PAUL JACOBS
Top tipsters latest thoughts and advice for the Ayr Gold Cup
For numerous reasons this season has been strange to say the least, but we have seen a number of enforced changes that have made this campaign so much better.
I know it is not going to happen, but running the Derby a month later, at the very least, is the biggest change I would keep. It has never made sense to me to see the best three-year-olds straining themselves to race over a mile and a half over the most stressful racecourse in the country without being anywhere near mature enough both physically or mentally to do so.
Let’s have the Guineas’ meeting at the beginning of June and the Derby and Oaks a month later and Royal Ascot at the end of July.
Will it happen? You must be flipping joking; there is more chance of me becoming prime minister, because the powers that be will want to preserve the heritage of racing and individual racecourses will want to keep their ‘old’ slots….it’s a thankless task, but it would be 100 per cent the correct thing to do.
I have a few thoughts on the opening salvo of the first day of the Ebor meeting.
First up, I think we saw two monsters on day one, PYLEDRIVER in the Great Voltigeur and GHAIYYATH in the Juddmonte International, but which races should they be aimed at?
Both are amazing physical specimens and although the St Leger trial was hardly the deepest in the history of the event, William Muir’s charge was giving 3lbs away, ran very green in the last quarter mile and still won pulling up in the final 50 yards.
The key to Ghaiyyath is twofold, a galloping track allied to some give in the ground. On breeding he is no certainty to get home in the Leger, but he certainly shapes as though he would have a chance of seeing out the extra quarter mile plus.
However, if I owned this ultra smart youngster, the Arc would be my port of call as he would probably get his ground in Paris and still has bundles more improvement to come as he strengthens up into his mammoth frame.
If he does go to Doncaster the 7/1 available at the time of writing is in my eyes the proverbial each-way bet to nothing with the staying classic generation very moderate to say the least.
As for Ghaiyyath why oh why wouldn’t connections also send him to Paris? After all his career best performance came over a mile and a half in the Grosser Pries Von Baden and all types of going come alike to this remarkable son of the great Dubawi. Will it happen?
Well maybe, but the Champion Stakes looks more likely port of call. But that won’t tell us anything we don’t already know about the giant entire as he is more than likely to scare off most of the opposition at Ascot. Whereas, if he travelled across the English Channel and was victorious in the Arc he would have a chance to become the ultimate middle distance champion.
As far as my ante-post thoughts for September are concerned I will be supporting a couple of sprinters for the Ayr Gold Cup on September 19.
ANOTHER BATT was hugely impressive at Thirst last time out and a fast run six furlongs looks his optimum setup. He remains well handicapped on his best form over further despite his rise in the weights and 20/1 looks a fair offer from the enemy.
I will also be having a few quid eachway on MAJOR JUMBO if Kevin Ryan sends him back down into handicap company.
It has been a frustrating season for this six-year-old, but his handicap mark has fallen just enough to make him a serious player and 20/1 will do for me.