One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch on Saturday

Trainer

Clive Cox has his runners in great form with the yard operating at a 26 per cent strike-rate in the past fortnight.

The Lambourn stable is set to be busy on Saturday with seven runners – six of who are competing at his local track at Newbury.

Cox has won the Mill Reef Stakes (2.50) twice in the last six years with Harry Angel (2016) and Wings Of War (2021). He relies on Salisbury winner Heroism this time, while he is doubly represented in the Group 3 World Trophy Stakes (2.15) with Tis Marvellous and Diligent Harry.

Classic Speed (1.10), Mille Miglia (4.35) and Ascot Adventure (5.10) complete Cox's busy afternoon at Newbury, but he also has a strong contender at Ayr when Bonny Angel runs in the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Fillies' Stakes (3.05).

Jockey

Kevin Stott won last year's Ayr Gold Cup on Bielsa and could be the man to follow again on the track's biggest Flat raceday.

He combines with Bielsa again in the feature (3.40) off just a 1lb higher mark than for their win 12 months ago, but before that he has four chances with Persuasion (1.20), Dark Moon Rising (1.55), Full Authority in the Silver Cup (2.30) and Bonny Angel (3.05).

Stott, who kicked off the three-day meeting with back-to-back winners on Thursday, could potentially be the punters pal at Ayr once more.

Horse

Roger Varian is another trainer in flying form and has a great chance of landing more big Saturday success with Sakheer.

Representing the Leger-winning team of Varian, David Egan and owners KHK Racing Ltd, the son of Zoffany is favourite to win the Mill Reef (2.50) after building on a promising Windsor debut with a stylish win at Haydock.

That performance earned him a Racing Post Rating of 97 and though it leaves him something to find with Shouldvebeenaring (RPR 105 last time), further improvement is clearly expected.

Race

The Ayr Gold Cup (3.40) will be a typically fast and furious feature on Saturday, with a maximum field of 25 runners set to go to post for the £150,000 heritage handicap.

Bielsa will bid to become the first back-to-back winner of the race since Heronslea (1930, 1931), while there is plenty of big-field sprint experience among the opposition including two-time Stewards' Cup winner Commanche Falls, Mr Wagyu and York winners Summerghand and Bergerac.

The earlier Silver Cup may offer some clues regarding any draw bias, but it will still prove a devilishly tricky puzzle for punters to decipher.

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