Betfair Official Blog

Ayr Western meeting betting

Situated on the western coast of Scotland, Ayr racecourse stages its three-day premier flat meeting from September 20th which culminates in the Ayr Gold Cup, one of the highest betting turnover races of the season.

Despite the long journey, many big southern yards send raiding parties and the likes of Barry Hills, Mick Channon, Sir Mark Prescott and Mark Tompkins all have solid records over the years and the betting public invariably latch on to their runners and bet accordingly.

Thursday is the first day of the Ayr Western meeting and features a strong betting heat in the 10 furlong Kilkerran Cup Handicap, whilst a valuable selling contest has often been the medium of significant betting activity so consider placing your bets according to any significant change of odds.

Friday sees the rehearsal for the following day's Gold Cup when those balloted out of the six furlong cavalry charge get their chance in the consolation event, the Silver Cup. In its own right the Silver Cup is a strong betting contest and the betting can often reflect odds of around 7/1 the field for the 30 runners. The race also offers an indication as to the best side to be drawn and very often the odds for the big race and the whole betting market can change rapidly after the Silver Cup has drawn to a conclusion.

The Ayr Gold Cup regularly features high on the list of the biggest betting races of the season. Traditionally the majority of the 30 runners carry significant bets at a wide variety of odds and selecting the winner is a challenge.

In recent years trainer Dandy Nicholls has landed masses of bets for his legions of admirers in wining the race four times in the last seven runnings! Richard Hannon has also been on the mark twice in the last 10 years.

No favourite has won since the mighty Coastal Bluff defied the numerical odds to defeat 29 rivals at odds of 3/1 and landed a massive nationwide betting coup in 1996.

Finally, former BHB chairman Peter Savill is well known for his love of Ayr racecourse and the powerful owner rarely leaves the Ayr Western meeting without at least one winner, so punters should bear this in mind when placing their bets and considers his runners, regardless of their odds.