Ayr Gold Cup Saturday Preview - 18/09/21

Kevin Ryan is in good form of late with an 18% strike rate in the last 14 days and the trainer is operating at a 20% strike rate with horses who make the trip up to Ayr this season.

King Of York is a son of Kingman, costing 270,000 euros as a foal before being re-sold at a pricey tag of 350,000 guineas as a yearling.

He was first past the post last time out at Carlisle, going clear with Roger Charlton's runner La Pulga who eventually got the decision in the stewards room after an interference was deemed to have taken place on the run in to the line.

La Pulga, rated 88, was subsequently a neck 2nd finisher at Doncaster in a class 2 last time out and that level of form looks strong for King Of York who begins life in handicap company off an 8lb lower mark of 80, competing in a lower grade race.

He's entitled to plenty more improvement and the best is yet to come from the runner who also looks to be one of the few runners in the field guaranteed to see out the mile trip, an important aspect for a competitor at an uphill finishing track such as Ayr which will test the stamina of runners in the latter stages of the race.

Juan Elcano returned from wind surgery a different proposition at the start of the summer, running on impressively to land the listed Wolferton Stakes.

The son of Frankel subsequently stepped up to a Group 2 following that run and again impressed by finishing a head 2nd behind Bangkok and ahead of Mohaafeth.

He was outclassed in Group 1 company last time out in the Juddmonte however now takes a big drop in grade back down into listed company to be competitive here.

Looks to have leading form claims in this field and is likely to be too classy for the majority of his rivals.

Kevin Ryan and Kevin Scott look set for a big day at the races and we turn to the pairing once again in the Silver Cup Handicap.

Magical Spirit was a dominant winner of this race last year by a 3.5 length margin and returns a year on, 6lb higher, from the exact same stall (4) as which he won from previous.

The Silver Cup is likely to have been a long term target once again for connections and Magical Spirit ran his best race of the season at Ascot last time out, running on well before just missing out by a shoulder.

That race was also run at todays class 2 level and the form looks strong given race winner Tis Marvellous subsequently landed a listed affair next time out.

The son of Zebedee will relish the step back up to 6f and looks set to at least go close, once again.

Music Society looks another interesting proposition in the race given he won the Ayr Bronze Cup back in 2019.

Trainer Tim Easterby is +£39 profitable if level £1 staking on all his runners at Ayr across the last 5 seasons, with over 50% of his runners at the track finishing in the first 4 home.

Music Society, a son of Society Rock, has shown strong sprint form this season to be competitive at this class 2 level, going very close on several occasions, and is clearly due some kind of reward.

The handicapper had the runner raised 8lbs thanks to impressive back to back runs at this level at York (shd 2nd) and Goodwood (4th), and it appeared to get the better of him last time out at Ripon when finishing a below form 8th of 20.

Music Society has now dropped a pound from that run and is looking to offset the remainder via the employment of claimer Ella McCain in the saddle, who rode the 6yo to that close up 2nd placed finish at York 3 starts back.

He's expected to relish the return to Ayr at which he is well suited and looks to have solid each way claims now back weighted close to his best.

Hala Hala Athmani for Kevin Ryan looks a big player in the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Fillies' Stakes over six furlong on Saturday, with the youngster holding bundles of potential.

The two year old holds a superb pedigree being a half sister to the dual Group One winning sprinter Hello Youmzain and off the back of her debut run, she will be looking to follow in his footsteps.

She has only been seen once to date, at Carlisle on good ground over 6f, ripping apart a fair field by close to six lengths.

The filly seemed to take to racing naturally, showing plenty of raw pace, and although she is stepping up in class she is potentially a cut above any of her rivals in the field with Irish raider Head Mistress looking the threat.

Les Eyre appears to have his yard in fine shape of late with 80% of his selections running to form across the last 14 days.

He teams up with Paul Mulrennan who is actually 1 from 1 with Les, whilst Paul also has a respectable 15% strike rate at the track; level staking all his rides across the last 5 seasons here would have resulted in a profitable return.

Just Frank appeared to relish the drop back to 6f last time out at Thirsk, making all from the front as he wasn't for catching, extending his lead to an eventual 2.25 length winning margin.

The 5th placed home that day, Chairmanoftheboard, subsequently stepped up to place 3rd at Doncaster in a class 2 last time out, further reinforcing the form of that run.

The son of Epaulette also appears to appreciate larger fields, often running well and having landed a 27 runner affair at Newmarket last season.

He steps up in grade to be competitive here and despite having slightly more on his plate, his run style and attitude look like great attributes for this contest.

Ostilio was an eye-catcher last time out in the Listed Bullet Sprint Stakes at Beverley, flying home from the rear to finish an ever-closing 4th.

Paul Midgley, often known as a shrewd operator with his sprinting prospects, now drops his runner back into handicap company off what is already a low weight for the affair and gives his runner the application of a further 3lb weight reduction via claimer Billy Garrity.

The son of New Approach also returns to the better suited 6f trip for the contest and despite having never won for the Midgley yard, his run last time out signified his time was close, and the runner now appears well prepped for a big run here.

The 5th placed horse home last time out, Dandalla, was our market mover yesterday and the runner delivered with a listed win, further boosting the form.

Hong Kong Harry is very lightly raced for a 4yo and his record currently stands at 4 wins from 6.

The son of Es Que Love is 2 from 2 at Ayr and has shown a liking to the track over the 7f trip, latterly a comfortable 2.25 length win in class 4 company.

The runner returned from a 3 month break last time out to blow away the cobwebs in a keeping on 3rd placed effort over 7.5f on the all weather at Lingfield and with that run now under his belt, he looks sure to improve and step up again.

He looks sure to relish the step up to the 8f trip whilst trainer Richard Fahey's 22% strike rate at Ayr this season only further compliments the runners chances here.