Don’t Touch among Ayr Gold Cup hopes for mob-handed Fahey

The 2015 William Hill Ayr Gold Cup winner Don’t Touch is one of an astonishing 33 entries for this year’s £200,000 race from the Richard Fahey yard.

And, in Kimberella, winner of the Listed Queensferry Stakes at Chester earlier this month, the North Yorkshirebased trainer also has the top rated among the overall 226 horses entered.

Others from the stable who could feature in the 23 September contest include the Godolphin-owned Toscanini, Growl, runner up to Brando in last year’s race, and Mr Lupton.

Magical Memory, winner of the Group 2 Duke of York Clipper Logistic Stakes at York in 2016 is also entered as are Group 1 winners G Force, trained by Adrian Keatley, and Tom Hogan’s Gordon Lord Byron.

The colours of last year’s winner Brando, who won the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville earlier this month, could be carried by the Kevin Ryan-trained three year old Tommy Taylor.

Recent Qatar Steward’s Cup winner Lancelot du Lac has an entry as do the next five home in the Goodwood contest.

In all, more than 40 of those entered have a BHA rating of 100 or higher.

The value of the William Hill Ayr Silver Cup, for horses who fail to make the cut for the Gold Cup itself, has risen to £60,000 this year, with the Bronze Cup carrying a total of £30,000 in prize-money.

The draw for the Gold Cup eill take place in the Owners Bar at Ayr at 11am today.

Meanwhile, at Salisbury today, Pacharana can knock off an uncompromising hattrick.lucacumani’sfour-yearold has been in inspirational form this summer and should continue her ascent in the EBF Breeders’ Series Fillies’ Handicap.

Cumani might well have considered stepping Pacharana into Listed class, at the very least, after she demolished a strong field at Bath in July. But Pacharana remains in handicap company and, even in spite of a wallop from the assessor, she should take all the beating.

This £30,000 prize is well worth winning and it is reassuring that Cumani has gone out of his way to recruit Ryan Moore.

As one might expect, the good money on offer has brought to the party a clutch of up-and-coming other fillies.

But Pacharana is going places in a hurry and is a confident shout to pick up this race before going on to bigger things.