The good racing continues on Saturday and as we begin to head towards the conclusion of the flat season in the UK, there is a really good card at Ay that takes centre stage hot off the back of a good one there on Friday.
As with all Saturdays, there are plenty of meetings to get stuck into over the course of the day but after looking through the cards we have decided to focus our attention on solving the two big field handicap puzzles up in Scotland.
2.30 Ayr
Preview
The first of 2 big field sprint handicaps at the Western meeting is the Ayr Silver Cup, with a field of 24 charging down the straight 6 furlongs. Surprisingly for a field of this size, there is a distinct lack of pace. The race revolves around the 3 years King’s Lynn who’s had just 3 career runs. He won the Weatherby’s last year & then this year was 2nd to subsequent Listed winner & now 111-rated Starman. He looks thrown in off a mark of 94 but this is a different proposition. Many of the others look thoroughly exposed but we’re taking 2 against the field.
Betting
The first bet is the well fancied & lightly raced 5 year old Atalanta’s Boy. He’s improved with each run & has now won 5 of his 9 starts over this, with a neck 2nd in another the only thing stopping it being 6 from 9. What’s more he’s had excuses in the other 3; once when ridden by a different jockey (the other 8 have all seen Greatrex on board), once when he bled from the nose & the other when literally falling out of the stalls in the Stewards Cup where his chance has immediately gone. Since the start of last term, he’s won handicaps off 66, 70, 75, 81 & 88, and given the way he won last time at Goodwood, he could easily defy another hike in the weights. He’s recorded the highest Topspeed figure on the field & it’ll be a big surprise if he’s not involved in the finish especially given it’s his yard’s only runner at this 3 day meeting having made a near 900-mile round trip.
At a big price, we’re siding with Arbalet too & there’s 2 prime reasons for this bet. Firstly, he’s the most likely to front run in a race lacking pace & he could dictate especially as his best form is over further so it’s unlikely he won’t get home. Secondly, his record with Josephine Gordon cannot be ignored; in 5 starts, he’s won 2, finished 2nd twice & on the other start, was 5th of 21 in a Listed race. The horse’s record with other jockeys is just 3 2nds from 22 starts. He does also have some form this year, finishing 2nd of 16 in a Class 2 handicap 2 starts ago off 2lbs lower. At 22/1, he’s worth a small investment.
Tips
Back Atalanta’s Boy (e/w) for a 1.25/10 stake at 9.00 Betway BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back Arbalet (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 23.00 Paddy Power BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
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3.40 Ayr
Preview
Having had a crack at solving the Silver Cup, we now move onto the big one, the Ayr Gold Cup. This looks to be a cracking renewal where the pace & fancied runners all exit from a middle to high stall. Two of the market leaders, Mr Lupton & Stone Of Destiny both won big handicaps just a week ago so they are hard to dismiss but 5lb penalties & their respective records when trying to follow up put us off. Nahaarr is the most likely favourite & he won a handicap at Newbury 2 starts ago in fine style, looking a Group performer in the making. He failed to fire in the Stewards Cup next time out when 3/1 favourite & may need faster ground. Again, we’re siding with 2 in this.
Betting
The first of our picks is the in form Staxton from the similarly in form yard of Tim Easterby. He’s won his last 2 starts, both handicaps, going up 10lbs in the process. However, he’s still 1lb lower than his winning mark of last year & 4lbs lower than when 10th in this race last year. The first of his 2 recent wins was when beating Bronze Cup winner Roundhay Park by over 4 lengths & then he followed up by winning the hot looking Great St Wilfrid, with Mr Lupton back in 3rd. He has a good draw in stall 15 & should give us a good run for our money especially with some bookies paying 7 places.
A chance is taken on Another Batt from the shrewd David Barron yard. He might be drawn wrong in 6 but, if not, he has every chance. This 5 year old is now on his 4th trainer but certainly has ability having been rated 108 just over a year ago. Today, he races off 96 but despite his mark coming down by almost a stone, he’s still shown some good form. In 6 runs for Richard Hughes, he was campaigned over 7 furlongs or further but on his first start for his current trainer, he was dropped back to this sprint trip & beat Bossipop (who has been in excellent form since) off 3lbs lower. Last week, he disappointed at Leopardstown in a warm handicap at Irish Champions weekend but the round track & 7 furlong trip didn’t suit. He was well supported into 5/1 favourite in a 18 runner race there so it’s clear he’s well thought of. Back in trip & on a straight track, he seems to hold every chance.
Tips
Back Staxton (e/w) for a 1.25/10 stake at 11.00 Paddy Power BOG (⅕ odds 1-7)
Back Another Batt (e/w) for a 0.75/stake at 17.00 Skybet BOG (⅕ odds 1-7)
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