Ayr Gold Cup Tips 2023: Top class sprinter Rohaan to storm to glory

One of the sprint handicap highlights on the Flat calendar will take place at Ayr on Saturday afternoon as the Ayr Gold Cup will see a hugely competitive field line up for the 6f showpiece at 15:35, and our man Steve Chambers previews the race here and picks out his selection for the Scottish contest...

David O'Meara's Summerghand was a tremendous one-length winner of the Ayr Gold Cup last year and the nine-year-old will look to retain his crown north of the border on Saturday when he lines up for the 6f showpiece. However, the legendary sprint handicapper will have a much tougher task on his hands as he will run off a 5lbs higher mark in the 2023 renewal. A real classy performer that is a regular in these sort of events, Summerghand returned to winning ways at York two starts ago and then ran a fine race to finish fourth in a Curragh handicap. There's no doubting he has to be on the shortlist for this event and he will be flying home late on, but he could be vulnerable to a more attractively handicapped rival.

One that can be etched into that category is ROHAAN, who, on is day, would steamroller this field, but David Evans' raider has been struggling of late to produce the goods. A dual winner of the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot (won 2022 renewal off a mark of 109) Rohaan will line up here off a mark of 104, so if he can produce his best then he has to be the one to beat. Much like the aforementioned Summerghand he will be doing all his best work in the closing stages of the race, so will need a little luck in running, but he drops back to handicap company here having finished down the field in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park last time out, and dropping down from Group 1 should see him shine. 

Sent off a warm order for the Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood last time out, the Charles Hills-trained Orazio is a prominent figure in the betting and has to be considered if he can recapture some early season form, but could still be too high in the handicap. Julie Camacho's Significantly heads into this event in decent form having finished a fine second in the Portland Handicap last time out and he runs off the same mark here, so has to be considered, if last week's exertions don't take too much out of him.

Kevin Ryan's Bielsa was a stunning winner of this race two seasons ago and the eight-year-old showed when winning at York earlier in the season that he can still deliver at this level. Only 1lb higher in the handicap than when he won in 2022, Bielsa is another solid each-way punting option and has to be a leading player.

Third in the Wokingham earlier in the season, Mick Appleby's Juan Les Pins has been a real model of consistency this season and was second in a Listed event at York last time out, so has to be respected returning to the handicap sphere. He has been slowly working his way up the ratings, so this will be tough, but he is flourishing at the moment and unlike some of his rivals he will be heading to Ayr in the form of his life.

Of the others, Aberama Gold will add more depth to the O'Meara charge and that contender will be a challenger if he can recapture some early season form, while the likes of Aleezdancer, Mr Wagyu and Desert Cop are another trio that could play a notable role in proceedings, but ultimately class will rise to the top and Rohaan can claim victory.