The Ayr Gold Cup is just around the corner, and with 25 horses set to compete, it's sure to be a thrilling cavalry charge. But who will come out on top?
In this comprehensive guide, we'll go through all the runners and riders for the highly anticipated 3:35 pm race. Plus, Templegate reveals his top pick at the end of this article.
Make sure to click on the odds provided to back your favorite horse at the best price.
Ayr Gold Cup Runners and Riders List
SUMMERGHAND
SUMMER lovin. Last year's winner is in fantastic form with recent wins at York and an unlucky run at The Curragh. A strong contender to win again.
ROHAAN
HAAN-tastic. A Group 2 winner, this horse performs best over this jockey on soft ground. Despite a respectable performance at Haydock, Rohaan's chances for a place seem solid.
FAST RESPONSE
FAST and loose. With the best form in muddy conditions, Fast Response secured a solid second place at Chester. A claimer brings the weight down, and rain would only boost his odds.
NORTHERN EXPRESS
CROSS out Ex. This horse is trying a sprint for the first time after a decent mile run at York. However, the sharp pace of this race may be too much to handle.
DESERT COP
COP off. Despite having limited experience, this horse's only wins have been on all-weather tracks. A poor showing at York in the last race raises doubts about Desert Cop's chances.
MONTASSIB
SUB Sib. Montassib's best performances have been over 7f, including a notable run at Ascot. However, the pace of this race might prove too fast.
ORAZIO
ON the Raz. After two solid runs on soft ground at the start of the season, Orazio struggled on fast ground in the Wokingham. Despite a disappointing performance at Goodwood, Orazio is expected to bounce back and is considered a strong contender.
GWEEDORE
Dore bore. While Gweedore has won at Ayr before, a poor showing at Donny after a drop in trip indicates an uphill battle for this horse.
ABERAMA GOLD
Usually performing well at Ayr, Aberama Gold finished sixth in the Silver Cup last season. However, with a change in yards and modest recent runs, finding his Goodwood form is crucial for a strong place finish.
ESCOBAR
HIGH Bar. Eighth in this race last year, Escobar hasn't had a successful season over longer distances. While the horse prefers soft ground, it's hard to have high hopes.
GORAK
RAK off. Gorak's best performances have come over longer distances, and recent sprints have ended in defeat. It's best to steer clear of this horse.
ALBASHEER
SHEER thrill. With limited experience, Albasheer was unlucky to finish eighth at The Curragh. Both of Albasheer's wins have come on quick ground, which raises slight concerns.
RAMAZAN
RAM raid. With two wins in the last three races, Ramazan has shown improvement over a longer distance of 7f. While a drop in trip is not ideal, this horse can't be ruled out.
BIELSA
BIEL deal. The winner of the 2021 Ayr Gold Cup, Bielsa struggled last year. However, with a solid third place finish in the Stewards' Cup, Bielsa shouldn't be ignored at just 1lb higher than the winning run.
JUAN LES PINS
JUAN to consider. Third in last year's race with a lower weight, Juan Les Pins impressed in a Listed race at York recently. Soft ground may not suit, but Juan Les Pins is a major contender otherwise.
LETHAL LEVI
LEV it out. Lethal Levi's best performances have come over this trip on fast ground, but a decent fourth-place showing at Donny on cut ground indicates potential improvement.
MAGICAL SPIRIT
SPIRIT willing. Magical Spirit performs well over this trip on soft ground and is just 1lb higher than the last win. More rain would boost this horse's chances.
MR WAGYU
YU beauty. Despite a losing streak, Mr Wagyuhad a close race against tough competition at The Curragh. With the right trip and a 5lb decrease from the last win, Mr Wagyucould secure a place.
ALEEZDANCER
EEZ does it. Although heavily defeated last year, Aleuzdancer ran well with a fifth-place finish in the Stewards' Cup. The horse thrives in wet conditions, so more rain would give Aleuzdancer a chance.
PROBE
PRO can go. Having won at Newmarket over this distance in May, Probe hasn't quite replicated that success. However, with a suitable trip and soft ground, Probe may bounce back.
PAWS FOR THOUGHT
PAWS off. After a successful wind operation, Paws for Thought won three times but fell short at Chester. More is needed to compete at this level.
SIGNIFICANTLY
SIG on fire. With a great run this season, Significantly narrowly missed out on a win at Donny last week. The horse performs well with some cut, ensuring a strong performance.
MONDAMMEJ
DAMMEJ limitation. This horse has been on a losing streak and may struggle on the quick ground.
LEQUINTO
TO bad. Although Lequinto has won minor races at Windsor, this horse falls short of the required level for this race.
IT JUST TAKES TIME
TIME up. Despite fair performances at lower levels over this distance, It Just Takes Time arrives in poor form and needs a significant bounce back.
Templegate's Ayr Gold Cup Tip
Templegate believes that SUMMERGHAND, though a veteran, is currently in the form of his life and capable of defending his crown.
In addition to Summerghand, Orazio, Juan Les Pins, and Rohaan are among the top contenders for this thrilling race.
