Interview has Fine chance of landing Ayr gold
AYR HOSTS its biggest Flat meeting of the season on Saturday, headlined by the historic Ayr Gold Cup (3.40pm).
This six-furlong cavalry charge is never an easy puzzle to crack, with 25 sprinters fanning out across the width of the track, but I think I’ve found a couple that are ready to run big races.
Favourite Binhareer is the obvious starting point, and I do think he has outstanding claims for the red-hot William Haggas team, especially with course form to his name after an excellent run to finish sixth in last year’s Silver Cup.
However, taking a short price ante-post isn’t an attractive proposition in this big-field handicap and I’d rather pass him over.
At over three times the price, FINE INTERVIEW makes appeal.
He was a big eye-catcher when finishing three lengths behind Sondad at York last time on good-to-soft ground.
It’s probably worth forgiving his run the time before that, when he was sent off favourite at Epsom but disappointed, as the unique camber of that track can find a lot of horses out.
Prior to that, he was a good winner on good-to-soft ground at Doncaster.
There’s rain around at Ayr and if conditions worsen from the current good-to-soft ground, then it could become a bit of slog.
That shouldn’t worry Hamad Al Jehani’s runner though, who has won on soft ground and has form over further too, so he has the right credentials for this test.
Retained Wathnan rider James Doyle is booked, and at 16/1, Fine Interview looks well worth an each-way play.
In such a competitive race I’m keen to fire a second dart and FAR ABOVE DREAM looks to hold sound claims.
James Owen’s four-year-old has been in excellent form this season, returning with a win at Goodwood in May and then backing that up a few weeks later at Newbury.
Fine efforts, when fourth in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and sixth in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, have followed and he lost out by the narrowest of margins to Sondad at York last time.
He remains on a mark of 99 after that and there’s no reason to suggest he won’t go close once again.
Rain won’t be an issue as he has winning form on heavy ground, so there’s lots to like at around 10/1.
The Group Three Firth Of Clyde Stakes (3.05pm) is the only Group race run in Scotland and this year could see a competitive renewal.
Kevin Philippart De Foy’s Silent Beauty could be the answer on softer ground, but she is entered elsewhere and the price about her has gone, so she’s not an ideal ante-post proposition.
Instead, I like the claims of SILAWI in the Listed Doonside Cup (1.55pm).
This Wathnan runner is another that represents the in-form Al Jehani stable and looks potentially too classy at this level.
If you look back at his form, he was a Grade One winner at Woodbine last autumn and finished second to Opera Ballo in the Group One Jebel Hatta at Meydan back in January.
Decent runs behind high-class campaigners Royal Champion and Hotazhell also catch the eye, while he ran very well to finish a close-up second at Windsor when last seen.
That was also a Listed contest, but he probably found the 11-furlong trip a touch far in soft ground conditions and this drop back to 10 furlongs should be ideal for him.
He has won on heavy ground, so conditions should be fine, and I can see him going off a good deal shorter than 4/1 should he take his chance.
PONTERS SATURDAY
Silawi 1.55pm Ayr
Fine Interview e/w 3.40pm Ayr
Far Above Dream e/w 3.40pm Ayr