Western Daily Press (Saturday)
CHECK OUT THE RUNNERS AT EIGHT MEETINGS
STAXTON has burst back into form at just the right time to sneak into the Ayr Gold Cup at the bottom of the handicap.
Tim Easterby’s five-year-old is 24th of the 25 runners for the big sprint, but could not be arriving in better heart.
He ran in the race 12 months ago and while at first glance it may appear he did not go close in tenth place, he was only beaten just over three lengths and Easterby maintains that he was also a little unfortunate.
That was off a mark of 98 and he had two further unplaced runs last season, which meant he began this season rated 93.
Having showed little on his first three runs this term, he bounced back to form at Ripon off 84, beating Watchable by a nose and the veteran has won twice since and is now 8lb higher than he was that day.
At his peak, Staxton has been rated 103, so when he lined up in the Great St Wilfrid off 88, there was still plenty of wriggle room and he duly justified favouritism. He is running in this 2lb wrong as his penalty takes him up to 94, but his new mark is only 92 which is still some way below his best, and stall 15 means Duran Fentiman can go either side.
In the Silver Cup, I Am A Dreamer is worth another chance. Not beaten far by Staxton in the Great St Wilfrid, he lost all chance at the start last time out and races off a feather weight with a claimer on.
There should be just enough juice in the ground to enable Addeybb to stamp his class on the Jordan Electrics Doonside Cup. William Haggas’ six-yearold won two Australian Group Ones in the spring and was then a fine second to Lord North in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
Richard Fahey’s Umm Kulthum looks a cut above her rivals in the Scotty Brand Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes, while Michael Dods’ Brunch is worth sticking with in the Luxury Staycations At Western House Hotel Handicap despite a 6lb rise for winning at York.
Roger Teal’s Ocean Wind should be suited to Newmarket’s Cesarewitch Trial.