2020 Western Meeting Ayr Tips by Dave Stevos
2020 Western Meeting Ayr Tips and Preview
We had a good day on Sunday as your wait for a winner was ended in the St Leger. Search For A Song won it very well, advised e/w at 8/1 and returning at 7/1. In fact, nearly all of our tips gave us a good run and three of them placed, all advised at 50/1. Lil Grey and Belle Image both ran huge races for Sheila Lavery to finish 3rd, while Amma Grace finished 2nd. Thundering Beauty stayed on really well, but he had too much to do. Liberty Beach was denied a clear run, while Flaming Moon and MacSwiney didn’t enjoy the conditions. The Ayr Bronze Cup is the highlight on a quality card up North this Friday. Check out Dave Stevos’ 2020 Western Meeting Ayr tips below…
2020 Western Meeting Ayr: 2.10pm – Nursery Handicap (Class 2)
The first race we look at on Friday is this 6f Nursery Handicap. A field of 10 juveniles will line up in the stalls and at a decent e/w price, Nastase could go well. Mick Channon trains this improving son of Sixties Icon and Paul Mulrennan rides. When those two team up it is usually worth taking note. From just 24 rides for Channon, Mulrennan has 6 wins and 9 top 4 finishes. Channon had a nice winner at Sandown on Wednesday and Nastase is his only runner at Ayr today.
This horse has been consistent so far and he has progressed on his last couple of runs. He won a maiden at Chepstow (6f gd/sft). He followed that with a decent 2nd carrying a penalty on softer ground in a Novice at Windsor. The return to a sounder surface should suit him this afternoon. On yesterday’s limited evidence a high draw in stall 10 is not a negative either. Wobwobwob did win doing handstands earlier this week and is the one to beat. However, at 12/1 I’d prefer to be on Nastase e/w.
2020 Western Meeting Ayr Tips: Nastase e/w @ 12/1
Ayr: 2.45pm – Harry Rosebery Stakes (Listed)
Queen Of Rio nearly won for us at 50/1 at York and she is overpriced again here. Adrian Keatley’s daughter of Prince Of Lir ran a huge race in that Listed heat on the Knavesmire, going down by the slimmest of margins. Her trainer decided to have a crack for some more black type over 6f last time. However, the trip was probably just a shade too far on soft ground. This return to a better surface ought to be a lot more to this filly’s liking, as will the stiff 5f at Ayr.
Queen Of Rio has had just one chance on good ground so far, at Ripon on debut (5f). She won by a neck that day but she was extremely green and was value for more than the winning margin. A slow start was costly on her next outing at Newbury and then came her fine York effort. She does need to bounce back after that run last time back at Ripon, but she had valid excuses. I thought she would be a 4/1 or 5/1 shot here (she finished ahead of Nomadic Empire at York who is 11/2) and at odds of 12/1 I think Queen Of Rio is a cracking e/w bet.
2020 Western Meeting Ayr Tips: Queen Of Rio e/w @ 12/1 NAP
Ayr: 3.20pm – Arran Scottish Sprint Stakes (Listed)
Another listed fillies heat, this time over 5.5f for 3yos that haven’t won a Group 1 this term. Last Empire heads the market after her fine effort behind Dakota Gold at Beverley. Her form behind Queen Jo Jo and Liberty Beach looks strong in the context of this race and it would be no surprise to see her win. The one I like at a nice e/w price in this is Ed Walker’s mare, Maygold. This 5yo daughter of Mayson has some very decent handicap form in the book and she deserves to get some black type.
Her last start in Listed company came behind Judicial on the all weather at Lingfield. She ran poorly that day but her previous 5th, beat 2L by Tour To Paris at Maison Laffite in another Listed heat was a cracking run. Trois Mille was a neck in front of her in 3rd and she won a G3 next time out. The winner has since scored in G2 company so it is quality form. It was admittedly soft ground that day but this filly has winning form and good and ran well on similar ground when 5th behind Perfection at Pontefract last term. Joe Fanning rides (1 win and a 2nd from 4 rides for Walker) and with 4 places on offer Maygold is the each way pick.
2020 Western Meeting Ayr Tips: Maygold e/w @ 12/1 NB (4 Places)
Ayr: 3.55pm – Bronze Cup Handicap (Class 2)
I am going to back a couple in today’s feature, the Ayr Bronze Cup. My first fancy is the Kevin Frost trained Helvetian. This 5yo son of Swiss Spirt was out of form for quite a while but he showed signs of a revival last time out at Haydock (5f sft). He was beat just 2L after a slow start off 79 and he is in off the same mark today. The booking of Richard Kingscote catches the eye and the return to better ground is another plus. His two turf wins came on good to soft and good (off 88 and 89) and he is in off 79 today. Kevin Frost’s horses are in decent form and this lad is capable of hitting the frame at 22/1.
The other one I’ll be chancing at even bigger odds is Chookie Dunedin. Trained by Keith Dalgleish this horse sneaks in at the foot of the weights. He is in off 72 and Ben Sanderson takes off another 3lb. He has been on board for his last five runs and they went close here over 6f on heavy off 73 back in early August. The son of Epaulette wasn’t beaten too far off 72 here on his penultimate start either and some of his best form on grass has come at Ayr. His last five wins have come on the all weather but he is consistent, he is on a competitive mark and while winning may be beyond him, it would be no shock if he grabbed a place at odds of 40/1.
