Weekend trip could pay off once more for in-form Ryan

4.45 Ayr

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Kevin Ryan's trips have paid off in style this month. He landed the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville with Brando and has also had six winners in Scotland in the last fortnight.

So don't expect his Weekend Offender to suffer from travel sickness as he returns to the track where he was beaten just half a length into second place over this trip last month.

The Rebecca Menzies-trained Desert Way won at Doncaster three weeks ago, while Kentuckyconnection was second in the Seaton Delaval Handicap at Newcastle in June.

Keeping it local

Why waste money on travel expenses? Gworn is trained just 15 miles away in Galston and 21 of his 30 races have been at Ayr since he joined Mike Smith. He goes well here too and has won five times, including in this race in 2015.

Maktoum cast-off

Mutamaded is a more recent recruit for Ruth Carr, having been bought for 22,000gns at Newmarket last month after winning one of his two starts in France for Jean-Claude Rouget as a two-year-old, then finishing seventh in a Listed race at Haydock in May for Brian Meehan when owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum.

What they say:

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Weekend Offender

He's in good form, the ground should be fine for him and we're hoping for a big run. He ran well there last time and we're very happy with him.

Bryan Smart, trainer of Kentuckyconnection

There's rain forecast - he'll be fine if the ground is good but he won't run if it's good to soft. I'm very happy with him and I've been crying out for it to stop raining as there has been nothing for him on the all-weather. It looks like he wants a mile and a quarter now and I'm looking forward to it, he could run well.

Ruth Carr, trainer of Mutamaded

We quite like him, we're on a learning curve but he's not disappointed at home so far. He's had a problem, that's why he was buyable at that price, but touch wood everything is good so far with him. This is a nice starting point and the ground should be alright for him.

Rebecca Menzies, trainer of Desert Way

She's in good form. Any rain won't be a problem and I hope she'll handle the track. PJ McDonald, who knows her well, is back on and we're hoping for a good run.

Lucy Normile, trainer of Royal Regent

He goes there with a fighting chance. He's grown up now and he's enjoying his racing and taking it really well. He's in good form and any rain would help him enormously.

Mike Smith, trainer of Gworn

He's definitely as good as ever. There are several with chances but he's in good order, he's done nothing wrong and I don't think he's too high in the handicap - I'm very hopeful. He likes Ayr and there's rain forecast, which won't bother him but may hinder some of the others.