Today's Racing Tips: Popmaster To Be On Song at Ayr

There is a fantastic day of racing ahead, and I have picked out six bets across the cards at Ayr and Newbury (total stake = 5 points).

Newbury Tips

14:15 – 5f Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (Group 3)

King’s Lynn is likely to be popular again and there is a general feeling that he is better than his overall form would suggest. Hurricane Ivor comes here in fine form and looks to have a solid chance of following up last weekend’s victory. However, a chance is taken on the speedy three-year-old colt ATALIS BAY (1 point win bet at 12/1). Having won at Nottingham on his seasonal reappearance, he finished second in Listed company at York and then won in that grade at Sandown in June. He was given a two-month break following a disappointing run back there in July and recently returned with a good placed effort at Haydock. This demands more, but he is clearly a talented sprinter and 

15:25 – 1m2f Dubai Duty Free Handicap (Class 2)

This looks likely to go to one of the progressive three-year-olds in the line up with slight preference for KING OF CLUBS (1 point win bet at 11/2). Jockey David Probert is enjoying a fine season and gets back on board this Hughie Morrison-trained colt, who has performed consistently well this season with form figures of 21231. His Sandown victory last month saw him stay on strongly over this 1m2f trip to get up by a nose. That form has been boosted with the runner up going on to win next time out. Everything looks to be in his favour today and he can get the better of the equally progressive pair Aramaic and Injazati, both of whom come here chasing a hattrick of wins.

Ayr Tips

14:30 – 6f Virgin Bet Ayr Silver Cup Handicap (Class 2)

My main selection for the Silver Cup is BERGERAC (1 point win bet at 14/1) with a low to middle draw looking the best place to be in today’s big sprints at Ayr. Kevin Ryan does well with his sprinters and has another talented performer in his care with this gelded son of Kodi Bear. A double figure price looks generous given his progressive profile this season, and he comes here following a second career victory two weeks ago. He showed a good attitude to win with something in hand at York and can build on that in this ultra-competitive sprint.

At a much bigger price, a chance is also given to the in-form STRIKE RED (0.5 point win bet at 25/1), who has won three of his last four starts. Two of those have been on the All Weather but he was an easy two length winner on good ground at Hamilton back in July. Paddy Mathers keeps the ride and the pair will break from stall 12.

15:40 – 6f Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2)

POPMASTER (NAP – 1 point win bet at 8/1) has some very smart form in the book and is yet to run a bad race in his ten starts to date. He beat Bergerac, my selection for the Silver Cup, at Doncaster in June and pulled almost three-lengths clear of a decent field at Ascot last time out. The booking of Hollie Doyle is a big positive and connections have chosen to fit blinkers for the first time. Those factors could bring about further improvement and he will race off a nice weight of just 9-1. 

Ed Walker’s other runner, Great Ambassador, should also go well - as should both Fivethousandtoone and Commanche Falls. At the prices, I also can’t resist a small bet on ABOVE (0.5 point win bet at 50/1), who will be making his first start for Stuart Williams having recently left Archie Watson. A tongue tie has been fitted for his stable debut and he could run a big race if able to recapture the form that saw him placed in Group 3 and Listed company earlier in his career.