SATURDAY is one of the big days of the season in Ayr’s calendar.
The course stages the historic Ayr Gold Cup live on ITV. Our man Jack Keene has taken a close look and picked out his best bet.
In these big-field handicaps pace is all important.
They should go a good gallop here, and most of the speed looks drawn middle to high.
Air Raid (stall 14), Major Jumbo (stall 16) and Bungee Jump (stall 24) look banker material to go forward early on, so you’d be inclined to back something drawn towards the stands rail.
Wise Counsel is very interesting in first-time cheekpieces for top trainer Clive Cox.
He was a good third in a Listed race at Goodwood first time out and was stretched by 7f at Ascot latest.
The drop in trip is a plus and he has a course win to his name, though a mark of 98 is stiff enough.
Mr Lupton and Nahaarr hold rock-solid claims on paper and are both drawn up the middle.
The former bounced back to winning ways at the Curragh and is still well-treated on old form, but he bombed out badly in this race last year.
Nahaarr has a point to prove after a flop at Goodwood, but the track mightn’t have been to his liking. This could be more suitable.
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Staxton is in great nick but he will find this tougher than the Great St Wilfrid under a penalty, while Arecibo has loads of ability but is probably better over 5f.
But there looks to be plenty in the favour of STONE OF DESTINY.
He has been knocking on the door in these big handicaps for a while and he burst through with an impressive win in the Portland last week.
He is 1lb well-in under his penalty and champion jockey Oisin Murphy is booked to ride.
The draw (stall 19) has worked out perfectly and the drying ground is very much in his favour.
