The highlight of the Scottish flat season once again produced a fiendishly competitive contest, as a maximum 25-runner field set out in pursuit of £180,000 in total prize money.
The Michael Dods-trained Northern Ticker headed the market in the days leading up to the race. However, that all changed on the day, with a steady stream of money propelling the Andrew Balding runner Purosangue to favouritism. Having finished second in Listed company on his only previous visit to Ayr and dropped nine pounds below his career-high rating, the mount of Oisin Murphy boasted obvious claims.
Julie Camacho’s Desert Falcon was also proving popular in the market, having landed a seven-furlong handicap on his only previous visit to Ayr and won a hot handicap at Doncaster last time out. James Ferguson’s Jubilee Walk looked like a solid each-way option, having hit the frame in three of his four previous outings.
The market suggested that top weight Two Tribes was the pick of the Richard Spencer-trained trio, but stablemates Run Boy Run and Twilight Calls had decent claims on their best efforts.
With five previous Ayr Gold Cup wins, Kevin Ryan boasted the best record of the trainers on show. The Yorkshire handler sent five into battle, headed by the dropped-in-class Ain’t Nobody, who finished an excellent second in the Nunthorpe Stakes in August. Others to note included Jordan Electrics and Commanche Falls, who finished fifth and sixth in the 2024 edition.
Result
- 1st – Run Boy Run 12/1, Jockey: George Wood, Trainer: Richard Spencer
- 2nd – Desert Falcon 8/1, Jockey: Rowan Scott, Trainer: Julie Camacho
- 3rd – Jubilee Walk 8/1, Jockey: Ray Dawson, Trainer: James Ferguson
- 4th – Purosangue 5/1F, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Andrew Balding
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £92,772
- 2nd – £43,506
- 3rd – £21,762
- 4th – £10,872
- 5th – £5,436
- 6th – £2,718
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £16.50
- Tote Places – 1st – £3.80, 2nd – £2.90, 3rd – £2.60
- Exacta – £204.60
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £104.27
- Trifecta – £1,790.90
- Tricast – £827.97
Recap
The field split into three groups when the stalls opened. Desert Falcon and Run Boy Run broke best on the far side, followed by Hammer The Hammer and Badri. Jordan Electrics raced prominently down the centre and headed a small group of four. Flash Harry and Jubilee Walk led the near side group but were already a few lengths down on the far side at the four-furlong pole.
There was little change in the order two furlongs from home as the groups opened up to create a wave of runners spread right across the track. Desert Falcon and Run Boy Run just edged it on the far side, with Jubilee Walk tracking slightly across and going best up the centre of the track. Of the fancied runners, Ain’t Nobody and Two Tribes struggled to get into contention.
Moving inside the final furlong, Desert Falcon held a narrow advantage in a pulsating duel with Run Boy Run. The well-backed Purosangue stayed on against the far rail, while Hammer The Hammer attempted to make inroads from further back. Jubilee Walk was the only near-side runner in contention but remained behind the far-side leaders.
Close to home, Run Boy Run slowly but surely forged ahead to master Desert Falcon by a neck. Jubilee Walk was disadvantaged by racing away from the main action and finished a neck further adrift in third. Purosangue and Hammer The Hammer were the best of the rest.
It was a first Ayr Gold Cup triumph for Richard Spencer, who continued his handicap hot streak, having claimed the International Handicap and Stewards’ Cup earlier in the summer. Jockey George Wood also struck in the Ayr showpiece for the first time.
Runners
- 1. Two Tribes – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Richard Spencer, Jockey: David Egan
- 2. Hammer The Hammer – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Kevin Ryan, Jockey: Tom Eaves
- 3. Toyotomi – SP: 66/1, Trainer: David O’Meara, Jockey: David Nolan
- 4. Northern Ticker – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Michael Dods, Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
- 5. Jordan Electrics – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Jim Goldie, Jockey: Lauren Young
- 6. Alfa Kellenic – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Ivan Furtado, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
- 7. Aramram – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Richard Hannon, Jockey: Sean Levey
- 8. Commanche Falls – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Michael Dods, Jockey: Connor Beasley
- 9. Purosangue – SP: 5/1F, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 10. Flash Harry – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Clive Cox, Jockey: Jack Nicholls
- 11. We Never Stop – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Kevin Ryan, Jockey: Shane Gray
- 12. Ain’t Nobody – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Kevin Ryan, Jockey: James Doyle
- 13. Twilight Calls – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Richard Spencer, Jockey: Warren Fentiman
- 14. Seven Questions – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Robert Cowell, Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
- 15. Run Boy Run – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Richard Spencer, Jockey: George Wood
- 16. Strike Red – SP: 18/1, Trainer: Richard Fahey, Jockey: Billy Garritty
- 17. Solar Aclaim – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Julie Camacho, Jockey: Ryan Sexton
- 18. Badri – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Michael Herrington, Jockey: Jason Hart
- 19. Milford – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Julie Camacho, Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
- 20. Go Athletico – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Adrian McGuinness, Jockey: Oisin Orr
- 21. Fahrenheit Seven – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Robert Cowell, Jockey: Marco Ghiani
- 22. Bergerac – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Kevin Ryan, Jockey: Oisin McSweeney
- 23. Jubilee Walk – SP: 8/1, Trainer: James Ferguson, Jockey: Ray Dawson
- 24. Desert Falcon – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Julie Camacho, Jockey: Rowan Scott
- 25. Kodi Lion – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Michael Appleby, Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson
Non-Runners
All Ran