Free preview and betting tips Ayr Gold Cup day | Simon Holt: All about a Boy

Recommended Bets: Saturday September 19

2pts win Atalanta's Boy in 2.30 Ayr at 10/1

2pts win Nahaarr in 3.40 Ayr at 8/1

0.5pts e.w Bungee Jump in 3.40 Ayr at 40/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

Saturday's racing includes two of the toughest punting/tipping tests in the calendar, but fortune favours the brave (so it is said) and NAHAARR, a beaten favourite for the Stewards Cup at Goodwood, is fancied to atone in the ferocious equine charge that is the QTS Ayr Gold Cup.

For a horse who won twice last year over seven furlongs, it looked like Tom Marquand's mount found everything happening a bit quickly on the downhill course in West Sussex whereas, on his previous two starts over six furlongs at Ascot and Newbury, he travelled like a class act.

Nahaarr appeared to find the stiff six at Ascot in June just beyond him as he weakened close home (finishing third to Chiefofchiefs) but the standard time at the Royal course is fully three seconds more than at Ayr.

It was at Newbury that the William Haggas-trained selection showed what he can do, cruising into the lead for an emphatic victory, and a similar performance here off a 5lb higher mark could be good enough for a horse who has the potential to go onto better things for his hugely successful trainer-jockey combination.

One unknown is the ground though, with the weather set fair, it should be drying out all the time. Nevertheless, Nahaarr appeared much happier on the going at Ascot and Newbury (Good) than on the faster surface at Goodwood.

Ground conditions could also do with drying out for several other runners, including the big outsider BUNGEE JUMP even though the Grace Harris-trained trailblazer has won with cut underfoot in the past.

There was no staged draw (where connections get the chance to pick their stall) this year for Saturday's big race but Harris could hardly have asked for a better position than number 24 of 25 as her stable-stalwart just loves to run against a rail as she showed when bolting up by five lengths at Newmarket first time out this season and then when narrowly held by the useful Lyzbeth in a listed race at Goodwood.

The mare needs to bounce back after her last two starts but, if firing on all cylinders for Richard Kingscote, could just get loose on the lead down the stands side (from where last year's winner Angel Alexander, also ridden by Kingscote, emerged) and may be worth a speculative punt at a huge price.

In the QTS Ayr Silver Cup, the second big challenge for us intrepid investors, ATALANTA'S BOY can defy a 5lb penalty for his win at Goodwood nearly three weeks ago.

The David Menuisier-trained gelding finished off really strongly on the good to soft ground that day, forging clear of his rivals having previously been well fancied for the Stewards Cup only to blow the start.

A winner at Chelmsford, and then beaten narrowly at Windsor earlier this term, Atalanta's Boy has been progressing steadily for his shrewd handler over the past two seasons, and he looks versatile with regard to ground conditions.

If there is a blot on the handicap, it could be the lightly-raced three-year-old King's Lynn (owned by The Queen) who won a sales race at Doncaster over six-and-a-half furlongs last September and, on his belated reappearance on the same course last month, chased home the subsequent Garrowby Stakes winner Starman.

It's likely he was flattered by that effort especially as the third Full Authority has been beaten in two handicaps since, but Andrew Balding's colt is open to further improvement and any horse who is suited by a bit more than six furlongs is just about perfect for these sprint Cup races at Ayr.

Posted at 1700 BST on 18/09/20

Responsible gambling

We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.

Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.