6f Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+)
The pace in this race looks like its bunched in the main and around the high draws this year for the Ayr Gold Cup and that it where I have focused my selections.
ROOM SERVICE looks like a hugely unexposed colt having only had 7 starts to date for Kevin Ryan. The son of Kodi Bear was pitched into the Greenham earlier this year but didn’t quite see out the 7f trip, he looked to be coming back near to his scintillating two-year-old form when winning last time out at Pontefract after a sluggish start. Room Service has had a wind operation since and this has clearly been the plan for some time. His draw in 22 could be ideal with Lethal Levi drawn in stall 20 who can give him a nice toe into the race.
Sticking with another three-year-old sprinter that I can’t let go unbacked and he looks massively overpriced is PILGRIM for the Barrons. By Havana Grey, Pilgrim has looked a classy sprinter so far in his career. He won a 5f handicap at Musselbrough earlier this year in some style by six lengths before cruising home to win the 5f Palace Of Holyrood Handicap at Royal Ascot a few weeks later. He really looked like a horse that could claim a pattern-level success, but ran no sort of race afer a 60 day break when drawn on the wrong side at York.
That may just put him spot on for this and although he is drawn very wide in 25, there have been plenty of winners of this race from out on the rail. The bookies have underestimated Pilgrim on ground he will like on this flat track.
Of the others Ramazan is a consistent sort and finished 2nd in this off a 5lbs lower mark last year. Sergeant Wilko could also run well for a long way from his middle draw and American Affair is also feared but looks like he is drawn on the wrong side of the track.
1pt each-way Room Service @12/1, 15:35 Ayr, Saturday (1-8 places, 1/5 odds with Skybet)
1pt each-way Pilgrim @16/1, 15:35 Ayr, Saturday (1-8 places, 1/5 odds with Skybet)