Antepost Racing Tips: Four Ayr Gold Cup selections from 8/1 to 40/1

Ayr Gold Cup day - Race details and likely going

Seven races, starting at 13:20 with the feature race, the Ayr Gold Cup, at 15:40. ITV Racing are showing the first five races on the card finishing with the Ayr Gold Cup.

The forecast for Scotland this week and for the Western meeting at Ayr predicts rain, but it was ever thus for this card, or that's what I remember anyway.

Run Boy Run's victory in 2025 was on soft, but Lethal Levi and Summerghand were on quicker going. But given every day of the three-day meeting features rain, I wouldn't be backing any horse that likes it fast.

Saturday, 13:20, Ayr, 1m Handicap Tip: Back Salam Dubawi EW @ 20/121.00

We start with the opening 13:20 Handicap on Saturday, and we'll go in time order. The problem, as tends to be the way antepost these days is that the favourite McMurray has three entries; for this and two at Newburyover 7f and 1m2f.

He has a perfect name for a Scottish adventure but he is 5/23.50 with two other potential targets.

There is a decent price for a runner I am interested in and that's Jim Goldie's Salam Dubawi at 20/121.00.

A recruit from France for the excellent Johnnie Delta Racing team, his campaign has centred around races on good and good to firm. Bar his two most recent runs, he's had a good year with a win earlier in the season at Hamilton and placed efforts at Ayr and York.

His run in the John Smith's Cup when fifth was a great effort considering he went off at 80/181.00 and having gone through the race as well as anything, he went toe-to-toe with the eventual winner Raammee only paying for those exertions at the end.

From 3f to 2f he was right besides the winner and over 1m2f perhaps he didn't stay and his finish speed at 102% wouldn't totally tell us stamina gave way. I am more inclined to think that he just couldn't match the calibre of the winner

He won from the front over 1m at Hamilton win earlier this season and I am quite interested to see how he fares with some cut in the ground. He is fine on good, but as a former French racer and winner, soft conditions with a long old finish might present a good each-way opportunity.

His trainer knows how to place a horse and win races. From 161 runners over Ayr's 1m, Goldie has fired in 25 winners at 16% and 56 placed at nearly 35%. His numbers this year have seen him pass the £1million in prize money mark and from 542 runners in 2026, he's had 52 winners with his four-year-olds and elders.

Saturday, Ayr, 13:55, Doonside Cup Tip: Back Treble Tee EW @ 8/19.00

Treble Tee's chances have to be enhanced by the weather forecast, although winning form on good ground too helps us here for the antepost bet.

He isn't holding a double entry this weekend, but does hold a potential engagement for the Cambridgeshire the following weekend.

Glimpses of Simon and Ed Crisford's four-year-olds have been fleeting this year. Treble Tee has had just three runs this year, flopping on reappearance at Doncaster but then victorious in a very strong handicap on the All-Weather at Newcastle - winning from a hefty mark of 103. Last time out he was sent to earn his corn in France and came away with a bronze in a Listed race.

His body of work from last term included a fine win at Doncaster down the long straight which bodes well for playing at Ayr.

That was a zinger of a win given the way he travelled off the pace near side, and tactically he has proved fairly versatile by winning "up there" at Newcastle, and from off the pace at Donny.

We have to go back to his October 2024 debut at Newmarket for a run in genuine soft where he floated across the muddy plains with ease, probably travelling the best, and I have a bit of confidence about him in soft for the weekend, if the rain materialises of course.

But he has enough form on good to not to be too worried.

Saturday, Ayr, 15:40, Ayr Gold Cup Tip 1: Back Far Above Dream EW @ 10/111.00

I'm shunning my boys from the Richard Spencer camp as Candy and previous winner Run By Run hold entries, while Red Spells Danger would be high on my list of the ground was going to be quick.

Pick number one Far Above Dream rather frustratingly has an entry on the Thursday at Newbury, but he's a 10/111.00 poke for the Ayr Gold Cup so we pay to take our chance.

He was very progressive at the start of the season with victories at Goodwood and Newbury, with the latter posting a seriously good effort from a rating of 95.

A pulsating burst of pace settled that and his final furlong just shy of 12.00 seconds was the fastest in the field and a strong six furlongs suits him well.

He chanced his arm in the Wokingham and finished fourth, done by a nose on Sondad's home patch at York - finding himself on the wrong side of the pesky draw as Sondad was drawn far.

With winning form in heavy, good and good to firm, plus his second on good to soft, we don't really have to worry too much about conditions, but he holds the profile I like for this race ie, a horse that stays 7f.

Saturday, Ayr, 15:40, Ayr Gold Cup Tip 2: Back Pellitory EW @ 40/141.00

Pick number two is a small interest with Pellitory as a 40/141.00 outsider.

My theory of a 7f horse at 6f is again to the fore as Pellitory has been campaigned by his trainer David O'Meara mostly over 7f this term.

Indeed all over 7f with the Haydock win at 6f 212yards at the height of summer in August.

He travelled so well around the Haydock speed circuit on that occasion that I would not fear the drop down to a stiff six at all. His final furlong clocked at 12.14 was pretty rapid in comparison with the others.

Often keen, a stronger pace with a gigantic field will serve him well and considering he was rated 102 last year, he's on a good mark on 98 for this assignment.

O'Meara is a stable I struggle to read and his recent 5-52 at 10% isn't exactly ripping up the turf, but he has won this prize twice since 2014 with Louis The Pious and Summerghand (2022) and his horse is well treated.

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