DANNY WALKS ON AYR AT LAST
Tudhope first Scots jockey to win Gold Cup in 50 years
SCOTTISH jockey Daniel Tudhope toasted a home success to remember as Summerghand swooped late to win the Ayr Gold Cup yesterday.
Born in nearby Irvine, Tudhope produced veteran eight-year-old Summerghand (12-1) with his trademark late run to pick up runner-up Commanche Falls (10-1) and win by a length. The 36-year-old jockey was the first from Scotland to lift the Ayr Gold Cup in 50 years.
‘He’s an absolute star,’ Tudhope said of Summerghand, who has won most of the valuable sprint handicaps Britain has to offer and claimed his 15th victory in his long and lucrative career.
‘Each year he provides you with lovely winners and he’s done it again. (Trainer) David (O’Meara) has done so well in big handicaps this year and he loves to target them.
‘It’s unusual we get quicker ground here today but he thrived on it. I had a feeling he’d run a big race. He needs a bit of luck in running, but that’s the way he likes to be ridden. Once you get it right, he’ll deliver the goods.’
Tudhope, whose notable wins as a jockey came in the Arlington Million in America on Mondaliste in 2016 and a Queen Anne Stakes success on Lord Glitters in 2019 has enjoyed a brilliant time as stable jockey to O’Meara.
Trainer O’Meara was picking up his second Ayr Gold Cup success to add to Louis The Pious’ victory in 2014 and he told ITV Racing: ‘He’s been with me a long time and he’s an old legend, isn’t he?
‘He’s run here a good few times and hit the woodwork a fair bit. He’s an absolute legend.
‘Liam Heard rides him out every day and I don’t really gallop him. Like a lot of these good sprinters, they don’t need a lot of work.
‘He runs quite frequently and sort of looks after
himself. He loves the game and it was a great ride by Danny. I think they were saying it has been over 50 years since a Scottish jockey has won this race.’
The Michael Dods-trained and Connor Beasleyridden second Commanche Falls put up a valiant effort off top weight, with Juan Les Pins in third for trainer Mick Appleby.
In the keenly contested six-furlong dash, the richest flat race of the year in Scotland, Summerghand surged in the final furlong to triumph by a length.
Commanche Falls came in at 10-1, with Juan Les Pins at 28-1.
Last year’s winner Bielsa, who was aiming to become the first back-to-back winner of the race, finished down the 24-runner field.
Outsider Lucky Man finished fourth, while the well-fancied Mr Wagyu was fifth.
Khanjar, the well-backed 9-2 favourite, failed to land a blow and finished a disappointing 20th of the 24 runners. Elsewhere on the card at Ayr, Royal Champion finally made his mark with an impressive display to land the Virgin Bet Doonside Cup Stakes.
The Jack Mitchell-ridden four-year-old beat Euchen Glen by five-and-a-half lengths.
Always held in high regard by trainer Roger Varian, who enjoyed a remarkable 34,838-1 seven-timer yesterday across three meetings. Royal Champion was winning for the second time this year, having also struck in handicap company at Epsom on Oaks day.
Varian was soon in the winner’s enclosure once again when Dusky Lord took the Virgin Bet Ayr Silver Cup Handicap in clear-cut fashion to give both the handler and Mitchell a double north of the border.
The four-year-old, who has threatened to land a big sprint handicap this summer, hit the front and went clear inside the final furlong to record a three-length success at 14-1.