Saturday, Ayr, 14:30, Ayr Silver Cup Tip: Back Jungle Drums EW six places @ 16/117.00
For the Ayr Silver Cup, which is a nice gentle introduction into the Gold version later in the afternoon, higher drawn runners have held sway in recent times.
Candy (16), Alfa Kellenic (22), Wobwobwob (11) and Dusky Lord (10) have all won from higher numbers. But I've become frustrated with draws this season and felt like a man chasing an umbrella in a gale at York and Royal Ascot.
Therefore going for something drawn in the middle in 13 is where I have landed. Jungle Drums for Jamie Osborne is a seriously well treated horse.
He was a sharp juvenile when trained by Karl Burke, and he made all the running in soft to win at York at the end of a busy campaign. Jungle Drums impressed too at Redcar in 2024.
A spell out in Meydan clearly didn't work and 2025 was mostly a struggle from a mark of 97 before popping up at the defunct Chelmsford.
Considering his one-time rating of 97, the 89 for Saturday has cut him some slack and with form in soft, our first leg gives us six places to play with for the double.
At Goodwood last time he was ahead of Rapper's Delight, and while a messy race with the field split into three groups, Jungle Drums had to race on his own for the whole way on the rail.
Back Jungle Drums in the 14:30 at Ayr EW six places
Saturday, Ayr, 15:40, Ayr Gold Cup Tip: Far Above Dream EW six places @ 6/17.00
Far Above Dream was my number one pick in this week's antepost column at 10s, so we're in a great position from the start of the week to Saturday.
Pellitory was my other pick at 40s, but Far Above Dream has had a rattling good season and considering he was stuffed in last year's Silver Cup here, 2026 has been the making of him.
It helped that he got the season off to a flyer for James Owen. Winning off 89 and 95 set him up for a tilt in the Wokingham in which he was a neck fourth behind his stablemate Soldier's Tree was a brilliant effort.
I thought at the time that Soldier's Tree was a potential Group 1 sprinter, and considering that came off 99, a mark he has stayed on, he has to be first six material.
Jason Hart is booked. He is, pound for pound, the best jockey in the north. He's 13% win and 36% placed over all trips at Ayr, boasting similar stats too over the 6f.
The draw is again more down the centre and, after he won on heavy last year at Goodwood, I have zero ground fears.
Back Far Above Dream in the 15:40 at Ayr EW six places
Back Saturday's Racing Multiple EW six places