AYR GOLD CUP PLAN TO BE HATCHED

We loved the Leger and Irish Champions Weekend just passed but it's quickly onto the Ayr Gold Cup meeting today.

This heritage handicap has 24 runners declared with the ground remaining good following a little overnight rain.

Paul Midgley has been very patient with Ostilio since he joined his yard in October 2020.  He cost 90k having won a listed race at Redcar from Qaysar and rated 108! Paul has obviously been working hard to turn this horse into a sprinter. Ostilio has always been a free running horse and won the Brittania Stakes when we had him on side over a mile back in 2018. He loves fast ground and ran a big eye-catching race in the Beverley Bullet when fourth staying on well behind Tis Marvellous.  A 3lb hike in the ratings is no issue as he has dropped down to a mark of 96 and has Billy Garritty claiming 3lbs. Ostilio is thrown in carrying 8-10 with this stiff 6 furlongs ideal in a strongly run race. He is drawn high in stall 21 which should be fine as the pace is up the middle from the likes of Just Frank & Mr Wagyu.

Gulliver is too big a price to ignore meeting Stewards Cup winner Commanche Falls on a pound better terms for just a neck defeat. Gulliver ran a cracker in the Bold Lad sprint at the Curragh last Sunday. He raced in the far side group which was not the place to be and did well to come through and take fourth spot. Gulliver loves these big field handicaps and the faster they go the better as he needs a stiff six furlongs to show his best form. Jason Watson is a good jockey booking as he will ride Gulliver full of confidence. Available at 16/1 relative to Commanche Falls at half those odds leaves little doubt where the value lies. In another stride or two Gulliver would have won the Stewards Cup and even on soft ground that is a fast six furlongs mainly run downhill. Great Ambassador has his ground and is deserving favourite, but we know that luck plays a big part in a 24-runner sprint handicap.

Ayr - 3:40

0.5 Point Each Way Ostilio 10/1 Betfair SB 6 places else 9/1 Paddy Power paying 7 places.

0.5 Point Each Way Gulliver 16/1 William Hill 7 places else 16/1 Betfair SB paying 6 places.

Compare Odds at Ayr 15:40 Betting Odds- Winner | Horse Racing | Oddschecker