with her ears pricked, Interesting that Richard Fahey raises her sights very quickly and her shrewd trainer has found a very winnable G3 contest.

She should be much more street-wise on Saturday with that experience under her belt and she can lower the colours of some more experienced rivals.

Newbury 15:30 Caradoc @ 7/1

Ed Walker’s runner came from a virtually impossible position at York to very nearly land the spoils when third to Tamreer. It was a massive effort the way the track was riding and any horse able to make up ground from the back of the pack has to have their form seriously upgraded.

Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle and this lad won’t be 33/1 for the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, if he wins convincingly here.

Ayr 15:50 Laugh a Minute @ 14/1 

The feature race of the day is the Ayr Gold Cup and while Roger Varian’s colt has not been seen to best effect under soft ground in his career – he has some fantastic form on good ground. You can put a line through his last run on heavy ground.

The blinkers go on for his first run in handicap company since August 2018 and jockey of the moment Rossa Ryan takes over in the saddle. He could hold the class edge in this ultra-valuable contest where Paddy is paying a huge 7 places.

*Prices correct at time of publication