Fell has golden shot

sON OF rEsT could well prove to be one of the handicap ‘good things’ of the season in this afternoon’s william Hill ayr Gold Cup.

The Irish raider chased home the talented Havana Grey in a Curragh Group One last sunday, yet takes his chance in today’s valuable feature off a mark of 101, encouraging bookmakers to exercise extreme caution.

Conditions should be perfect for Fozzie stack’s mud-loving speedster but as much as his chance is respected, he is overlooked with the claims of MUNTADAB (ayr, 3.50) preferred at a vastly bigger price.

Trainer roger Fell has enjoyed a magnificent campaign with the likes of Burnt sugar mopping up prestigious handicaps during the summer.

Muntadab has also been seen contesting one or two of those events, not least when he caught the eye on unsuitably fast ground in the Bunbury Cup won by his stablemate at Newmarket in July.

Fell wisely gave the six-year-old a break following that and his recent comeback at Chester should have served to tune him up nicely.

The middle of the track appeared the place to race yesterday and Muntadab should relish the opportunity to tackle easier ground after running some fine races in defeat on fast surfaces earlier this season.

admittedly, the balance of his form is over longer these days but this race often falls to a horse that stays beyond six furlongs and his copperbottomed stamina at today’s trip could prove a useful attribute.