Significantly swooped latest of all to land the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup (3.35) for Julie Camacho and jockey Joe Fanning who landed two winners on the day.
On Ayr racecourse's richest and most prestigious afternoon of the flat season, Garry Owen, must have thought his NAP Ramazan (16/1) was going to last home with 100 yards to go of the Gold Cup, but Significantly - an 8/1 shot - just scrambled home. Third home Gweedore (11/1) and fourth Albasheer (12/1) filled the minor placings.
Thousands descended on the seaside track for a sensational card of action with eight races for the punters to savour. Big gamble Wobwobwob (9/2) landed a massive touch in the Ayr Silver Cup (2.25) under Hollie Doyle, despite causing a big delay to the race when losing a shoe on the way to the post.
Royal Rhyme (6/5fav) took the Doonside Cup (1.50) and Prime Art (10/1) took the Firth Of Clyde Group 3 (3.00), Scotland's only Group race of the year. Revich (9/2) got us under way in the 1.15, while the 4.10 was won by City Burglar (15/8fav), before Cold Stare (4/1fav) took the 4.45 and 12/1 shot Capital Theory took the finale (5.20.)
The Ayr Gold Cup was first run at the original course on the town's south side in 1804 and is now a premier contest which is targetted by the sport’s big names.
We were there for every furlong in our LIVE blog - for the full SPs visit our horse racing results.
Key Events
That's it!
Thanks so much for joining us at Ayr today. Julie Camacho's stunning season gets better and better. Her sprinter Shaquille won the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket earlier in the year after also winning at Royal Ascot, and now Significantly (8/1) has won the £92,772 Ayr Gold Cup today.
Joe Fanning has two winners - he also took the last on Capital Theory.
It was a good day for punters overall, with five favourites winning out of the seven races.
RESULT: Ayr 5.20 Bearingboys - More Than Just Bearings Handicap 1m5f
1st Capital Theory 12/1
2nd Greysful Storm 12/1
3rd Furzig 13/2
OFF! 5.20 Ayr: Bearingboys - More Than Just Bearings Handicap 1m5f
Capital Theory lands it - another winner for Joe Fanning!
Greysful Storm was second, my each way tip. Furzig, up there throughout was third.
Not many from the frear got involved, although Sir Chauvelin ran on for fourth. No obvious excuse for Mr Curiosity.
OFF! 5.20 Ayr: Bearingboys - More Than Just Bearings Handicap 1m5f
Into the home straight in the last race of Ayr's Gold cup meeting 2023 and Vaynor now under serious pressure in front. Mr Curiosity struggling. Capital Theory and Greysful Storm up there too.
OFF! 5.20 Ayr: Bearingboys - More Than Just Bearings Handicap 1m5f
Vaynor is off in front from Furzig. Sir Chauvelin, a winner at this meeting in 2015, tails them in.
5.20 Ayr: Bearingboys - More Than Just Bearings Handicap 1m5f
I'm with Mr Curiosity in this and plenty of punters seem to agree. He's been backed into 2/1 favourite now. The top weight's win at Ripon looks a standout and he was unlucky in-running at Haydock last time out.
One at a big price is Greysful Storm. A winner on handicap debut, she's been pretty highly tried after then and this is a small drop in grade after a Listed contest last time. 18/1 might please each way players...
Has the ground gone against Vaynor?
Vaynor, Garry Owen's pick has drifted in the betting all morning. He seems to need good ground and today is good to soft. It's not terminal, but the layers have him at 7/1 from 7/2 earlier.
5.20 - Vaynor can land the lucky last for Garry Owen
He's landed two winners already today, had the 16/1 second in the Ayr Gold Cup and Garry Owen has one final bet for us today. That said his pick has drift from 7/2 this morning to 7/1 now!
"The Bearingboys Handicap looks tricky but I’m siding with VAYNOR (5:20). Progressive last Autumn’s Charlie Hills’ horse seemed to go off the boil over the Summer. However, the gelding returned to form when fending-off Strawman over 1m 4f at Thirsk. The four-year-old was doing all his best work late so he can defy a 2lb penalty upped in trip."
RESULT: Ayr 4.45 Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap, 7f
1st Cold Stare 4/1f
2nd Craven 14/1
3rd Manigordo 28/1
OFF! Ayr 4.45 Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap, 7f
Cold Stare was last early on as the co-owned Outrunthestorm charged off early, but he wore them all down late on. Craven, a 14/1 shot, was the final horse he passed and he finished second.
Manigordo was third at 28/1, showing much improved form. On a day of gambles being landed Riot, backed from 10/1 into 5/1, never looked like winning, although David O'Meara did land the race with Cold Stare!
OFF! Ayr 4.45 Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap, 7f
Cold Stare gets there! Second yesterday, first today!
OFF! Ayr 4.45 Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap, 7f
Phoenix Fire leads, Craven there and Cold Stare finishing well
OFF! Ayr 4.45 Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap, 7f
Away here and Outrunthestorm has charged off in front by four lengths at the turn...
Betting: Ayr 4.45 Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap, 7f
Cold Stare 4/1
Riot 5/1
Old Smoke 11/2
Outrunthestorm 15/2
Gainsbourg 17/2
10/1 Bar
Market Mover Ayr 4.45
Riot has been backed from 10/1 into 5/1. Danny Tudhope rides the top weight here who has been placed on course before. Someone somewhere thinks that first time visor he wears today (the horse, not Danny!) will have a positive impact...
Preview: 4.45 Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap
The well-fancied Yaaser is a non-runner here, as is Culcor and that gives us 12 runners, but it's no less a tricky race.
It says everything that Cold Stare is the pick here having not won for over twenty starts, but was second here in the Bronze Cup when not getting a clear run. He is on a good enough mark again to be competitive today.
Gainsbourg is another with course form here, with two wins from three at Ayr. However, he looked pretty slowed down by an 8lbs rise last time out.
Old Smoke won very well in heavy a few starts back at Thirsk, but he wont get that ground today. Deputy, Novak and Outrunthestorm are other capable runners who could get involved.
Pick: Cold Stare
Garry Owen: Cold Stare
Garry Owen - Stare can look win in the face in 4.45
"COLD STARE (4:45) can terrify the bookmakers in the trappy Thistle Cabs Handicap. David O’Meara’s gelding was a disappointing fourth behind Look Back Smiling at Leicester. The eight-year-old soon got back on track with close third to Bishop's Crown at Doncaster. The veteran looks fairly-treated on his old form so he can triumph back over seven furlongs."
RESULT: 4.10 Jordan Electrics Nursery Handicap
1st City Burglar
2nd Elemental Eye 17/2
3rd Keep Warm 8/1
GOING DOWN: 4.10 Ayr Nursery Handicap
City Burglar is the 2/1 favourite here. Looks well too, but I'm not sure about that price...
Ayr 4.10 Nursery Handicap
Very tricky race this. City Burglar is favourite and has good bits of form, but 2/1 feels very short to me on what has been seen so far.
Making Dreams has run plenty of time for a juvenile, but keeps on pulling it out winning three of the last four. Nursery debutant Sailthisshipalone is very eye-catching on his Thirsk win.
Even Gamraan - 12/1 - looks overpriced on his Goodwood second. I'd leave my cash in the pocket for this one personally.
4.10 Ayr - don't Sail alone with Fahey
He's had a winner, a third and a second just now with Ramazan who couldn't have done more to win the Ayr Gold Cup and Garry Owen fancies an 11/2 chance in this next nursery race.
"SAILTHISSHIPALONE (4:10) can just shade the trappy Jordan Electrics EBF Nursery. Richard Fahey’s horse relished tackling seven furlongs when third to Loose Cannon at York. The colt stayed on this rise by chinning Apiarist in another decent novices event at Thirsk. The juvenile is tailor-made for handicaps so he can take advantage of a nice opening mark."
Significantly wins Ayr Gold Cup for Joe Fanning!
Signifcantly wins for Julie Camacho. Garry Owen must have thought he had landed the NAP there with Ramazan who looked to have it until the shadow of the post when Significantly burst through.
Gweedore, Albasheer and my pick, Montassib piled into the minor placings. Montassib getting through the crowd there a bit too late, I think.
Fast Response (6th), Rohaan (7th) and Lethal Levi also close up. Summerghand though was nearly last.
OFF! 3.35 Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 6f
Significantly wins it! Ramazan second, Albasheer third, Gweedore is fourth (I think!) in a bunch finish...
OFF! 3.35 Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 6f
Bielsa, Ramazan and Significantly all in there
OFF! 3.35 Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 6f
Gweedoe is up there early with Mr Wagyu, Lethal Levi, Aberama Gold all up there...
