Weekend Preview / Timeform / 18 September 2009 / Leave a comment

Timeform run the rule over the weekend's racing action, including the big Saturday race at Ayr...

The Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday looks as competitive as ever, though those drawn high are expected to hold a slight advantage.

David Nichols has won five of the last nine renewals and holds a strong hand again this year. Evens And Odds, the pick of his six runners, has been kept fresh since finishing second in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood in August, while Valery Borzov will be an interesting contender if there is significant rain.

They will be up against Redford, who's been knocking on the door in good handicaps this year, including when third in the Abu Dhabi International Stakes at Ascot, and Genki, successful in the Stewards' Cup last time.

The Ayr Gold Cup is preceded by the Group 3 Firth of Clyde Stakes over six furlongs, centred around the progressive Beyond Desire. The Michael Jarvis-trained filly's win in a maiden at Goodwood has been handed a couple of boosts since and she confirmed all the positives of that performance when second in the Group2 Lowther Stakes at York last time, pulling comfortably clear. Music Show made it two from two at Bath in August, scoring comfortably in a race that didn't reveal her true superiority and looks well worth the step up in class, while there is expected to be more to come from Jeanie Johnston, fifth in the Princess Margaret Abu Dhabi Stakes last time.

Newbury hosts a valuable card featuring two Group events. In the Mill Reef Stakes, Brian Meehan is represented by Radiohead, unfortunate not to go extremely close when thrown in against the elders in the Nunthorpe at York last time.

The colt was left in a difficult position after an awkward start but powered through late and was the only one to make any sort of impact from off the pace. Awzaan is unbeaten from two starts and looks potentially smart, though he did have things set up for him to come from the back at Newmarket last time.

Nine have been declared for the Dubai Duty Free World Trophy, among them Triple Aspect who has won a listed race and finished second in a Group 3 at Sandown on his last two starts, both over five furlongs.

Catterick, Wolverhampton and Newmarket also stage Saturday cards, the last named featuring the Investec Cesarewitch Trial Handicap. Saga De Tercey's record on the flat now stands at three wins from five, and there are more races to be won with him, while Aajel beat several useful sorts with consummate ease in a handicap at Yarmouth last time. At Catterick, the Mick Channon-trained Gold Fix looks one to keep on the right side as he bids to follow up his Epsom success.

Sunday is another busy day, with Hamilton, Plumpton and Uttoxeter holding fixtures. It's Hamilton which stages the day's most valuable event, a six-furlong conditions stakes which has a field of nine. Major Cadeaux shaped well under conditions which weren't likely to play to his strengths in the Juddmonte Lockinge last time, and will be difficult to beat dropped in grade on his first start for Richard Fahey.

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