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

Trainer

Michael Dods highlighted his current good form by striking with 14-1 shot Northern Express at Ayr on Thursday as well as landing a valuable prize at Pontefract with Gale Force Maya and the County Durham-based trainer saddles seven runners on Saturday.

Dods is three winners away from a half-century this term and could feasibly reach that milestone over the weekend with course winner Vaccine (1.20), Woven (2.30) and Challet (4.15) all providing solid options in handicaps at Ayr.

Michael Dods could bring up 50 winners for the season with a number of strong chancesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Dods's strongest chances include Stewards' Cup and course-and-distance winner Commanche Falls in the feature Ayr Gold Cup (3.40), where he is also represented by Pendleton.

Meanwhile, Blackrod leads the market in the Ayr Silver Cup (2.30) as he bids to follow up wins at Newmarket and York in his bid for a hat-trick.

Jockey

Kevin Stott has already combined with Kevin Ryan for a winner at Ayr having struck on Thursday with Ventura Rascal and the Danish-born jockey has a strong book of rides for the trainer again.

Stott's five rides all have live chances, beginning with the Sheikh Mohmmed Obaid Al Maktoum-owned King Of York in the mile nursery (1.20).

Juan Elcano leads the market for the same connections in the Listed Doonside Cup (1.55) with Magical Spirit also prominent in the market as he bids for a repeat success in the Ayr Silver Cup (2.30).

Debut winner Hala Hala Athmani could be a smart prospect in the Group 3 Firth of Clyde Fillies' Stakes (3.05), while the King Power-owned Bielsa in the feature £150,000 Ayr Gold Cup (3.40) completes his rides on a day where Stott is unlikely to leave Scotland empty-handed.

Horse

All eyes will be on the Shadwell-owned Al Aasy, who makes his first start in over three months and more importantly since a gelding operation in the Legacy Cup (2.50) at Newbury.

The William Haggas-trained four-year-old began the year by taking a pair of Group 3s at the track, but was a beaten favourite in the Group 1 Coronation Cup by Pyledriver and Sir Ron Priestley in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Tattersalls Stakes, both by the margin of a neck.

Al Aasy (blue) returns for the first time since being gelded and beaten by Sir Ron Priestley (red)Credit: Edward Whitaker

It is hoped that the return to Newbury, as well as the gelding operation and the return to Group 3 company, can see Al Aasy, who is likely to start as favourite once again, get back to winning ways.

Race

Although the Ayr Gold Cup (3.40) represents a large field of seasoned handicappers competing for a valuable prize, the £75,000 Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes (4.00) offers the opportunity to see two-year-olds at different stages of their early careers.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Dhabab is an intriguing contender having finished third behind subsequent impressive National Stakes winner Native Trail in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in July.

Read more:

Who made the cut? Confirmed runners and riders for Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup

'I'll just keep going' – William Buick narrows gap on Murphy to six after treble

Shadwell to sell 'substantial' number of horses as part of restructuring

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