COURAGEOUS CALL SEES BIELSA SNATCH AYR GOLD CUP HONOURS
A BRAVE ride from Kevin Stott enabled Bielsa to secure big-race honours in the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup in front of a crowd of 12,000.
It looked like the Kevin Ryantrained 15-2 shot would have his work cut out drawn highest of all in stall 25, with results across the meeting suggesting a low draw was favourable as the biggest crowd in Scottish racecourse post-pandemic soaked in the action.
As the stalls opened, the majority of the field split into two groups, with several horses racing on the far side of the track and another batch going down the middle. But Bielsa ploughed a lone furrow against the stands’ side rail, which ultimately proved a masterstroke as he finished two-and-a-quarter lengths clear of 3-1 favourite Great Ambassador.
Ryan, winning the Ayr Gold Cup for a fifth time, said: ‘I spoke to Alistair Donald (racing manager for winning owners King Power Racing) this morning and said “we’re on the rail, it’s fresh ground, and he likes to go that way anyway”.
‘It’s great to train a winner like this for King Power. They’ve been very patient with this horse.’