Stalwart Aberama Gold weighted to reverse Ayr form with Mythical Phoenix - analysis and trainer quotes for sprint handicap

The key piece of form to solving this tight-knit puzzle is potentially last year's Ayr Gold Cup Trial Handicap in which Mythical Phoenix finished a short-head second to Alfa Kellenic, with Aberama Gold third and The Caltonian fourth.

Aberama Gold renews rivalry with Mythical Phoenix on 9lb better terms, and this dual course-and-distance winner lines up in decent heart after a creditable fourth to Sir Garfield at Hamilton on Tuesday.

His rider Danny Tudhope has an excellent 43 per cent strike-rate at Ayr this season, with nine winners from 21 mounts.

The Caltonian has failed to fire in three runs on turf this summer and would need to take a big step forward on recent form to trouble the judge.

Jim Goldie's pair Kelpie Grey and Yaaser are arguably more effective over different trips. The former has been operating with credit over a mile lately, while Yaaser, although perfectly capable over this distance, also seems best at a mile coming from well off the pace in a big field.

Sacred Falls appears to have lost the high cruising speed which served her well last season, but Pianoforte is interesting now he makes his handicap debut for new connections.

A winner for Andrew Balding at Bath in June, he was sold for 21,000gns last month and it is possible to argue he is fairly treated on a Catterick second to the now 90-rated Wicket Keeper, who clearly underperformed behind Almeraq on his own handicap debut at Ayr.
Analysis by Richard Birch

Going latest

A sweltering week by Ayrshire standards has resulted in good to firm, good in places conditions for Monday's evening card. 

"The weather's been really nice. It's 24C now and should be about 25C for raceday," clerk of the course Graeme Anderson said on Sunday afternoon.

"We've had no rain at all since a week last Sunday, so we're watering at the moment and hopefully we'll be able to maintain conditions at good to firm, good in places. Watering will continue throughout the night before racing and we'll see where we are in the morning." 

What they say

David O'Meara, trainer of Aberama Gold
He's been in really good form and ran well at Hamilton recently. His win at York last month was great, but he'd prefer a little more cut in the ground than he might get here. We've just not had the weather to suit this summer, but he keeps performing.

Michael Dods, trainer of Taygar
She likes the track but it might just be a bit too firm for her; hopefully it's not too bad. She's tricky, but Ayr seems to suit her well and she's unbeaten in two starts there.

Katie Scott, trainer of Sacred Falls
She's been really consistent but the handicapper hasn't given her much of a chance. She's been stuck on the same sort of mark for a couple of years now. She always runs her race but probably needs things to go her way. She's versatile when it comes to ground and she was first and second on her only two runs at the track, so the course definitely suits her.
Reporting by Catherine Macrae

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