The final day of the Ayr Gold Cup Festival with some top-class group racing and the notoriously tricky Silver Cup and Gold Cup. If you can strike here with the Silver Cup and Gold Cup double, you will be doing very well. Interestingly, Graeme Anderson, Clerk of the course says the ground is: ‘good to soft, soft in places and very even right the way across” so no draw bias.

At Newbury, the second day of the Dubai Duty Free Weekend. with the feature the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at 3.25.

Enjoy all the coverage on Racing TV and ITV Racing.

Have a fantastic Saturday.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster  

1.40 Newbury – Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes Group 3 (5f)

Wise Words improved a chunk when fourth at York to Tarboosh and arguably should have won, travelled best and got no run on several occasions. Seems to have been written off as a fluke but is only a four-year-old and might just be he’s improving now. Unibet 8/1 each way

2.30 Ayr – Silver Cup Handicap (6f)

King’s Lynn (nap) is a fascinating handicap debutant for the Andrew Balding team and looks to have been well placed here on a seemingly generous mark of 94. His one start in 2020 when second beaten at odds-on has looked much better since, as the winner Starman won a Listed race at York in great style. Last season King’s Lynn won a twenty-runner contest so is used to the hurly burly of a big field. Providing he shows ground versatility, having only run on good to firm he has a great chance. Unibet 4/1 win

Aberama Gold for trainer Keith Dalgleish won a good nursery at this meeting last year and then took a Listed event (the Rockingham) at York in October. Paid the price for that with inflated handicap mark but coming down in the handicap now and definite signs of improvement on last two starts, particularly from an awful draw at York last time. On this occasion with no forecast draw bias then stall one will be fine and every chance on form. Unibet 18/1 each way

3.25 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes Group 2 (6f)

Rhythm Master Ought to be clear favourite on form, with an emphatic Haydock win on debut and an excellent third in the Group 1 Prix Morny. They have watered the ground so won’t be that quick, which should suit, and is the one to beat. Unibet 11/4 win

3.40 Ayr – QTS Gold Cup Handicap (6f)

Staxton is in much better form than when finishing tenth in this contest in 2019. He has won his last two starts, including the notoriously competitive Great St Wilfrid at Ripon, following a victory at the same course on his previous start. The ground will suit this classy performer, who has dropped the weights and is from the Tim Easterby yard who are on form. Unibet 9/1 each way

Young Fire has to be worth an each way player on his first start over six furlongs. True, he could get taken off his feet over this shorter trip, however he looks well over priced after he turned in a career best at Haydock last time, beating a very progressive sort (that has won again since) with a bit to spare at the finish. Today, importantly, the ground is mainly soft, which will suit and the addition of a visor is interesting too. Unibet 33/1 each way.

The popular Shergar Cup day takes place at Ascot today and this year there are four teams battling it out over a six race card starting at 12.55.

Ascot 12.55 Les Ambassadeurs Casino Shergar Cup Mile The main question here is how Nine Realms will perform after a slightly lacklustre first run of the season. The Wine Tipster thinks that Nine Realms has too much to do and his siding with Andrew Balding’s Roserrow, who is certainly progressive.Selection: Roserrow win 8/1.

Ascot 1.30 Redcentric Shergar Cup Stayers 2m Sir Mark Prescott is renowned for the placement of his horses and his Mutual Respect, a winner last time at Ffos Las over this distance, looks open to improvement against some tough opposition including Broxbourne and Brockwell. Selection: Mutual Regard win 5/1.

Ascot 2.05 Barclays Shergar Cup Dash  5f Ahtoug looks well handicapped and his trainer Charlie Appleby’s stable is in good form so with a pull in the weights Ahtoug can reverse the form with joint favourite Steps when they last met on July 28^th at Ascot. Selection: Ahtoug win 9/2.

Ascot 2.40 Keltbray Shergar Cup Classic 1m 4f Chesterfield, despite a six pound penalty after his determined victory over Lady Pimpernel over 1m 2f, looks sure to benefit from the longer trip of 1m 4f and give trainer Charlie Appleby a double, whilst Cathy Gannon’s mount Cardinal Palace looks good for some place money.  Selections: Chesterfield win 11/4 and Cardinal Palace each way 12/1. 

Ascot 3.15  Pagegroup Shergar Cup Challenge 1m 4f Star Lahib will relish the return to 1m 4f and his two wins this season have both been over this trip. Ustura is the main danger and if runs to his Royal meeting form then he is a big threat, although The Wine Tipster still takes Mark Johnston’s Star Lahib to just edge this tight handicap. Selection: Star Lahib win 7/2.

Ascot 3.50 Dubal Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint 6f Trainer William Haggas continues in cracking form and look set for another successful Saturday in televised races with favourite Noble Deed’s three wins all coming at this distance of 6f, this looks the horse to be punting your pounds on.Selection: Noble Deed win  5/2

Channel 4’s is also featuring these races with my The Wine Tipster’s tips:

2.20 Haydock: Educate 9/1 each way.

2.55 Haydock: Telescope 4/5 win.

3.35 Newmarket: Wedding Ring  7/2 win. 

To celebrate a successful afternoon The Wine Tipster suggests some wonderful fizz from Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaïque NV, £25, Great Western Wines or Laurent-Perrier’s delicious and expressive Laurent-Perrier Millésime 2004,Champagne, France £43.99. Stockists: Sainsbury’s, Oddbins

Cheers!