It is hard to resist these big field handicaps and the Ayr Gold Cup is the feature of a busy Saturday of racing with the Mill Reef Stakes Group 2 at Newbury and the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket. In the Ayr Gold Cup Juan Les Pins, one of my original selections, is a non-runner on account of the ground. I had already marked up Significantly too and the smart Fast Response is an additional selection, who will certainly like the softer going based on watching the Ayr Bronze Cup on Friday.

The Ayr Gold Cup looks as competitive as ever as does the Ayr Silver Cup with a full field of 25 declared.

Enjoy whether at Ayr, Newmarket and Newbury or enjoy watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

2.25 Ayr – Ayr Silver Cup Handicap (6f)

Aplomb (nap) may not have won since September 2020, yet this seven-year-old has looked more than capable of doing so on his last two appearances. At Redcar last month he was held up out the back ahead of making a challenge late on to gain second place on the last stride after not getting a smooth passage. That was an eye-catching performance, as was his third at Goodwood earlier this month when given too much to do from the back of the field. Aplomb finished sixth in the Silver Cup last year off a mark of 89 and with a lower rating of 81 has definite each way claims.

Unibet paying EXTRA PLACES (two) in this race!

Cairn Gorm was gelded at the start of the year and his form figures this season are 4315. This five-year-old won at York two starts ago in good style and whilst that was his first victory since his two-year-old days that looked like it was no fluke, as he should have been much closer at Goodwood last time out when trying to do too much early on in a race where Aplomb who reopposes was third. Cairn Gorm will be more suited by this big field and can come from off the pace to put in another strong performance

2.40 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Handicap (1m 2f)

Mustazeed looked a horse going places when winning his first two starts of this season, and his first-time-out win in heavy ground here was impressive, never stronger than at the finish and looking like a horse that enjoys plenty of cut. It never happened for him at Sandown last time with the slow pace coupled with faster ground and he will leave that form behind him under much more suitable conditions.

Unibet are offering a PRICE BOOST in this race!

3.15 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes Group 2 (6f)

Red Zone Hero looks overlooked in what is not the deepest renewal of the Mill Reef Stakes after his win at Doncaster just eight days ago, when he absolutely annihilated Kingswood Flyer, who had won his previous start, by four and a half lengths and whilst that was only a nursery, he might just be a rapid late-season improver. The Doncaster win came on soft ground, as did his Ayr success earlier in the season, and he clearly handles plenty of cut.

Unibet are SUPERBOOSTING the price of EVERY RUNNER in this race!

3.35 Ayr – Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (6f)

NON-RUNNER 

Juan Les Pins must be in the mix, as it is remiss not to point out that, with this being an early-closing race, he’s eight pounds well in. Juan Les Pins was raised to 106 after his third to Lezoo in a Listed contest at Newmarket in July and then bettered that when second to Commanche Falls in the Garrowby Stakes Listed race at York. Earlier in the season he was third in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, which we know is solid form for these handicaps. Juan Les Pins was third in this last year, so has no issue with the hurly-burly of the contest and looks a solid selection.

Unibet paying EXTRA PLACES (two) in this race!

Significantly was a very good second to Annaf in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster last weekend for the Julie Camacho team, having won at Haydock back in July. Significantly runs off a mark of 94 with the early-closing here, rather than his new rating of 96, which he has won off earlier in his career. Also, he goes on all types of going and importantly Joe Fanning once again takes the ride.

Fast Response has been in a very good form without winning in 2023, including her second Mitbaahy last time in a Listed race at Chester. She has been racing in good company throughout the season with three seconds from six starts and in 2022 Fast Response was victorious on three occasions. The key with Fast Response is the ground and any rain on Friday evening/night would only benefit her chances of scoring her first success of the season.

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