/ Timeform / 17 September 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Ayr Races
"It...may pay to focus on Eton Rifles and Croisultan, with the latter preferred as he's the better handicapped."
Timeform go through the 27 runners for the Ayr Gold Cup...
Majestic Myles made a successful reappearance from a much lower mark at Newmarket in May and added to that at Chester in July. He ran easily a career best when second in a listed race last time and this big-field scenario will suit back at six furlongs.
Regal Parade is a dual-Group 1 winner who hasn't hit the same heights this season. The last handicap he contested was when victorious in this race in 2008 and there's no doubt that he's potentially very well handicapped.
Waffle again indicated he had a big race in him when second in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. He shouldn't be judged too harshly on his last two runs in similar big-field handicaps, either.
Our Jonathan has run to a level more in keeping with his useful juvenile efforts this season, producing another excellent effort when second to Pepper Lane in the Great St Wilfrid Last time. He has gone up another 3 lb for that, though.
Group Therapy improved for Jeremy Noseda in 2010 and has largely run creditably without quite hitting the same heights for his current yard this year. It's been a while since he last ran in a handicap, but six furlongs isn't sure to suit.
Hawkeyethenoo enjoyed a very productive 2010, winning three times, which result in him going off among the favourites for this race last year. He showed even better form when winning the Victoria Cup this term, and has been laid out for this race.
Tajneed is a Ripon specialist, which makes his latest flop in the Great St Wilfrid all the more disappointing. Others have more persuasive claims.
Pepper Lane is up there with the most progressive sprint handicappers around this season, winning four of her six starts, including the Great St Wilfrid last time. She has gone up another 8 lb but has to be of interest again.
Pastoral Player has a tendency to start slowly but is a smart handicapper and ran a cracker when third in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. The return to six furlongs here will suit and he gives the impression he can land a bit one, but he's very much the sort that needs everything to fall right.
Eton Rifles is a front runner who was better than ever when justifying good support on his first start for David Elsworth in a valuable seven-furlong handicap at Goodwood last month. He ran well when third at Ascot last time and the drop to six furlongs won't inconvenience him.
High Standing is a smart performer at his best, but has mainly been below form this year, notwithstanding his win in a six-furlong minor event at Haydock in July. Cheekpices helped spark something of a revival last time, but they're not sure to have the same positive effect this time round.
Ancient Cross is getting speedier with age, following his York success in May with victory in another competitive five-furlong handicap at Newcastle in June. He shaped as though still in top form last time so can't be ignored.
Mac's Power won twice last autumn and has often shaped as if having a big prize in him, including when first home on the unfavoured side in the Wokingham and when third in the Stewards' Cup. A slow pace was against him last time and this should be much more suitable.
Croisultan is a talented front-runnre when on his game, and was right back to form when an unlucky in running third in a Group 3 at the Curragh last week. He has a big chance back in a handicap if turning up in the same mood.
Anne of Kiev is a hold-up sprinter who improved on the all-weather in the winter. She has continued the good work on turf, winning a listed race at Haydock in May, but has been below form of late and needs a career-best effort to land this.
Light From Mars was back to form with a bang second time up for Dandy Nicholls when landing the Spring Cup over a mile at Newbury in April. He hasn't been anywhere near that level in three starts since, and has now changed hands ahead of his first try at six furlongs.
Dungannon is relatively unexposed and has been steadily progressive since contesting handicaps, winning at Doncaster and Ascot this summer. He shaped as if still in good form in the Portland last week.
Son of The Cat ran just twice in 2010, but has been better than ever this year following his reappearance win in a match, landing a big-field handicap at Glorious Goodwood. He should still be competitive off his new mark.
Colonel Mak landed the Silver Cup here a year ago from a 6 lb lower mark and gained reward for a series of promising efforts in handicap this year when going in at Ffos Las last month. He has been hit with a 5 lb rise for that, though.
Mayson showed useful form when winning twice as a juvenile and returned to action with a cracking effort to finish third behind a couple of these in the Great St Wilfrid last month. His handicap still looks tough, though.
Darajaat won a six-furlong maiden at Kempton in 2010 but ran her best race when dropped to five furlongs on her final start that year. She ran well when second in a listed race last month, but doesn't look all that well treated back in a handicap.
Breathless Kiss scaled new heights when landing a five-furlong handicap at Beverley in April. She has struggled to figure in the face of stiffer tasks since, though, and this isn't any easier.
Castles In The Air is a regular in these big-field handicaps and shaped with more promise when seventh in the International at Ascot in July. He ran well again when fourth at Doncaster eight days ago and could be peaking at just the right time.
Evens And Odds landed the Stewards' Cup in 2010 and was back at that level when bagging a minor event at Thirsk in April. He made a feeble bid to defend his crown at Goodwood and changed yards after flopping at Ripon last time. He is now tried tongue tied.
Kaldoun Kingdom made a successful return to action at Doncaster in March 2010 and now finds himself below that mark despite a few solid efforts in top handicaps. The return to this trip is also in his favour.
Below Zero improved again when bagging his third handicap win in the last couple of months at Leopardstown two weeks ago. He's never been one to string good performances together though and was unable to dominate at Doncaster last time.
Brave Prospector was a ready winner of a six-furlong minor event on the all-weather in February when trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam. He made a highly encouraging start for this yard at Hamilton, but hasn't landed a blow at Goodwood on either start since.
Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Croisultan
2. Eton Rifles
3. Pepper Lane
Timeform View: Unusually for a race of this nature, there appears not to be an abundance of pace, which could compromise the chances of Waffle and Mac's Power amongst others. It therefore may pay to focus on Eton Rifles and Croisultan, with the latter preferred as he's the better handicapped. The thriving Pepper Lane also deserves a mention.
Timeform run the rule over this five-furlong listed race for juveniles......
The Yarmouth Festival continues, and this competitive staying handicap looks one of the highlights of the day......
This 10-furlong listed race for fillies and mares is one of the higlights of Yarmouth's Festival......
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