Far side group dominates as Music Society lands the Ayr Bronze Cup

They will be on opposing sides in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup but Yorkshire stalwarts Paul Mulrennan and Tim Easterby teamed up to land the Bronze Cup on the eve of the feature race.

Their Music Society was a 20-1 shot for the second consolation race but was always travelling strongly and scored by a decisive length and a quarter.

In a possible hint for punters searching for clues for Saturday's Gold Cup, Music Society emerged from the bigger group on the far side of the track and shot clear in the final furlong, with Highly Sprung snatching second later on.

Upstaging and Dizzy G finished third and fourth in a bunched finish in behind, with the first four home emerging from stalls nine, 13, 12 and seven.

Music Society: was not for catching on the far side of the trackCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The four-year-old has won three times and earned £36,000 since being picked up for just 9,000gns last autumn and Easterby said: "He's been great for us this year. My son William and Rory Bevan bought him at the Newmarket sales last year.

"We had a few little issues with him, the stalls and things, but he's been running to the line lately. I wasn't sure he got six furlongs but he did today."

He was helped in getting the trip by a waiting ride from Mulrennan, who said: "Tim said to me to ride him with lots of confidence, the more I sat quiet on him the more he cruised through the race. It was just a matter of trying not to get there too soon.

"I knew I had it won from a long way down. I've won a Silver Cup and I've won a Bronze Cup – I just need a Gold Cup now!"

Mulrennan will try to fill the gap on Good Effort on Saturday and said: "He fluffed the start last time but he has a good chance if he can reproduce the form of his win at Newmarket two starts back."

Easterby goes for gold with Staxton and said: "He's drawn right with plenty of speed on his side, he's in good form and I'm looking forward to it."

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