We know its September when the Ayr Gold Cup is run. This heritage handicap is always ultra competitive and no different this afternoon with a maximum field of 25 runners declared.

Popmaster can land this valuable heritage handicap for in form trainer Ed Walker. He has been a horse to follow since running well to finish second at Chelmsford last May to Dubai Station. At the Royal meeting he ran a cracker in the Wokingham stakes only finding group horse Rohaan too good. Things didn’t work out for him in the Stewards Cup when drawn on the wrong side anyways. He bounced back with a nice run at Ascot two weeks ago which will have left him spot on for todays Ayr Gold Cup. He remains on a nice mark of 100 and looks nicely drawn in stall 23 with lots of pace in the middle numbers.

Bielsa aims to win back-to-back Ayr Gold Cups and is handicapped to go close. He ran up the near side rail last year on his own and won rather comfortably in the end, beating Great Ambassador by 2.5 lengths. It looks like his whole season has been aimed at this race again with his handicap mark dropping down from 106 to 99, only a pound above the mark he raced off last year. Kevin Ryan loves to target this Ayr festival and he has Bielsa set up nicely for a big run today. Kevin Stott rides and while drawn lower in stall 17 this season he should be fine with 9-2 on his back. This race represents a drop in class following two runs at Group 3 and listed class.

Of the rest, the likes of Commanche Falls & Mr Wagyu are in the mix but might just be handicapped out a winning chance following good wins already this season.

Ayr 3:40

0.5 point each way Popmaster 12/1 Paddy Power, Betfair SB & Bet365, all 6 places.

0.5 point each way Bielsa 10/1 generally, use bookies offering 6 places & BOG.

Compare Odds at https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/ayr/15:40/winner