Hi all,
The first day of Ayr’s Gold Cup meeting gets under way this afternoon and there’s another day of racing at Listowel’s “Harvest” Festival.
Virgin Bet sponsored Kilkerran Handicap (3:00) with £30,000 in guaranteed prize money is the headline race. Although the most valuable race on Thursday is over at Listowel where the Listowel Printing Premier Handicap (4:35) is the headlines an eight race card.
There are some decent sized fields on offer at Ayr this afternoon. There was plenty of heavy rain forecast for Ayr on Wednesday. However, at the time of writing on Wednesday afternoon I’m not sure whether it has affected the going.
Ayr
3:00 – Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Kilkerran Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
Popular 10-year-old Euchen Glen ran poorly at Haydock last time but would respecting if reproducing his 2 ¼ length 4th of 22 to Absurde in the Ebor. Yet to race at 1m 2f this season but he did finish runner-up to Royal Champion in the Listed Doonside Cup over C&D here 12 months ago.
Mr Alan was a nose runner-up in last year’s race, from 5lb lower. A winner on soft ground last October. He makes a belated seasonal reappearance here but if he’s ready to roll after his lay off won’t be far away at the finish.
What’s The Story won over C&D last August, from 2lb higher. And was only beaten a neck in a mile handicap at this meeting 12 months ago. Has run well on all four starts since joining Richard Fahey this summer. Not the easiest to win with but you can see him getting into the money once again.
Rest of the Ayr card
2:25 – With 21 runners this Class 5 handicap is clearly the most competitive race on today’s card. Ben Macdui won at Newcastle two starts back and showed he remains in form when an unlucky beck 3rd of 12 at Beverley (good to firm) 19 days ago. With a clear run inside the furlong, he would likely to have won last time. Likely to face contrasting ground today but handicapped to go close. Triple Jaye and Refuge were separated by a ½ length when first and second in this corresponding race last year. Refuge has won twice this season and Triple Jaye has mostly been out of form this year which means he’s now 9lb better off. All five of Triple Jaye’s career wins have come in August & September and he’s temptingly weighted, albeit soft ground would be an unknown. Refuge has won on easier surface in the past which brings him into the mix.
4:10 – Hale End has solid claims in this mile handicap. A winner at Hamilton (good) in June and posted close to a career best when a short head 2nd of 10 at Beverley (soft) 25 days ago. He’s been nudged up 1lb for his latest effort but must have a good chance of going one place better.
5:17 – Cassy O’s losing run is starting to mount up but he’s now 17lb below last year’s winning mark. Needs to bounce back from a poor run at Thirsk 47 days ago but if he does, he’s a well-treated horse. Hoots Toots won a Thirsk over the distance on seasonal return in April (soft). Nowhere near that level of form on four subsequent starts. He’s down to his last winning mark though and hopes are pinned on a 53 day break having freshened him up.
Listowel
4:35 – Jabbar bids for the hat trick after successes at Killarney and Roscommon. He’s now 6lb higher but he’s improved his RPR’s on four starts this season and he’s 2 wins from 2 runs since been stepped up beyond an extended 1m 2f.
Chelmsford
7:00 – War In Heaven’s eight career wins have come on the all-weather with six of those successes coming in 2023. The latest of his wins came over C&D 74 days ago and he should get the strong pace that he needs here. Set to go close for an inform yard, if fully tuned. Misty Grey is back on the all-weather for the first time since winning here (6f) last June, from 2lb higher. Not at his last two starts in Group company but drops in class today and is handicapped to go close.
Betting Advice:
Ayr
2:25 – Ben Macdui – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral
3:00 – Mr Alan – 1pt win – 9/2 @ Coral
Listowel
4:35 – Jabbar – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Bet365
Chelmsford
7:00 – Misty Grey – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral and War In Heaven – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John