Ed Chamberlin previews the Ayr Gold Cup at Ayr
With Sky Bet paying six places in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Ed Chamberlin provides his super six for Saturday's showpiece.
I’ve got everything crossed that racing goes ahead at Ayr on Saturday. We're there broadcasting live on ITV4 and I’m told the place is always buzzing on Gold Cup day. I’m really looking forward to it.
Finding the winner will be as hard as ever but this year it’s an absolute necessity to find a horse that goes on bottomless ground and ideally stays seven furlongs. It will be hard work in the closing stages.
So here we go – my super six for Saturday’s race:
6th EDWARD LEWIS (14/1 SKY BET – SIX PLACES)
He ran well behind Desert Law in front of the ITV cameras at York last month. Trainer David O’Meara was on the panel at our Sky Bet Preview Evening and I got the impression he had an eye on this race for the horse. The question mark is will he get home as well as some?
5th TERUNTUM STAR (16/1 SKY BET – SIX PLACES)
He’s a prominent racer which can be an advantage in races of this nature and has really bounced back to form on his last two starts. Trainer Kevin Ryan has made no secret this prize has been the target for some time and he looks sure to run well.
4th STAKE ACCLAIM (20/1 SKY BET – SIX PLACES)
Sir Anthony McCoy was among a number sweet on him in the Portland at Doncaster last week but he ran into all sorts of traffic problems and you can forget that effort. He’s definitely worth another chance.
3rd STAMP HILL (14/1 SKY BET – SIX PLACES)
Richard Fahey had him down as a horse to follow at the start of the season but the wheels had seemingly come off until he sprang a 50/1 surprise in the International at Ascot on King George Day. The stands were silent immediately afterwards but first-time blinkers had the desired effect. He’s a strong traveller who revels in testing ground and I like his draw – there’s plenty of pace around him.
2nd GET KNOTTED (25/1 SKY BET – SIX PLACES)
Connections were lucky enough to receive the trophy from our esteemed editor - the bearded scribe -after his win at York in July and are probably still on a high... This horse comes to Ayr in good form, is effective at six and seven furlongs which is vital, and was second in last year’s Silver Cup. Looks sure to run a huge race.
1st TOSCANINI (12/1 SKY BET – SIX PLACES)
The role of pacemakers is a hot topic of conversation following the Leger and will be discussed on Saturday’s Opening Show. This horse has sometimes fulfilled that role for Ribchester but was given his head at York and ran a cracker when second in the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes. He’s the class act in here, will handle the ground, and I can’t wait to see what Richard Fahey has to say about him in his sportinglife column. Despite the big weight he’s the one to beat.