8-1 from 14-1 - money continues to come for Group performer dropping back to handicap in Ayr Gold Cup, plus going updates and non-runners

A Welsh trainer landed Ayr's biggest jumps race, the Scottish National, in April and Abergavenny-based David Evans is looking to take the track's signature Flat prize with Rohaan, who is now closing in on outright favouritism in the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup (3.35).

The dual Wokingham winner, owned by Kieran McCabe and Paul Byrne, has finished no better than sixth in seven starts this season but appears well treated, having dropped to a mark 9lb lower than his previous winning rating. 

He is now 8-1 (from 14) with Paddy Power for the day's big betting heat and is joint-favourite with Significantly, who has been backed in from 10-1.

Rohaan was last seen finishing tenth in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock but he is proven in top six-furlong handicaps and this is his first run in such a race since his 18-1 victory at Royal Ascot last June. He is no bigger than 12-1 to strike for Wales, five months on from the memorable success of the Christian Williams-trained Kitty's Light.

In the same race, Montassib is 12-1 (from 18) for William Haggas and Cieren Fallon. He was last successful at Newmarket in May.

Market movers

Ayr

1.15
Revich 3-1 (from 4)

1.50
Royal Rhyme Evens (from 5-4)

3.00
Navassa Island 100-30 (from 5)

3.35
Rohaan 8-1 (from 14)
Montassib 12-1 (from 18)

Newbury

2.40
Mustazeed 9-2 (from 6)

3.50
Trafalgar Square 7-4 (from 9-4)

Updated at 11.30am

Going update: Newbury goes heavy

The ground at Newbury is heavy, soft in places for its flagship two-year-old race, the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (3.15), following a wet week at the track.

The course was hit by 67mm of rain from Sunday to Wednesday, while further rain arrived on Friday leading to testing conditions.

Clerk of the course Keith Ottesen, who will leave the role to work in Saudi Arabia after this meeting, said the only soft patch was in the final furlong.

He said: "We had 12mm yesterday, 8mm through racing then another 4mm after a very heavy downpour afterwards. It's fairly heavy all over and it doesn't look like it's going to improve throughout the day. 

"The dial was set after we had almost 40mm of rain on Wednesday, which was a lot more than we were anticipating, on top of rain earlier in the week. It should stay dry today with some sunny spells."

The Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup (3.35) will be run on good to soft ground after the track missed rain on Friday afternoon.

"We were forecast rain on Friday but it didn't amount to anything," said clerk of the course Graeme Anderson. "We've left it at good to soft but it's drying and the GoingStick is going slightly back up again, it might dry as the day goes on.

"It'll be nice with sunny spells, going up to 14C or 15C which is slightly warmer than Friday."

Posted at 9.30am

Non-runners: Red Zone Hero out of Mill Reef

Leading Mill Reef (3.15) fancy Red Zone Hero will miss the Group 2 contest after scoping dirty.

The Michael Bell-trained runner was 5-1 having won a nursery by four and a quarter lengths last time on soft ground, and today's testing conditions looked likely to be in his favour.

Outsider Roman Emperor is also out of the race having not eaten up.

Juan Les Pins was taken out of the Ayr Gold Cup (3.35) on Friday night due to the going, while My Prospero is another notable absentee in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Doonside Cup Stakes (1.50).

Ayr

1.15
6 Diamondonthehill (going)

1.50
3 My Prospero (going)

3.35
15 Juan Les Pins (going)

4.45
4 Yaaser (failed to have stalls test)

Newbury

3.15
5 Red Zone Hero (bad scope)
6 Roman Emperor (not eaten up)

5.00
2 Bodorgan (going)
6 Mudskipper (going)
9 King's Code (not sound)

Updated at 11.30am

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