ITV Racing Tips: Expert Picks on Saturday At Ayr & Newbury
The ITV Racing cameras are in town at both Ayr and Newbury this weekend, with Saturday being Ayr Gold Cup day. As well as a full race preview of the big one up at Ayr, Billy Grimshaw has a couple more recommendations on the terrestrial slate of races...
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13:50 Ayr - Donsdale Cup
Things don't normally work out as smoothly as I envisage when I have this sort of opinion about a race I'm tipping in, but I couldn't find a reason to oppose PHANTOM FLIGHT at the top of the market and actually thought the 9/4 on offer was more than fair.
George Scott's Siyouni gelding does have a penalty to carry in here having been competing in better races than this listed contest all season, but it is only three pounds and I can't see why that would stop him. He began the year in perfect style in defeating Al Aasy (perhaps a shade fortuitously) at Goodwood before running with credit the last twice to be placed. Those runs to me have been good not great and I think the trip is the reason, but today there are no excuses as he is back over the 1m2f he has proven most effective over. I expect him to be prominent if not the outright leader and to take quite some pegging back.
The big danger is - in the eyes of the odds compilers anyway - Enfjaar for Roger Varian and Jim Crowley but I'm not convinced he is of the class of Phantom Flight, so the one I fear most is actually the old boy Sir Busker who finally got his head back in front for the first time in over two years last time out in a York handicap. The eight year old clearly still loves the game and a repeat of that performance, when he did well to win after hitting traffic, would see him bang there in this.
15:00 Ayr - Firth Of Clyde
I'm in a forgiving mood (as those who have seen who I am supporting in the Ayr Gold Cup will already know) today and as such I am willing to let MAW LAM off for her very poor run last time out in the Fltying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. She was weak in the market close to the off that day, which perhaps told a story, but she has been relatively busy for a two year old filly and as such I am willing to let slide one off day considering the standard of runs she has been producing up until that point in her debut campaign.
She won as she liked on her first start at Thirsk and although yet to taste glory again since that day, her third place in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot is a cracking bit of form to be bringing into a weaker - albeit prestigious in its own right - race like this Group 3. Maw Lam was actually beaten on second start by 125/1 shot Perfect Part - who reopposes here and will be nothing like that price - however I think Maw Lam was the best horse in that race and simply missed the kick. She did get past Perfect Part but then the exertions of getting back in the race got the better of her.
Since then Maw Lam has progressed further and although we need to forgive her Doncaster, there doesn't look to be a superstar in here and she rates a fair each-way poke at double figures.
15:35 Ayr - Ayr Gold Cup
Billy has penned a full preview of the feature race of the day on ITV, the Ayr Gold Cup. Check it out below!