Ayr Gold Cup runner-by-runner guide to Saturday’s 3.40 on ITV Racing

Paddy's got you covered with all the Ayr Gold Cup runners.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Summerghand

Trainer: David O’Meara Jockey: S. B. Kirrane Age: 7 Weight: 10st 1lbs

Smart gelding who notched his third win of 2021 in 6f listed race at Newmarket in August. Not disgraced in face of stiff task when eighth in Sprint Cup at Haydock but 5lb penalty demands career best.

Great Ambassador

Trainer: Ed Walker Jockey: Richard Kingscote Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs

Highly progressive sort who made it 3-5 since joining Ed Walker with impressive 6f listed win at York. Another bold showing is likely back in handicap company under a 5lb penalty.

Commanche Falls

Trainer: Michael Dods Jockey: Connor Beasley Age: 4 Weight: 9st 8lbs

Building up a cracking strike rate, getting up late when recording his fourth win of the year in Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood. Up another 4lb but he’s well cut out for the demands of a race like this.

Gulliver

Trainer: David O’Meara Jockey: Jason Watson Age: 7 Weight: 9st 6lbs

Winless this term, but excellent efforts of late when in the frame in Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood and big-field Curragh handicap. Placed in this event in 2019 too, so he’s high on the shortlist.

Brad The Brief

Trainer: Tom Dascombe Jockey: Pierre-Louis Jamin Age: 4 Weight: 9st 5lbs

Smart 6f winner in 2020 but he’s proving more miss than hit this term, beating only one in Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last time. Others are preferred.

Mr Lupton

Trainer: Richard Fahey Jockey: Oisin McSweeney Age: 8 Weight: 9st 5lbs

Third in this race 12 months ago but he’s been a long way below his best since striking at York (6f) in May. Can’t be discounted though with cheekpieces tried now and yard in good nick.

Snazzy Jazzy

Trainer: Lawrence Mullaney Jockey: Laura Pearson Age: 6 Weight: 9st 4lbs

Silver Cup winner here during his time with Clive Cox. Yet to hit top form in four runs for his new yard this term, seventh of 22 in handicap at York (5.4f) 31 days ago. Others appeal more.

Venturous

Trainer: David Barron Jockey: G. F. Carroll Age: 8 Weight: 9st 3lbs

Bagged a third win of 2021 in 6f handicap at York in July but never able to land a blow in Portland handicap at Doncaster last time. Others are more persuasive.

Fivethousandtoone

Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Graham Lee Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs

Useful 6f juvenile winner who got back on track when third of 4 to Great Ambassador in 6f listed race at York 13 days ago. No forlorn hope now going into handicaps.

Edraak

Trainer: Michael Appleby Jockey: Theodore Ladd Age: 5 Weight: 9st 3lbs

Gained a third win of 2021 at Windsor in June and not discredited when fourth both starts since there and at Haydock. Still quite low mileage, and much respected.

Sunday Sovereign

Trainer: Tim Easterby Jockey: Tom Eaves Age: 4 Weight: 9st 3lbs

Ex-Irish gelding who got back to winning ways in 5.5f handicap at Chester 28 days ago. Had a bit left in the locker there so he shouldn’t be underestimated under a 5lb penalty.

Pendleton

Trainer: Michael Dods Jockey: Clifford Lee Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs

Likeable sprinter who won at York in May. Not at his best in two runs since, though he looked rusty after a break back there last month and not written off by any means for good yard.

Chiefofchiefs

Trainer: Charlie Fellowes Jockey: Louis Steward Age: 8 Weight: 9st 2lbs

NON-RUNNER

Mr Wagyu

Trainer: John Quinn Jockey: Jason Hart Age: 6 Weight: 9st 2lbs

Registered his fifth win of 2021 in Stewards’ Sprint at Goodwood in July and posted another good effort when sixth in the Portland at Doncaster last time. C&D scorer too, so he needs considering.

Motagally

Trainer: Charles Hills Jockey: Paul Hanagan Age: 5 Weight: 9st 1lbs

Dual handicap winner in blinkers last year and he got back on track with headgear refitted when fourth at Goodwood (6f) 20 days ago. Not totally dismissed.

Volatile Analyst

Trainer: Keith Dalgleish Jockey: Callum Rodriguez Age: 4 Weight: 9st 1lbs

Successful at York in May but he beat only one in 7f handicap at Doncaster 35 days ago. C&D winner and still has few miles on the clock so he shouldn’t be written off.

Above

Trainer: Stuart Williams Jockey: Daniel Muscutt Age: 4 Weight: 9st 1lbs

Useful 6f/7f winner but he hasn’t been at his best in two runs at Epsom and Ascot since returning from a break. Others have more compelling claims.

Hey Jonesy

Trainer: Kevin Ryan Jockey: Megan Nicholls Age: 6 Weight: 9st 1lbs

Not straightforward and more bad runs than good since last summer’s Wokingham victory (sixth this year) when sporting first-time blinkers. Well held in this last year and others more convincing.

Bielsa

Trainer: Kevin Ryan Jockey: Kevin Stott Age: 6 Weight: 9st 1lbs

Proved a disappointment last season, but he has been much better in 2021 and good sixth when racing alone in centre of track in Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood last time. Worth considering eased 1lb now.

Popmaster

Trainer: Ed Walker Jockey: Hollie Doyle Age: 3 Weight: 9st 1lbs

Progressive sort who bagged his second 6f handicap success at Ascot a fortnight ago. Less exposed than most of these and in the mix under a 5lb penalty. Blinkers go on too.

Just Frank

Trainer: Les Eyre Jockey: Paul Mulrennan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 1lbs

Relished the return to 6f when impressively making all at Thirsk last month. Saddles 5lb penalty but weighted to go close again. Interesting contender.

Lexington Dash

Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Joe Fanning Age: 4 Weight: 9st 0lbs

Doncaster winner in May and been shaping better than his form figures since would suggest, not ideally placed when last of 7 to Popmaster at Ascot last time. No forlorn hope.

Lahore

Trainer: Phillip Makin Jockey: Rowan Scott Age: 7 Weight: 9st 0lbs

Made into a very useful sprinter in 2020, scoring twice, but he’s yet to fire in four runs this term. Sixth in this contest 12 months ago and he needs to get back on track.

Ostilio

Trainer: Paul Midgley Jockey: Billy Garritty Age: 6 Weight: 8st 13lbs

7f listed winner in 2020 for the Crisfords who has slowly found his form for current yard, catching the eye when strong-finishing fourth in 5f listed race at Beverley 21 days ago. Player back at 6f.

Count D’Orsay

Trainer: Tim Easterby Jockey: David Allan Age: 5 Weight: 8st 13lbs

It’s now fourteen runs since his last win in 2020 but he posted good third of 16 in Portland at Doncaster (5.6f) 7 days ago, nearest finish. Ought to be competitive again.

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