Ayr Western Meeting Friday Tips by Dave Stevos
Ayr Western Meeting Friday Tips
Our wait for a nice winner finally ended in style on Sunday. Big Gossey landed the Bold Lad for us at 40/1 and the overriding feeling as he crossed the line was relief. The rest of our selections struggled but at least we got a winner on the board. Hopefully we can build on that at Ayr this weekend. Friday’s meeting isn’t live on ITV but it is still a quality card that is worth covering. Check out our Ayr Western Meeting Friday tips and preview below.
1.35 Ayr – Nursery Handicap (Class 2)
Adrian Keatley is no stranger to success at Ayr and Ayling could go well for him here. Owned by the Ontoawinner Syndicate, who won this in 2018 with Shallow Hal, this son of Adaay went very close on his handicap debut at Ripon off a mark of 69. He has placed on three of his five starts. However, he needs to bounce back from a poor run at Carlisle last time (6f gd/fm). He was trapped wide that day and his jockey reported that he hung left so theoretically, he should be better suited by today’s course.
The fourth home from his handicap debut was Gnat Alley and she ran a blinder in a valuable race at Doncaster next time out off 3lbs higher. Irish jockey Leigh Roche takes over from a 7lb claimer in the saddle and Ayling carries a lovely low weight of just 8st 5lbs. He is nicely drawn for a prominent racer in stall 5 and his dam’s half-sister was second in an Ayr Silver Cup so hopefully he is equally as effective on this track. On pedigree 6f is fine and at odds of 33/1, Ayling could surprise with a big run.
Ayr Western Meeting Friday Tip: Ayling e/w @ 33/1 (4 Places)
2.10 Ayr – Harry Rosebery Stakes (Listed)
This Listed 5f Sprint has been won by some very nice horses in recent years. Last season Winter Power prevailed and she went on to win in G1 company this year. Quiet Reflection did the same in 2015 but is there anything as good as those two fillies in this renewal? I’m not too sure but Project Dante does bring some solid Group 2 form into the race for Bryan Smart and Graham Lee. He ran a mighty race over 5f at Royal Ascot behind Perfect Power. The 6f trip proved too far from him on his next start but the son of Showcasing has to be feared now back at his optimum trip.
Vintage Clarets also has solid Ascot form behind Berkshire Shadow (6f gd/fm). He ran below his best last time at York and this course and distance winner needs to bounce back. Irish raider Geocentric ran really well in a Curragh G3 last time. The form of her maiden win was boosted by the runner up who has since won a handicap off 80. She has scope for more improvement after just three runs and Gary Carroll has travelled over for the ride.
Edward A Dark Horse
Keith Dalgleish won the feature on Thursday and he fires two bullets here. The one that looks overpriced to me is Edward Cornelius with Joe Fanning in the plate. This son of Bungle Inthejungle has done nothing wrong in three starts so far. He scored on his debut at Musselburgh in a class 2 maiden (5f gd). The form is nothing special but he ran a couple of crackers under a penalty on his next two outings, including when conceding 10lbs to Fast Response over the same C&D. He finished just 0.75L behind that rival and he is 5lbs better off today.
Last time out he ran in another Novice at Hamilton and he had to carry 9st 9lbs. He finished 3.25L behind the winner Peggy Sioux conceding 12lbs. He gives her just 5lbs today (7lbs swing). This horse has attempted to make all the last twice but he came with a late run when winning on debut. I am hoping that Fanning adopts similar tactics this afternoon. A rating of just 85 clearly leaves him with something to find but I think he will get a much closer to Peggy Sioux on these terms. Given that she is 5/1, Edward Cornelius is worth chancing e/w at 20s.
Ayr Western Meeting Friday Tip: Edward Cornelius e/w @ 20/1 (4 Places)
2.45 Ayr – Scottish Sprint Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
The older fillies and mares take centre stage in another Listed contest, this time over 5.5f. Keep Busy is the top rated and she is back to Listed company for the first time since winning here over 5f back in June. She has struggled in G2/G3 company in three runs since. However, this will be easier than those races and she has been installed as the 9/4 fav.
Irish raider White Lavender is the mount of Gary Carroll and she is a fascinating contender. The 3yo daughter of Heeraat just failed behind Master Matt in a Listed contest at Tipperary last time out and that is decent form. However, I think that Dandalla could be the one to be on after an excellent run in Listed company over 5f at Beverley last time. She was only 5th, beat 5L, but she gave the impression that today’s extra half-furlong would suit.
She had been running in far stronger races than this over 6f/7f for most of this season. The drop back in trip sparked her back to some sort of form in the Beverley Bullet and she finished her race off very nicely. A Group 2 winner last season, this daughter of Dandy Man clearly has lots of ability. I reckon today’s course and distance could suit her extremely well. Karl Burke and Ben Curtis won this with Lady In France two years ago. At odds of 12/1, hopefully Dandalla can repeat the dose today.
Ayr Western Meeting Friday Tip: Dandalla e/w @ 12/1 NAP (4 places)
3.20 Ayr – Ayr Bronze Cup Handicap (Class 2)
The Ayr Gold Cup is the feature race of the Western Meeting and this is one of two consolation races for those who failed to make the cut. Richard Fahey has won this race on three occasions since 2009. He relies on Show Me Show Me today and the son of Showcasing comes into the race in solid form. He landed a valuable Lingfield handicap off 80 two runs back. The son of Showcasing was then beat just over 1L into 2nd off 85 last time at Newcastle. However, he is probably best over 5f and over 6f he is probably best left alone.
Don’t Discount Chookie
At a monster price, Chookie Dunedin could go well. As I mentioned earlier, Keith Dalgleish is in fine form and this horse likes it at Ayr. I actually fancied him to run big in this race last season off 71 but he was withdrawn after spreading a shoe on the way to post. Just 11 days later he finished a close 2nd over today’s C&D off that mark so it was a pity he didn’t run. This son of Epaulette is probably better on the all weather but he won his maiden here over 6f. His career form figures over this C&D read 1346452. He has never been beaten by more than 4.5L over 6f at Ayr.
Chookie Dunedin is feasibly handicapped off his current rating of 76. He won at Wetherby earlier this season off that mark and he ran a cracker at York off 81 in June. Callum Rodriguez has been on board for his last two wins (three overall) and he takes the ride this afternoon. Yes, he is 3lbs wrong at the weights but he has enough decent recent form to suggest he could be competitive today. 50/1 looks a massive price to me and at those odds, he is worth chancing each way.
