Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’ve previewed the Ladbrokes Ayr Bronze Cup.
The action at Ayr steps up a notch today with two Listed races – the Harry Rosebery Stakes (2:33) and the Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes (3:05) followed by the Ladbrokes Bronze Cup (3:40), the first of the Gold Cup consolation races.
Newbury also opens its two-day meeting. The feature there is the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup (4:05), worth £50,000. The Haynes, Hanson and Clark Stakes (3:30) is another race to note. It has lost some of its past prestige, but it still has the potential to reveal a future pattern horse.
Ayr
It was genuinely soft ground at Ayr on day one of the Western Meeting and that combined with a strong head wind ensured testing conditions. It looks the headwind will still be in evidence this afternoon.
Nothing caught my eye in the Harry Rosebery Stakes.
Last year’s winner Star Of Lady M looks ready to go close again in the Arran Scottish Sprint. She shaped well on her return in the Beverley Bullet and should be sharper now. Beautiful Diamond flopped in the Palace House Stakes on her return at Newmarket back in May but is 2 from 2 at Ayr. If she bounces back, she’s a big player for an in-form yard who won this race in 2019 & 2021. Star Of Mehmas impressed at York last month, overcoming an awkward start to win well. She’s unproven on soft, but if she handles it, she’s in the mix. On my ratings, there’s little between the trio, so handling the ground will be key.
In the mile handicap (4:45), Dwindling Funds could repeat last year’s win for Jim Goldie and Billy Loughnane. He made it three wins from his last four over C&D last month. Soft ground is the question, but if he copes, he’s a player.
Valley Of Flowers has won the 1m5f handicap (5:20) in 2022 and 2023. She’ll be aiming for the hat-trick, and she tends to put in her best performances when she gets a strongly run race. Rain has boosted her chance, and I’m expecting a big effort from her under top weight.
On to today’s big betting race.
3:40 – Ladbrokes Ayr Bronze Cup Handicap (Class 2, 6f)
Eternal Sunshine is in the form of her life. She can run off a 2lb lower mark than when winning last Saturday’s valuable Portland Handicap at Doncaster. Looks a handicap good thing and the one to beat, although stall 1 isn’t ideal. Yard won this in 2021.
Away from the likely short-priced favourite, there are several with progressive profiles with good chances. Stablemate Mostar Dreams fits the bill. Versatile ground wise, the 4yo should relish a return to a strongly run 6f after finishing a good third over 7f at Haydock.
Territorial Knight has taken his form up a notch. A winner at Doncaster (good to soft) two starts back, he followed up with a close second at Carlisle 18 days ago. He races off the same mark here and won’t mind some cut in the ground.
Winged Messenger bounced back to form at Epsom before finishing a length third of 16 to Eternal Sunshine at Thirsk 13 days ago. Denied a clear run a furlong out, he would have finished even closer. Proven on all ground types and off the same mark here and looks a danger to the favourite.
Friday Staking Challenge Selection
Vince L'Amour went agonisingly close at Ayr yesterday. As they crossed the line, I thought he might have held on, but he went down by a short head. Thankfully Surrey Belle saved the day and some sharp staking enabled Victor Value subscribers to make a profit on the first day of Ayr’s Western Meeting.
In the next month we have some great racing to look forward too: The Cambridgeshire, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the Cesarewitch and Champions Day at Ascot. If you want my previews and selections for all those events you can get them for £19.99 – Click here.
Friday’s staking challenge selection is from Ayr.
Ayr
5:20 – Valley Of Flowers – 10/1
Running Total – £76.00
In tomorrow’s column I’ll be looking at Saturday’s action on ITV.
Good luck with your Friday bets.
John