Ayr Gold Cup: Timeform's runner-by-runner guide

Timeform
20 September 2013

Robert Winston can win the Ayr Gold Cup on Gabriel's Lad

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Timeform provide a runner-by-runner guide and 1-2-3 verdict on the ultra-competitive Ayr Gold Cup...

Regal Parade and Spinatrix both act well with ease in the ground and have good records at this venue, though they'll do well to get the better of Gabriel's Lad, who is at the top of his game at present, and looks an ideal type for this event...

Jack Dexter won 5 times in 2012 (including the Bronze Cup) and has landed a Doncaster listed race and the Chipchase Stakes this time around. Likely to remain competitive despite a career-high mark.

Hamza is a speedy front runner who landed a Newmarket handicap and a minor event over 5f at Beverley in May. Has posted a trio of good placed efforts since, and wasn't disgraced in the Sprint Cup 2 weeks ago.

Tropics has developed into a smart performer this year, gaining his fourth victory of the campaign in the listed Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket last month. Folly to dismiss while in such good nick.

Hoof It was hugely progressive in 2011, winning the Stewards' Cup from a 4 lb higher mark. Has been seen just 6 times in the last 2 years, but he hinted at a revival when third in the Sprint Cup a fortnight ago.

Hawkeyethenoo is a smart performer who has been running well in defeat this year, fourth in the Sprint Cup 2 weeks ago. Has won here in the past, but only finished mid-field in the last 3 runnings of this event.

Spinatrix has won twice at Ripon this year, and produced a career-best when just touched off by Baccarat in the Great St Wilfrid there last month. Also goes well at this track, and will relish any further rain.

Mass Rally is a quirky sort, but talented on his day, landing the Silver Cup 12 months ago, and producing a smart effort to edge out Nocturn in a handicap at York in May. More miss than hit since, though.

Captain Ramius posted a career-best when winning this race last year. Good second to Jack Dexter in a Doncaster listed event in March, but has disappointed in the Abernant and Great St Wilfrid (after a break) since.

Highland Colori was just touched off by Mass Rally in the Silver Cup last term, and is at the top of his game at present, following good efforts in handicaps with success in a 4-runner Warwick minor event. Respected.

Hasopop is a two-time juvenile winner who landed a handicap at Newmarket in May, and belatedly improved on that when third in a valuable 7f event at Ascot 2 weeks ago. This looks even tougher, though.

Humidor is a useful performer who has been winless for over 2 years, and he didn't suggest the drought was about to end when finishing third in a 5-runner minor event at Leicester earlier this month.

Bogart drew a blank in 2012 after a money-spinning juvenile campaign. Returned to winning ways (after a gelding operation) in a 5.4f York handicap last month, but he disappointed in the Portland a week ago.

Nocturn was progressive in handicaps earlier this term, registering his third victory of 2013 at Newmarket in June. Only a length behind Tropics in the Hopeful Stakes since, but the assessor looks in charge now.

Duke of Firenze landed 5f handicaps at Goodwood and Epsom in the first part of the year, and has had excuses for his last 3 efforts. Doesn't have many miles on the clock, and may have more room for improvement.

Lover Man was a useful performer in France, winner of a 5f handicap at Chantilly in May and an 8-runner listed race at Maisons-Laffitte in July. Making his UK debut here having changed hands for 135,000 in July.

Baccarat is a lightly-raced gelding who took his form to a new level when getting the better of several of today's rivals in the Great St Wilfrid last month. Remains unexposed, but soft ground is an unknown factor.

Red Dubawi is a useful performer, third in a trio of listed events earlier this year. Late headway when eighth at the Curragh a week ago returned to handicap company, but will need to step up on that to feature here.

Gabriel's Lad has a largely progressive profile, winning a 7f Newmarket handicap last month before just failing to nab Redvers in a valuable Ascot event a fortnight ago. Type to win a big prize in the near future.

Khubala did well at 3 yrs, winning a trio of sprint handicaps, and improved again to land a Windsor event in June. Has remained in form in 4 starts since, but the handicapper may just be in charge for now.

Joe Eile is a strong-travelling sort who dead-heated at Navan before finishing a creditable third in a 30-runner handicap at the Curragh in late-June. However, he's been below form over 5f there since.

Lightning Cloud had threatened a big handicap win on a few occasions, and it finally all clicked in the Buckingham Palace at the Royal meeting in June. Wasn't beaten far in a York listed race a couple of weeks ago.

Dubawi Sound was a useful sort who found life tough in handicaps earlier this term, but he's been shown some respite since, and he wasn't beaten far in a 6.5f event at Doncaster just over a week ago.

Louis The Pious was back to his very best when resuming winning ways in a small-field Haydock minor event in July. Hasn't featured in the Stewards' Cup or Great St Wilfrid since, though, and others are preferred.

Heaven's Guest landed 3 handicaps earlier this term, and travelled well for long way in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood, but he produced one of his worst efforts of the year in a 7f event there 4 weeks ago.

Regal Parade took this prize in 2008, and runner-up 12 months ago. Won a strong York handicap in October, a Haydock minor event in May, and has posted respectable efforts on his last 5 starts. Can go close again.

Our Jonathan took this prize from an 8 lb higher mark in 2011, and edged out Regal Parade in a conditions event at Haydock the following May, both for Kevin Ryan. Winless since, but no surprise if he's in the mix.

Majestic Myles is a useful performer who won Chester's listed City Plate in 2011 and 2012. Not quite at his best this term, though, and his yard look to hold stronger claims elsewhere.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Gabriel's Lad
2. Regal Parade
3. Spinatrix

Timeform View: Hoof It put up his best effort for 2 years in the Sprint Cup recently, but underfoot conditions may be against him here. The same can't be said for Regal Parade and Spinatrix, who both act well with ease in the ground, and have good records at this venue, though they'll do well to get the better of Gabriel's Lad, who is at the top of his game at present, and looks an ideal type for this event

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