Hi all,
There’s Listed action at Ayr this afternoon.
The Listed British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes (2.15) has been won in recent years by future Group 1 winners Quiet Reflection (2015) and Winter Power (2020).
The next race on the card is the Listed Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes (3.25). And that race is followed by the first of the Ayr Gold Cup consolation races the Virgin Bet Ayr Bronze Cup (3:35).
There’s also Listed action at Newbury on Friday which hosts the Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes (4:10) is the feature race on the card.
The most valuable race on Friday isn’t at Ayr or Newbury though. It’s at Listowel were the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Listed) (2:05) is the centerpiece of an eight race card. This 3m contest is worth €59,000 to the winner.
I’m starting today’s preview at Listowel.
Listowel
2:05 – Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle – 2m
Filey Bay placed in last season’s Betfair and County Hurdle’s wasn’t well placed when a 4 ¾ length 5th of 19 in the Galway Hurdle. He won on the flat last month and must be respected back over hurdles. Looks sure to go close if 2m around here isn’t to sharp.
Icare Allen was a 1 ¾ length third in the Galway Hurdle. He’s 2lb worse off with Filey Bay here but must be seriously considered.
The forecast strong pace will suit Volantis. The 5-year-old was a notable improver when winning a Fairyhouse maiden in February and posted a career best on RPR’s when a ½ length 2nd of 20 in a Galway Handicap Hurdle 49 days ago. Up 4lb but has just had the four starts over timber and is likely capable of a bigger performance.
Thecompanysergeant was far to keen before pulling up on handicap hurdle debut (2m 6 ½ f) at Galway on his first start for four months. Back to winning ways in and seemingly suited by the drop in trip (2m 3f) when winning a Kilbeggan novice hurdle 28 days ago. He doesn’t lack pace so a strongly run 2m could suit the 6-year-old who looks nicely treated back in handicap company.
Ayr
1:45 – Government Callin the first time cheekpieces was the one I liked initially in this nursery handicap but he’s now a non-runner. So, I’m going for one in the same ownership Media Shooter. A winner at Wolverhampton on his second start. The gelding wasn’t disgraced when a 6 ¼ length 6th of 22 to Dragon Leader in valuable sales race at York last month. Respected on handicap debut for the inform Karl Burke yard who won this corresponding race in 2018.
2:15 – British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f
Purosangue won on racecourse debut at Haydock in June and produced a career best when a neck runner-up to Big Evs in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.Not quite in the same form when runner-up in the Listed Roses Stakes at York last time but that was on much quicker ground and any ease in the ground will suit the colt. A worthy enough favourite and the one to beat.
Beautiful Diamond will find this easier than when third in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and a 1 ½ length 5th of 8 in the Lowther Stakes at York last time. Set for a big run and could value against the favourite.
Of the rest. Queen’s Guard built on the promise of her racecourse debut when winning a Yarmouth maiden last month. The daughter of Havana Grey is open to further improvement on just her third start and hold a Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes entry.
2:50 – Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) – 5 ½ f
Last year’s winner Gale Force Maya and runner-up Pink Crystal must be respected although both would want the ground to dry out to good or quicker. Of the pair Gale Force Maya has to bounce back from a couple of lesser runs but the first time blinkers replace the cheekpieces and the mares form figures in September are 2222391111.
Marine Wave was an eyecatcher when a ½ length when 3rd of 14 to Designer in the fillies 5f handicap at York last month. She had to wait for a gap 2f. Once in the clear she was running on best of all. It was a good effort dropped back to the minimum trip. The return to further will suit the 3-year-old who must be respected back into pattern company.
Irish challenger Aussie Girl won a Curragh handicap (7f) in June and has finished runner-up in a Listed race (6f) Naas and a Group 3 (6f) back at the same venue last time. Ground versatile, this progressive 3-year-old should be bang there.
Queen Me had been highly tried this season running in a Group 1 company on all three starts. She finished a 1 length 3rd of 12 in the Group 3 fillies’ juvenile race at this meeting 12 months ago and will at least appreciate today’s ease in grade.
3:25 – Virgin Bet Ayr Bronze Cup Handicap – 6f
The first of the Ayr Gold Cup consolation races and not surprisingly the race has attracted a maximum field of 25 runners. I’m sticking with the top three in the handicap.
Top weight Rock Melody will be suited by the forecast strong pace. She won twice over the minimum trip at Musselburgh earlier in the season but went close over C&D in July and finished 3rd of 13 in the Scottish Stewards Cup at Hamilton. Definite claims in this company.
Music Society won this race in 2019 and finished one place and nose in front of Rock Melody over C&D in July. Hasn’t been at his best on his last three starts but the handicapper is giving him a chance, as he’s now 2lb below last year’s winning mark.
Ascot Adventure is on a losing run that goes back to May 2022 but has been running well without winning since joining David O’Meara in the spring. Not sure about stall 6 but if it’s not an inconvenience he’s high on the shortlist with a strongly run 6f set to suit.
Little Muddy won twice in the spring at Doncaster & C&D and finished 2 lengths in front of Ascot Adventure at York in July. The mare has been mostly consistent this season and she bounced back from a race lesser run when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 11 at Nottingham 43 days ago. On a career high mark but looks competitive on softish ground.
4:00 – Top weight Cosmos Raj, 1-2 over C&D, got no sort of run between the final two furlongs when a 2 ¼ length 4th of 12 at Ripon 24 days ago. With a better run he would have gone close to winning at Ripon and off the same mark will be there or thereabouts.
Pol Roger’s best RPR came when a 2 ¾ length 2nd of 11 in a C&D nursery handicap at this meeting 12 months ago. Not that same level of form this season and was said to have coughed when well beaten at Ripon last time. Has come down the weights and should be able take advantage of his mark on a going day.
4:35 – Jim Goldie has couple of strong contenders in Alpine Sierra & Ayr Poet. The first named is a previous C&D winner was back to form, after several below par efforts, when a length 3rd of 7 at Carlisle three weeks ago. He’s now just 1lb this season’s winning mark and should go close if getting into a prominent position from stall 11. Ayr Poet is a dual C&D winnerand won twice over two furlongs further here in July/August. Bounced back from a lesser effort when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 10 at Carlisle 22 days ago.
Destined won a Redcar novice (good to soft) in May on her seasonal reappearance and hasn’t run badly in handicap company since. Has shaped on her last two starts like the step up to a mile could suit and she should be in the mix.
5:10 – Valley Of Flowers won this corresponding race last year and won at Beverley in June. The mare comes into the race in decent form and although she’s 4lb higher this time around has a good chance of back to back wins in the race.
Betting Advice:
There are few fancies at Ayr that are just too short odds wise or have ground concerns so I’m keeping my betting low key on Friday.
Listowel
2:05 – Thecompanysergeant – 1pt win – 11/1 @ Coral and Volantis – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral
Ayr
3:25 – Music Society – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral and Ascot Adventure – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power.
Cheers
John