I’m putting my neck on the line this year and tipping a three-year-old to become only the third horse of that age to win the Ayr Gold Cup since 2002.
Khanjar is the horse in question and the Willie Haggas-trained colt comes to Ayr on the back of an impressive win at Haydock, albeit in a six-runner field.
He’s risen in the weights over his last three races from 85 to 100, which guarantees him a run in the Virgin Bet sponsored contest on Saturday.
The gelding carries the famous blue and white silks of Shadwell Estate and has only run a total of six times and won half of these starts. Jim Crowley makes his first visit to Ayr in more than 10 years to ride Khanjar and that is a bit of a tip in itself.
He likes coming off the pace so will need the breaks in running but given those and ground no softer than good, he could be very hard to beat. Sponsors Virgin Bet have him at 7/1 joint favourite with Irish raider Erosandpsyche who ran a blinder at the Curragh to finish runner-up to Highfield Princess in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Flying Five Stakes, Group 1. If trainer Pat Twomey is happy with the way the four-year-old has come out of the race he should be on the ferry and heading to Ayr in time to run.
Michael Dods is relying on Commanche Falls adding the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup to his list of big race wins after he withdrew both Dakota Gold and Gale Force Maya at the confirmations stage for the race on Monday.
Winner of the Stewards Cup at Goodwood for the last two years, Commanche Falls is set to shoulder 9st 12lb in the £150,000 Ayr contest and Connor Beasley has been booked to ride. The question on everyone’s lips is can Kevin Ryan train the winner of the race for the sixth time, equalling Dandy Nicholls’ all time record. He has several entries including last year’s winner Bielsa, the Magical Spirit and Gis A Sub.
David O’Meara also has a strong hand with Escobar, Gulliver and Summerghand all likely to run while last year’s third Mr Wagyu, from the in-form John Quinn stable, should be in the mix. I take Khanjar to win from Summerghand with Mr Wagyu third and Commanche Falls in fourth.
Looking at the horses likely to run in the Virgin Bet Ayr Silver Cup Tim Easterby’s Snash will be there or thereabouts. He won the Ayr Gold Cup trial at Ayr in July and then disappointed somewhat at Ripon next time. The Virgin Bet Doonside Cup Listed Race which is run at 1.55pm on Saturday should have another outstanding field. One possible runner is Godolphin’s Dubai Future winner of the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Godolphin have won this race five times and it would be no surprise to see them do so again. The Virgin Bet Doonside Cup is full of quality and a horse that looks on the up is Phantom Flight, the mount of PJ McDonald for James Horton. He has more than earned his chance at a tilt at Listed level after winning a hot handicap at York and certainly appeals to me.
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