Confirmed runners, riders and draw for the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup

Ger Lyons played down any draw fears for hot favourite Buffer Zone as he looked forward to bidding for Ireland's first outright win in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup.

Only six stalls remained when last Sunday's Curragh winner was pulled out of the hat at Thursday morning's draw for the £200,000 showpiece and connections chose stall 21 from the limited options open to them.

But the four-year-old is 11-2 favourite (from 7) with the sponsors and his trainer is confident that his starting position will not affect the chance of Colin Keane's mount in a race that Irish raider Son Of Rest dead-heated for last year.

"I don't worry about the draw because there's nothing I can do about it and there's plenty of other things to worry about that which I can do something about," Lyons said.

"In my opinion Colin Keane is the best in the business at the gate and I'm sure that will cancel out any negatives."

Ayr Gold Cup card

Fellow market principal Summerghand, priced at 10-1 with William Hill, is one of five runners for David O'Meara and has been drawn in stall 13.

Colin Keane: rides Ayr Gold Cup favourite Buffer ZoneCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Meara also runs 8-1 second favourite Gulliver (stall nine), Arecibo (stall 17), Cold Stare (stall 11) and Intisaab (stall 7).

Intisaab is ridden by 7lb claimer Angus Villiers, while it could also be a big day for apprentice Zak Wheatley, who takes the same allowance off Justanotherbottle.

What is the significance of the draw?

A quick look at the history of the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup tells you that one side of the draw tends to dominate each year, but which side it turns out to be can vary from season to season.

Six of the last ten winners were drawn in double-figures but Our Jonathan came from stall 12 to race on the far side of the track when landing the race in 2011 and it’s hard to make any firm judgements either way.

Louie De Palma was one of the earliest out of the hat in the draw and once his connections opted for stall ten there were plenty who wanted to congregate around the confirmed front-runner who looks sure to go a decent pace.

However, I’m a firm believer that it will be the side which runs the more efficient race, rather than the side which goes the fastest early on, that will prevail and that is anyone’s guess at this stage.
Graeme Rodway

Kevin Ryan has won the race four times and saddles Hey Jonesy and Major Jumbo. Three of the last eight winners have been drawn in stall eight, which will be occupied by Hey Jonesy.

Ryan said: "We run two nice horses in a tough race that has been very lucky for me. We've freshened Hey Jonesy up and targeted this race. He's in great form and I'm hopeful he'll run a big race.

"The drying ground is a concern for Major Jumbo but he's fresh and well and I'm happy with him."

Donjuan Triumphant, who won the Ayr Gold Cup replacement race in 2017, Danzeno and Urban Beat were among those not declared on Thursday morning.

The Clive Cox-trained Louie De Palma was the last entry to make the cut.

Thursday's opening day of the meeting took place on ground described officially as good, good to soft on places but conditions are expected to dry out by Saturday.

"It will be 20C tomorrow and 22C on Saturday and it could be good, good to firm in places then," said clerk of the course Graeme Anderson.

Confirmed runners and riders

1 Mr Lupton (1) Sean Davis 3lb
2 Major Jumbo (20) Tom Eaves
3 Bacchus (25) Colm O'Donoghue
4 Buffer Zone (21) Colin Keane
5 Laugh A Minute (5) Rossa Ryan
6 Hey Jonesy (8) Kevin Stott
7 Summerghand (13) David Nolan
8 Gunmetal (23) Oisin Murphy
9 Justanotherbottle (2) Zak Wheatley 7lb
10 Air Raid (14) Jack Garritty
11 Merhoob (12) Ben Curtis
12 Intisaab (7) Angus Villiers 7lb
13 Stone Of Destiny (22) P J McDonald
14 Angel Alexander (24) Richard Kingscote
15 Good Effort (15) Paul Mulrennan
16 Gulliver (9) Jason Hart
17 Arecibo (17) Daniel Tudhope
18 Cold Stare (11) Robbie Downey
19 Staxton (4) David Allan
20 George Bowen (19) Paul Hanagan
21 Soldier's Minute (3) Joe Fanning
22 Barbill (6) Nathan Evans
23 Growl (18) Tony Hamilton
24 Embour (16) Paddy Mathers
25 Louie De Palma (10) Hector Crouch

William Hill betting
11-2 Buffer Zone, 8 Gulliver, 11 Summerghand, 12 Arecibo, 16 Major Jumbo, Mr Lupton, 20 Intisaab, Justanotherbottle, Cold Stare, Laugh A Minute, Gunmetal, Good Effort, Air Raid, 25-1 bar

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