15:40
Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup (Class 2 Heritage Handicap)
Class 2, 6f, Flat, 3yo+, £92,772, 24 runners
Winning time 1m 16.00s
- Going
- Heavy
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Aramram represents the most compelling case in this wide-open 25-runner sprint at Ayr, where a progressive profile counts for a great deal on soft ground over six furlongs, and the narrowly higher rating carried by Spycatcher need not be the deciding factor when one runner is clearly still on an upward curve. Spycatcher, Volterra and Binhareer all pose genuine threats in a deep Class 2 field, and with soft conditions testing stamina reserves across such a large field, positioning and momentum will matter as much as raw ability. Aramram's trajectory suggests there may be more improvement to come, making the selection the value call over a rival who, however accomplished, may be closer to his ceiling. Aramram is the selection.
Result
Daniel Tudhope
David O'Meara
Settled towards the back on the far flank early - made progress two out - hit the front inside the final furlong - kept finding under pressure to the line
Marco Ghiani
Ollie Sangster
Settled towards the back on the far flank - made progress 2f out - closed on leader inside final furlong - stayed on well to go down by a short margin
Paul Mulrennan
Clive Cox
Up with the prominent runners on the near rail - moved to head the bunch over 2f out - stuck on through the closing stages - could not match the leading duo on the opposite flank and finished 3rd
James Doyle
Hamad Al Jehani
Settled towards the back on the stands' rail early - moved through from 2f out - stayed on well inside the final furlong to finish 4th
Oisin Murphy
Andrew Balding
Hampered at the break - settled towards the back on the far flank - made progress inside the final two furlongs - stayed on well through the closing stages to finish 5th
Conor Whiteley (5)
Hugo Palmer
Settled on the far flank early in touch with the front group - lost ground under two furlongs out - stayed on late to finish sixth
Warren Fentiman (3)
Hugo Palmer
Settled on far flank early up with the front group - urged forward outside final two furlongs - held effort through closing stages to finish seventh
Sam James
J A Stack
Settled towards the middle of the pack on the far flank - improved into contention with over 2f left - hit the front a furlong out - quickly overtaken - unable to find more late and beaten into 8th
Tom Marquand
William Haggas
Positioned wide early - towards back of field - stayed on late without threatening finished 9th
Oliver Stammers
Robert Cowell
Settled on the far flank in the pack - dropped back with 2f left - stayed on without threatening in the closing stretch to finish 10th
Jason Hart
James Owen
Settled on far flank early - up with the front group and well placed 2f out - lost momentum inside final furlong to finish 11th
David Egan
Richard Spencer
Settled towards the stands flank early - travelled close to the pace - lost momentum inside the final furlong - finished 12th
Clifford Lee
K. R. Burke
Settled towards the far group in midfield early - lost touch with the pace 3f out - beaten from there to finish 13th
Tom Eaves
Kevin Ryan
Settled on the far flank early - tracking the pace group - unable to close from over a furlong out - eventually beaten well down the field in 14th
Jack Callan
Kevin Ryan
Held up on the far flank early - disputed front spot and went on 2f out - overtaken approaching final furlong - faded final furlong to finish 15th
Dylan Hogan
James Tate
Settled towards the far rail early - held up off the pace - nudged closer late but always among the tailenders
George Wood
Richard Spencer
Held up on the far rail early - shared control with rivals before being overtaken 2f out - unable to respond after and finished well held
Joe Leavy
Richard Hannon
Settled towards the far flank early - restrained in rear - nudged into contention approaching 3f out but couldn't threaten leaders - faded steadily through the final furlongs to finish tailed off
Saffie Osborne
Richard Spencer
Settled towards the far rail in the pack - crept into contention with 2f left - lost momentum inside the closing furlong to finish well held
David Allan
Tim Easterby
Settled up with pace on the far flank - held a share of the lead - lost ground inside final furlong - eventually well held in 20th
Kevin Stott
Kevin Ryan
Went forward down the far flank early - hit the front before being overtaken 2f out - dropped away quickly and finished well held
Faleh Bughenaim
Hamad Al Jehani
Held up wide on the far rail - shared front running early - pressed for effort with 2f left then dropped away quickly - finished last of 22
Ryan Sexton
Richard Spencer
Ran up with the pace on the far flank - lost touch inside the final two furlongs - allowed to finish in own time well beaten
Oisin Orr
William Haggas
Slow to get going near the far rail - never in touch - finished last of all
Non-runners: Fandom
Racecard
Clifford Lee
K. R. Burke 10/57
Spycatcher won back-to-back races four and five starts back and returns in good order just 13 days later, with experience over today's trip and going bolstering his claims; the concern is three unplaced efforts since those victories will need answering at 139 lb.
- Sire
- Vadamos (FR)
- Dam
- Damask (IRE) by Red Clubs
- Owner
- Highclere Tbredracing Adriana Zaefferer
- Foaled
- 15 Feb 2018
- Stable
- Coverham, North Yorkshire
- Trainer last 14 days
- 10 wins from 57 runs (18%)
- Trainer running to form
- 49%
- Ratings
- Perf 116, Speed 99
Kevin Stott
Kevin Ryan 3/41
Winless in his last five starts, Volterra nonetheless shows a string of placed efforts — second two starts back, third three starts back, and second four starts back — and has experience over today's trip and going; at 137 lb from stall nine, the weight is the primary concern.
- Sire
- Farhh (GB)
- Dam
- Lajatico (GB) by Equiano
- Owner
- Exors Of The Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
- Foaled
- 8 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Hambleton, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 41 runs (7%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 112, Speed 101
Joe Leavy
Richard Hannon 2/51
Aramram catches the eye on experience over today's trip and going, returning fit on a 14-day turnaround; a winner six starts back, he has shown better than his recent finishes suggest, and at 136 lb from stall 18 he remains workable on an official mark of 108.
- Sire
- Blue Point (IRE)
- Dam
- Queen's Pearl (IRE) by Exceed And Excel
- Owner
- Ziad A Galadari
- Foaled
- 30 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Herridge, Wilts
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 51 runs (4%)
- Trainer running to form
- 42%
- Ratings
- Perf 114, Speed 100
Marco Ghiani
Ollie Sangster 2/22
Tuco Salamanca has three wins in his last five starts, including a win last time out, but 42 days off the track and a return to unplaced form in between suggest some inconsistency, and 134 lb is a stiff ask from stall 12.
- Sire
- Belardo (IRE)
- Dam
- Espoir Et Bonheur (IRE) by Dansili
- Owner
- Pompey Ventures 5
- Foaled
- 11 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Marlborough, Wilts
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 22 runs (9%)
- Trainer running to form
- 53%
- Ratings
- Perf 102, Speed 94
Conor Whiteley (5)
Hugo Palmer 2/39
- Sire
- Far Above (IRE)
- Dam
- Teide Lady (GB) by Nashwan
- Owner
- Stratus9 Consulting Limited
- Foaled
- 19 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Malpas, Cheshire
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 39 runs (5%)
- Trainer running to form
- 46%
- Ratings
- Perf 106, Speed 96
David Egan
Richard Spencer 6/28
Third last time out and a second four starts back, Two Tribes shows enough to be competitive but remains winless in his last six starts; he has run over today's distance and going before, and a quick 14-day turnaround suggests he's fit, though 131 lb from stall one is a notable ask.
- Sire
- Rajasinghe (IRE)
- Dam
- Warsash (IRE) by War Command
- Owner
- Phil Cunningham
- Foaled
- 5 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 28 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 60%
- Ratings
- Perf 106, Speed 95
Tom Marquand
William Haggas 17/72
Binhareer shaped with promise when second three starts back and went one better to win four starts back, showing he retains the ability to threaten at this level; the concern is a 63-day absence since his last outing.
- Sire
- Dark Angel (IRE)
- Dam
- Silk Bow (GB) by Elusive City
- Owner
- Salhia Stud Limited
- Foaled
- 17 Feb 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 17 wins from 72 runs (24%)
- Trainer running to form
- 58%
- Ratings
- Perf 110, Speed 98
Oisin Orr
William Haggas 17/72
Wiltshire won three starts back but has been unplaced in both subsequent outings, and 84 days off the track adds a fitness query; he has run over today's trip and going, and carries 130 lb from stall 22.
- Sire
- Aclaim (IRE)
- Dam
- Simballina (IRE) by Azamour
- Owner
- The Marathon Partnership
- Foaled
- 14 Feb 2020
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 17 wins from 72 runs (24%)
- Trainer running to form
- 58%
- Ratings
- Perf 107, Speed 93
Jack Callan
Kevin Ryan 3/41
Yet to score in his last five starts, Rock On Thunder does bring distance experience and returns after a 48-day break, though recent finishes of eighth and unplaced suggest he faces a stiff task from stall 11 carrying 130 lb.
- Sire
- Night Of Thunder (IRE)
- Dam
- Boston Rocker (IRE) by Acclamation
- Owner
- Exors Of The Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
- Foaled
- 17 Apr 2023
- Stable
- Hambleton, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 41 runs (7%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 102, Speed 100
- Wind surgery
- w 1
Paul Mulrennan
Clive Cox 4/26
Flash Harry won last time out and returns on a quick enough turnaround, but ranked 18 of 25 on our figures he faces a stiff ask, and his record in recent starts — four unplaced or well-beaten efforts around that sole win — gives little confidence he can sustain that form at this level.
- Sire
- Harry Angel (IRE)
- Dam
- Mrs Todd (GB) by Foxwedge
- Owner
- Deauville Daze Partnership
- Foaled
- 20 Feb 2022
- Stable
- Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 26 runs (15%)
- Trainer running to form
- 46%
- Ratings
- Perf 101, Speed 94
Faleh Bughenaim
Hamad Al Jehani 2/8
Evening Saigon won two starts back and has run over today's trip and going, but fifth last time out tempers enthusiasm; 128 lb from stall 24 adds further questions, though a rating of 106 suggests he retains ability to figure if bouncing back.
- Sire
- Harry Angel (IRE)
- Dam
- Hoodna (IRE) by Invincible Spirit
- Owner
- Wathnan Racing
- Foaled
- 9 Feb 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 8 runs (25%)
- Trainer running to form
- 64%
- Ratings
- Perf 106, Speed 98
George Wood
Richard Spencer 6/28
- Sire
- Rajasinghe (IRE)
- Dam
- Instructress (GB) by Diktat
- Owner
- Phil Cunningham
- Foaled
- 29 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 28 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 60%
- Ratings
- Perf 104, Speed 95
Jason Hart
James Owen 4/48
Far Above Dream returns on a sharp 28-day turnaround with experience of today's trip and going in his favour, and his second last time out shows he retains ability, though a sixth two starts back is a concern and stall 14 is where he breaks from carrying 127 lb.
- Sire
- Far Above (IRE)
- Dam
- Silk Slippers (GB) by Oasis Dream
- Owner
- Gordon Mcdowall
- Foaled
- 16 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 48 runs (8%)
- Trainer running to form
- 47%
- Ratings
- Perf 103, Speed 96
Oisin Murphy
Andrew Balding 19/92
Dance In The Storm ranks 23rd of 25 on our figures, making her hard to fancy at face value, though she does bring a recent win two starts back and has run over today's trip; the 28-day gap keeps her reasonably fresh, but the rating profile leaves plenty to prove.
- Sire
- Night Of Thunder (IRE)
- Dam
- Strictly Dancing (IRE) by Danehill Dancer
- Owner
- J C Smith
- Foaled
- 1 May 2022
- Stable
- Kingsclere, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 19 wins from 92 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 65%
- Ratings
- Perf 99, Speed 86
Sam James
J A Stack 0/7
Bodhi Bear showed up with a third three starts back and a win four starts back, but he has been below par in his last two outings and returns after 41 days off; experience over today's trip and going gives him a foothold, though 127 lb is a stern ask.
- Sire
- Starspangledbanner (AUS)
- Dam
- Wild Child (IRE) by Galileo
- Owner
- Mrs J Barrett
- Foaled
- 30 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Golden, Co. Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 7 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 49%
- Ratings
- Perf 102, Speed 92
James Doyle
Hamad Al Jehani 2/8
Fine Interview has winning form in his last five starts — a winner three starts back and again five starts back — but last time out he finished seventh, and two starts back he was unplaced, making him hard to catch at his best; drawn 25 carrying 127 lb, he holds experience over today's trip and going.
- Sire
- Havana Grey (GB)
- Dam
- Hypatia (IRE) by Holy Roman Emperor
- Owner
- Wathnan Racing
- Foaled
- 26 Jan 2021
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 8 runs (25%)
- Trainer running to form
- 64%
- Ratings
- Perf 106, Speed 93
Dylan Hogan
James Tate 3/15
- Sire
- Twilight Son (GB)
- Dam
- Tigrilla (IRE) by Clodovil
- Owner
- Antram Pemberton Lancaster Harrod
- Foaled
- 3 Feb 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 15 runs (20%)
- Trainer running to form
- 53%
- Ratings
- Perf 107, Speed 93
Daniel Tudhope
David O'Meara 4/56
Ranked 20 of 25 on our figures, Pellitory is hard to fancy at the weights despite a win two starts back and a third last time out; he has run over today's trip and going before, but stall 16 and a speed rating of 90 leave him with plenty to find.
- Sire
- Sergei Prokofiev (CAN)
- Dam
- Daphinia (GB) by Kuroshio
- Owner
- Evan M Sutherland
- Foaled
- 4 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Upper Helmsley, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 56 runs (7%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 100, Speed 90
Ryan Sexton
Richard Spencer 6/28
Ranked 21 of 25 on our figures, Candy has failed to trouble the judge in his last four starts and makes little appeal at the weights, though he has run over today's distance and going before and his sole recent win shows he can find the line.
- Sire
- Ardad (IRE)
- Dam
- Danzena (GB) by Denounce
- Owner
- Phil Cunningham
- Foaled
- 19 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 28 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 60%
- Ratings
- Perf 99, Speed 94
Alec Voikhansky
Richard Hannon 2/51
Winless in his last six starts and ranked well down the field on our figures, Fandom is hard to fancy despite carrying a workable weight of 125 lb from stall three; he has run over today's trip and going before, and the 20-day break at least suggests he arrives fresh.
- Sire
- Showcasing (GB)
- Dam
- Brogan (GB) by Pivotal
- Owner
- Volare Aviation Ltd
- Foaled
- 3 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Herridge, Wilts
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 51 runs (4%)
- Trainer running to form
- 42%
- Ratings
- Perf 99, Speed 95
Warren Fentiman (3)
Hugo Palmer 2/39
Winless in his last six starts and ranked 19 of 25 on our figures, Ardisia faces a stiff ask, though a second last time out and experience over today's trip and going offer slim encouragement from stall 13 off 125 lb.
- Sire
- Ardad (IRE)
- Dam
- Garraun (IRE) by Tamayuz
- Owner
- Ardisia Partnership
- Foaled
- 11 Feb 2023
- Stable
- Malpas, Cheshire
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 39 runs (5%)
- Trainer running to form
- 46%
- Ratings
- Perf 101, Speed 94
Oliver Stammers
Robert Cowell 1/9
Fahrenheit Seven has been out of the frame in four of his last five starts and ranks near the foot of our assessments, making him hard to fancy despite returning from a fair 28-day break; he has run over today's trip and going before, but his recent form offers little encouragement.
- Sire
- Showcasing (GB)
- Dam
- Pizzazz (GB) by Foxwedge
- Owner
- Middleham Park Racing Cx
- Foaled
- 4 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 9 runs (11%)
- Trainer running to form
- 37%
- Ratings
- Perf 98, Speed 90
David Allan
Tim Easterby 11/116
Ranked bottom of the field on our figures, Red Spells Danger is hard to fancy despite winning two of his last six starts, most recently two starts back; he was unplaced on his latest outing 28 days ago, and that return to form is needed here against stronger company.
- Sire
- Cotai Glory (GB)
- Dam
- Saikung (IRE) by Acclamation
- Owner
- J N Blackburn Partner
- Foaled
- 31 Jan 2023
- Stable
- Great Habton, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 11 wins from 116 runs (9%)
- Trainer running to form
- 35%
- Ratings
- Perf 98, Speed 91
Tom Eaves
Kevin Ryan 3/41
Winless in his last five starts and drawn in stall 20, Hammer The Hammer faces a stiff ask, though he has run over today's distance and going before and a rating of 107 offers some encouragement; 28 days between runs leaves fitness an open question.
- Sire
- Coulsty (IRE)
- Dam
- Ranallagh Rocket (IRE) by Acclamation
- Owner
- B T Mcdonald
- Foaled
- 28 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Hambleton, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 41 runs (7%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 107, Speed 92
Saffie Osborne
Richard Spencer 6/28
Twilight Calls ran second last time out, yet has shown real consistency with three wins in his last six starts, including back-to-back victories two and three starts back; he has experience over today's trip and going, though carrying 123 lb from stall 19 are factors to weigh.
- Sire
- Twilight Son (GB)
- Dam
- Zawiyah (GB) by Invincible Spirit
- Owner
- Phil Cunningham
- Foaled
- 30 Jan 2018
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 28 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 60%
- Ratings
- Perf 103, Speed 94
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.