One of the big betting races of the year takes place on ITV with the Ayr Gold Cup taking centre stage during an eight-race broadcast from the Scottish track and Newbury.
Let’s get straight to it and try and find some winners.
Here’s what I fancy the look of on the day:
13:40 Newbury – Tis Marvellous
Coverage starts with a Group 3 over 5 furlongs. TIS MARVELLOUS was a couple of places behind Equilateral in the King’s Stand Stakes and has a few pounds to find at the weights.
However, Equilateral is hard to win with and while he clearly has a great chance here, I want to take him on.
My hope is trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby and was a decent winner at Leicester last time. Off the bridle he might just want it more.
14:15 Newbury – Tenbury Wells
Now we are in handicap company over 1m 2f and TENBURY WELLS enters having only cost $1,600,000!
Not that a price tag will make him run faster, but he’s progressive for John Gosden and has a great each-way chance. After two good wins he is up 3lb for finishing second at Sandown when last seen.
That was not a bad effort at all, and I expect a huge run for William Buick.
The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now
14:50 Newbury – Extra Elusive
Group 3 class here with the Legacy Cup Stakes over 1m 3f, which has been seen as an Arc trial in the past. EXTRA ELUSIVE is improving fast now for Roger Charlton and Hollie Doyle has struck up a good relationship with the horse.
When he was beaten at Newbury three runs ago Charlton told me his was gutted for the horse as he deserved a decent prize. He’s not unstoppable! But, should be suited to the way this race is run and a massive chance.
15:25 Newbury – Fivethousandtoone
Youngsters take centre stage now with the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes over 6 furlongs and this is a big step up in class for FIVETHOUSANDTOONE, but he might well take it in his stride for Andrew Balding and Silvestre de Sousa.
I was at Windsor when this youngster made his eagerly awaited debut and it was clear he would improve bundles as a big beast. He did that when scoring easily at Newcastle. This is the new big test.
13:55 Ayr – Addeybb
The Scottish coverage starts with a Listed event over 1m 2f. The ground will be perfect for ADDEYBB and while he has to give plenty of weight away, the Group 1 hero should be good enough as he warms up probably for the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
William Haggas trains and Tom Marquand takes the ride on a horse who was last seen when second in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot behind Lord North. He should be good enough here.
14:30 Ayr – Rathbone
Now the Silver Cup Handicap over 6 furlongs where RATHBONE is exposed and hasn’t run many times with a bit of give in the ground.
That said when he has, he has done all right, and his handicap mark is workable judged on his second at Ascot last time after a fair fifth at York in a big field.
What is also suggesting a big effort is the second run after a wind operation angle for Kevin Ryan and Tom Eaves.
I’ll have a few quid each-way.
15:05 Ayr – Umm Kulthum
A Group 3 here for two-year-olds in the First of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes over 6 furlongs. This is often a weak Group 3 and it might well be again.
UMM KULTHUM is the obvious selection after a fine third at York last time in the Lowther.
That was a fine effort behind Miss Amulet and Sacred and is repeating the form should be very hard to beat.
15:40 Ayr – Staxton
Now the Ayr Gold Cup Handicap over 6 furlongs and STAXTON is in tremendous form after two wins at Ripon. He’s still very well handicapped off 89 considering he’s run up to 103 in the past.
He’d slipped right down the weights, but in his present form for Tim Easterby could be hard to stop under Duran Fentiman. He’s only up 1lb from the Great St Wilfrid and the ground will be ideal. The selection has as really strong each-way claims.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
* Prices on our snazzy new bet widget are bang up to date.
Matt Chapman tips summary:
Newbury
13:40 Tis Marvellous
14:15 Tenbury Wells
14:50 Extra Elusive
15:25 Fivethousandtoone
Ayr
13:55 Addeybb
14:30 Rathbone
15:05 Umm Kulthum
15:40 Staxton
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