The Western Meeting at the seaside resort of Ayr, is Scotland's premier flat race meeting of the racing calendar. The highlight of the 3 day festival is the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup, which always attracts a huge field, causing frantic activity to take place, not only in the on-course ring, but in betting shops throughout the UK.
History of the Race
The origins of the race go back over 200 years to 1804, when it was initially contested over a distance of 2 miles, in 2 seperate heats. Soon afterwards the heats were removed, making the contest a single race and it became a handicap in 1855. In 1908 the race distance was cut to 6 furlongs (1207 metres), at which it remains to this day.
The Ayr Gold Cup is held on the 6 furlong straight course which is generally flat with some gentle undulations. Open to thoroughbreds of 3-years-old and above, the race takes place annually in September.
2011 Renewal
At the time of writing, there remains 202 entries for this years running of the race on Saturday 17th September. With a maximum field of only 27 runners allowed, the highest handicapped horses will contest the event, with the next 27 going into the Ayr Silver Cup and the same again for the Ayr Bronze Cup (the Bronze Cup taking place a day earlier on Friday).
Currently favourite at 10/1 is filly Pepper Lane, trained by Yorkshire based David O'Meara and very likely to be ridden by local jockey Daniel Tudhope. She is currently on a four-timer, having been successful in last months Great St Wilfrid Stakes at Ripon. Up 22lbs in the handicap since winning at Redcar in July, it does look as if the handicapper has finally taken a grip on her success maybe.
James Fanshawe brings Macs Power up from Newmarket. The 5-year-old gelding was beaten 3 lengths on his last run in a listed race on the July course at the back end of August. Down in class, he should be thereabouts and is currently quoted at 12/1.
Also at 12's is David Barron's Colonel Mak. Carrying a 5lb penalty for winning well at Ffos Las in August, he has won on good ground, but gives the impression he maybe prefers some give underfoot.
Hawkeyethenoo, Eton Rifles and Our Jonathan are all available at 14/1.
Scottish based Jim Goldie's Hawkeyethenoo drops back to 6 furlongs after 2 varying 7 furlong runs. He won the Totesport Victoria Cup in May at Ascot, but disappointed a month later in yielding conditions at the same course. Gives the impression he may be a little high in the weights at present.
Eton Rifles is another carrying a 5lb penalty for winning readily at Goodwood. Since then he has run well at Ascot coming 3rd to Smarty Socks. On both occasions he was partnered by Kieren Fallon, but the leg-up will go to Ted Durcan on Saturday. It has to be asked whether he may find the 6 furlongs a little on the sharp side, but veteran trainer David Elsworth would not enter him if he didn't believe he was capable of putting up a good show.
Kevin Ryan's Our Jonathan travels up from North Yorkshire, after being beaten into 2nd by Pepper Lane at Ripon in the race mentioned previously. Although rising 3lbs in the handicap, he gets a pull of 5lbs for 1- 1/2 lengths and is strongly fancied to run well here.
Mayson, Dungannon, Son Of The Cat, Addictive Dream and York Glory are all currently quoted at 16/1
Race Trends
Since 2000, David (Dandy) Nicholls has trained the winner on no fewer than 6 occasions, the latest being last year with Redford when ridden by Frankie Dettori. He is represented this year by notably Regal Parade (25/1), Tajneed (25/1) and Nasri (20/1).
Frankie Dettori has ridden the winner for the last 2 years, on Redford in 2010 and Jimmy Styles in 2009. It is believed that he will miss this years renewal in favour of partnering Passion For Gold in the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial at Newbury.
The draw plays an important part in the chances of many runners. In the last 4 years, the winner has been drawn in stalls 17, 15, 20 and 22, giving the impression that a mid to high draw is preferable. However in the 3 years previously, the winners all had single figure draws.
In the last 6 years, only 1 winner has carried less than 9 stone in weight.
No horse older than 6-years-old has won the race since 1993.
Morning of the Race Update
All the entries mentioned earlier have stood their ground and run, that is except for Addictive Dream and York Glory.
The going is currently soft and will most likely stay that way unless there has been a deluge of rain overnight.
Mac's Power is now at the top of the market, currently trading at 12/1, followed by Hawkeyethenoo, Pepper Lane, Eton Rifles at 14's and Colonel Mak a point further out.
Frankie Dettori has not made the trip up to Ayr this year.
The all-conquering Richard Fahey stable is represented by the well fancied Mayson (18/1) - to be ridden by Champion Jockey elect Paul Hanagan. As previously mentioned, history suggests that carrying under 9 stone however will go against them. The stable also has 4 other entries, the best of which is probably the Lee Topliss ridden Kaldoun Kingdom (16/1).
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