Rory’s reckons on Gweedore is a big price in the Silver Cup (14:25) at Ayr.
Rory Delargy’s Saturday Racing Tips
13:15 Ayr – Khafiz
13:30 Newbury – Rage of Bamby (Best Bet)
13:50 Ayr – Tuscan Hills
14:05 Newbury – Majestic Warrior
14:25 Ayr – Gweedore
14:40 Newbury – Mustazeed
15:00 Ayr – Dandana & Catching The Moon
15:15 Newbury – Into the Sky
15:35 Ayr – Jubilee Walk
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
13:15 Ayr – Khafiz
It should still be on the soft side at Ayr with more rain forecast on Saturday. That is a slight unknown for KHAFIZ, a lightly raced son of New Bay trained by Roger Varian, who won a couple of novices early in the season. The bare form of those races would leave him with a little bit to find, but there should be a lot more to come from him. He’s only a three-year-old, and he comes from a yard that does very well with their Autumn horses, particularly at this meeting. My trust is very much with Roger Varian and Silvestre de Sousa to get some improvement out of Khafiz in the opener.
13:30 Newbury – Rage of Bamby (Best Bet)
I’m very keen on RAGE OF BAMBY who’s become a lot more consistent of late. She ran well over 7f at Haydock on her penultimate start where the trip probably stretched her. That form has worked out really well, and she produced the run her of life last time at the same track when fourth in the Sprint Cup at the top level. This drop back to 5 1/2 f won’t bother her and she should go very well indeed!
There’s one in here that I’ve liked for a while and things haven’t worked out for him yet, but TUSCAN HILLS is worth one more chance, particularly on soft ground. H’s having his first run with Kevin Philippart De Foy. He was impressive in two starts last season, including a listed race at Pontefract that has worked out reasonably well. He was particularly impressive on deep ground and probably needs those conditions to show his very best. There is more to come from him, and I haven’t lost faith in him yet despite a couple of below-par runs this season. He can outrun his odds.
I’m sticking with MAJESTIC WARRIOR who has enormous potential. He was really impressive when winning at Thirk on his seasonal reappearance despite not looking like he was fully fit. He was coming off a lay off on his last start in the Ebor which wasn’t ideal but he still ran with credit. That run will have done him the world of good and he’s effective on good ground. There should be more to come from him, so Majestic Warrior gets my vote.
The speed looks to be drawn on the far side, and the one I like is GWEEDORE, drawn in stall nine. He has limited form over 6f, but he has been placed in an Ayr Gold Cup before and is very consistent at the Scottish tracks. He only raced once last year after picking up an injury at the tail end of 2023, but ran really well on his last two starts this season at Musselburgh when second on both occasions off a mark of 90. Given his age and profile, I wouldn’t be surprised if Katie Scott has decided to tee him up for this. When he’s on song, he’s very reliable, and he looks well treated in this contest.
MUSTAZEED won this race last year having been well backed overnight. He was turned out quickly having run the previous day and comes into this with another quick turnaround having run last week. He’s got a good record when turned out quickly and has done well since joining Harry Eustace. While he is now a seven-year-old, he looked better than ever last season and things just havent gone his way so far this season. I can see him bouncing back to form off a mark of 87.
DANDANA was the best of those racing on the speed in the Lowther, which was a stronger race than this. She had won her first two starts, and Oisin Murphy now takes the ride on this filly who’s still progressing. Her form has been on quicker ground, which is a slight question mark, but there’s more to come from her.
CATCHING THE MOON is from a very good family and is going to improve an awful lot. She shaped well on debut when finishing second, having been unfancied in the market and stepped up on that when winning a novice at Beverley last time out. She was still learning on the job, and stepping back up in trip again should suit.
At the prices, I’m siding with both of them.
I really like INTO THE SKY who went off at 80/1 when winning on debut! He bolted up by 7 1/2 lengths and you don’t get bad Newbury Maidens. He was sold after that and looks the best horse that the underrated Jim Boyle has had. He’s got something special on his hands and it would be good to see him with a potential Classic contender.
JUBILEE WALK‘s form has been generally progressive and he does have form on softer surfaces. He produced a career best last time out when second at Ascot finish a length behind Brosay. He was an eye-catcher at York on in his penultimate start when he stumbled leaving the stalls and ended up poorly positioned but his runs either side of that have been very good. I’m taking a chance that he’s well handicapped of 93 and is capable of winning a good handicap off that mark.
Rory Delargy’s Saturday Racing Tips
13:15 Ayr – Khafiz
13:30 Newbury – Rage of Bamby (Best Bet)
13:50 Ayr – Tuscan Hills
14:05 Newbury – Majestic Warrior
14:25 Ayr – Gweedore
14:40 Newbury – Mustazeed
15:00 Ayr – Dandana & Catching The Moon
15:15 Newbury – Into the Sky
15:35 Ayr – Jubilee Walk
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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