Get the latest odds, key trends and our tips for the 2024 Ayr Gold Cup
This historic handicap is the main event on ITV on Saturday 21st September
Orazio is our ante-post tip at 16/1
We've also backed Korker at 20/1
Expired
Ayr Gold Cup. (Getty)
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2024 Ayr Gold Cup Odds
2024 Ayr Gold Cup Trends
2024 Ayr Gold Cup Ante-Post Tip - Orazio
2024 Ayr Gold Cup Tip 2 - Korker
The big betting race on ITV on Saturday afternoon is the Ayr Gold Cup. This race boasts a rich history dating back over 200 years, and 25 top sprinters will enter the stalls ahead of Saturday's renewal.
Here's our guide to the 2024 Ayr Gold Cup, including the latest odds, some key trends and an early ante-post selection.
2024 Ayr Gold Cup Odds
Name
Odds
Albasheer
8/1
American Affair
10/1
Lethal Levi
10/1
Ramazan
12/1
Rohaan
12/1
Wiltshere
14/1
Billyjoh
14/1
Bar
16/1
2024 Ayr Gold Cup Trends
17 of the last 17 winners had run at least 4 times that season
17 of the last 17 winners had run within the last four weeks
15 of the last 17 winners ran at Class 2 level or above last time out (Other 2 both won at Class 3 level)
14 of the last 17 winners weighted between 8-12 and 9-05
14 of the last 17 winners didn't win last time out
14 of the last 17 winners aged between 4 and 6
13 of the last 17 winners were drawn in stall 10 or wider
12 of the last 17 winners rated between 98 and 105
11 of the last 17 winners went off at 10/1 or longer
183 sprinters remain in the running for Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup, but the majority of them won't get close to a run. A mark in the mid-90s has been necessary just to make the final field in recent times, although we did get a couple of 91-rated runners in the final 25 last year.
2022 runner-up, Commanche Falls looks set to carry a top weight of 9-12 off his rating of 107. Significantly edged out Ramazan to claim victory 12 months ago, and the runner-up returns for another crack. The consistent Albasheer is the early favourite, with Lethal Levi a dangerous challenger for two-time winner, Karl Burke.
Kevin Ryan, himself a four-time winner, looks to have laid Room Service out for this handicap, despite a poor recent record for three-year-olds. Last weekend's big handicap winner, American Affair is respected under a five-pound penalty, while the classy Rohaan enters running off a dangerous mark.
2024 Ayr Gold Cup Ante-Post Tip - Orazio
The draw can be hugely important in the Ayr Gold Cup. 80% of the first four places in the last decade have come from a double-figure stall, so a low draw is hugely detrimental.
I'll be waiting until the field is confirmed before finalising both of my selections. However, ORAZIO (16/1) has threatened to land a big handicap like this for some time and he looks overpriced at 16/1.
Charlie Hill's sprinter kicked off last season with two impressive wins, before a sixth-place finish in the Wokingham. Orazio made his final start of 2023 in this contest, where he was beaten less than three lengths back in 11th, having struggled to pick up on softer ground.
Orazio has flopped on two of his four starts this term, finishing next to last at the Craven Meeting and last in the International Handicap. However, Hill's five-year-old did finish a close third behind future Sprint Cup winner Montassib on his reappearance in the Cammidge Trophy, and flew home from an awful position in the Wokingham to finish a very close third to Unequal Love - third behind Montassib in that Group One at Haydock.
Billy Loughnane has been booked to ride Orazio, who was pulled from Doncaster last week on account of the soft ground. Conditions will be much more suitable on Saturday and Orazio is more than capable of challenging off this mark of 103.
Orazio ridden by William Buick wins The Peroni Nastro Azzurro ''Live Every Moment'' Handicap Stakes at Ascot. (Getty)
2024 Ayr Gold Cup Tip 2 - Korker
Sadly, Orazio has landed a stinker of a draw down in stall three. I'm not going to give up hope, especially if we see some winners come down the inside rail on Friday and Saturday, but Orazio is unlikely to shorten all that much after what could prove to be a difficult draw.
Lots of pace has been drawn on the more favourable high side of the track. Hold-up horses have won eight of the last ten renewals of this handicap too, which will give hope to connections of the well-fancied American Affair and Rohaan.
At the prices, I'm going to give a shout to KORKER (20/1), who travels to Ayr for the first time on the back of three strong placed efforts at York. Karl Burke's five-year-old kept on well to place in both the City Walls and the Garrowby Stakes, with a narrow handicap defeat to Rage Of Bamby sandwiched in between.
Korker tends to do well at this time of year, winning three and placing in four of his nine previous autumn starts. Despite running up to an RPR of 110 in the Sky Bet Dash and placing in a Listed race since, Burke's five-year-old remains on a mark of 104, just two pounds higher than his last winning rating. From stall 24, he could go well.
Verdict
Orazio is our ante-post selection for the Ayr Gold Cup at 16/1. We've also backed Korker at 20/1 now that the field has been confirmed.
2022 Ayr Gold Cup Tip 1: Orazio E/W 2024 Ayr Gold Cup @16/1 at BoyleSports - 5 Units
Best Bet2: Korker E/W 2024 Ayr Gold Cup @20/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
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