Ayr Saturday

1.15 Livescore Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap 1m

Mirsky went into the notebook after his debut for David O’Meara in the Thirsk Hunt Cup, looking a project for races like this, and he just missed out when we were with him at 33/1 in the Clipper Handicap at York. He’s up 2lb for that excellent effort and this looks a slightly easier spot, so while odds are not so lucrative, it seems like folly to pass him over.

1.50 Livescore Bet Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed) 1m 2f

Phantom Flight looks to have perfect conditions after not quite staying a mile and a half at Goodwood behind Al Aasy and then getting chopped for finishing speed when a good second to See The Fire in the Strensall Stakes at York. He beat Al Aasy over this trip at Newbury on his return, and looks sure to run his race, so gets the vote ahead of Enfjaar, who was behind him at York. It’s possible to make excuses for that rival, but he’s not one to go to the well with too often, I feel.

2.25 Virgin Bet Ayr Silver Cup Handicap 6f

Rock Opera needs to avoid another slow start, which was his undoing in the Great St Wilfrid last time but has fared better with the draw here than has largely been the case this season.

After catching the eye at York in July, when he made all his ground up on the unfavoured stands side of the track, he again fared poorly with the draw there a fortnight later but ran well to make the frame. He again ran with great credit in a handicap at Windsor on next start, doing best of those off the pace to finish a close fourth, and stall four looks a positive draw here, assuming he breaks on fairly even terms, he can finally repay faith.

3.00 Virgin Bet Firth Of Clyde Stakes (Group 3) 6f

Perfect Part sprung a 125/1 shock in the Hilary Needler Trophy on her debut, and she holds Maw Lam on that form, and this likeable filly looks value in the Firth of Clyde after putting up a career best to finish a close fifth in the Lowther Stakes at York last time. She was always playing catch-up there, but I loved the way she kept grinding, and she was beaten less than three and a half lengths by the speedy Celandine.

She clearly progressed for trying six furlongs for the first time at York and there is more to come from her at this trip and further, so she looks a big price considering others look much more exposed.

3.35 Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap 6f

Decisions on the draw for the Gold Cup need to take the consolation race into account, and an indication that high numbers are competitive would make the three-year-old Pilgrim strongly into the reckoning, but if low numbers are still favoured in the Silver Cup, then his task may be a tough one from stall 25.

I can see Orazio bouncing back to form here after a break. He can shape as if amiss on occasions, and did so in the seven-furlong International Stakes at Ascot last time, so needs to bounce back. I take the view that he wouldn’t stay seven furlongs in any case, and if back to the form which saw him finish strongly to be second in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, he could take plenty of beating.

Newbury Saturday:

1.30 Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (Group 3) 5f 34y

Readers may be getting sick of me mentioning Albasheer, but last week’s comments (and those made earlier in the season) hold true.

He is ideally suited by a really stiff test at five furlongs, and the extra yardage here is perfect for one who gets going late in his races.

He looked a little unlucky not to win the Portland last week, travelling as well as the winner, but not getting a smooth passage and beaten in a five-way finish. He will again get a strong pace here and should be doing his best work late.

2.05 Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap 1m 5f 61y

A month ago, I added Ithaca’s Arrow to my horses to follow here and he immediately gave us a return when scoring at Chester last week to back up my view that a spell over hurdles last winter had done him the world of good.

He’s been nudged up the weights again for that easy Chester win, but still looks on a very fair mark and heavy showers at Newbury on Friday and overnight will ensure the ground is in his favour again.

I think he can win a decent handicap both on the flat and over hurdles (thrown in off 114), and he’s one to keep on side until the handicapper shows he has his measure.

3.15 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) 6f

Clive Cox has won this race at his local track a couple of times in recent years and tends to aim his better juveniles at it, so it’s intriguing that he relies on Star Anthem who hasn’t been seen since catching the eye staying on steadily in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A winner on testing ground at Bath prior to that, he looked to have plenty on at Ascot after conceding ground out of the stalls, and was poorly placed at halfway, but kept on willingly without having everything thrown at him, and shaped like he would do better still back on an easy surface.

It’s an obvious concern that he hasn’t been seen since, but I can’t imagine Cox running him here if he wasn’t fully fit, with plenty of easier races available.

His form ties in with the market leaders, as he was just over a length behind Cool Hoof Luke in the Coventry, and that horse has since beaten a couple of these in the Gimcrack at York. If he’s ready to go on again, 33/1 looks very big.

Recommended:

Rock Opera 2.25 Ayr - 1pt e/w 20/1 (Bet365, Hills – 6 places)

Perfect Part 3.00 Ayr – 1pt e/w 16/1 (Bet365 – 4 places; 14/1 general)

Orazio 3.35 Ayr – 1pt win 18/1 (Hills, 888Sport; 16/1 general)

Ithaca’s Arrow 2.05 Newbury – 1pt e/w 16/1 (Ladbrokes, 14/1 Coral – 4 places)

Star Anthem 3.15 Newbury – 1pt e/w 33/1 (general – 3 places)