Gold Cup-winning team Ryan and Stott make fast start with exciting juveniles

Thursday: Ayr

Last year's Ayr Gold Cup-winning team of trainer Kevin Ryan and jockey Kevin Stott struck immediately 12 months on as they swept the opening two races of the meeting with a pair of hugely promising juveniles.

Chuzzlewit, a 450,000gns buy for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, is highly enough thought of to have run in the Gimcrack Stakes at York last month and the 11-10 favourite took advantage of a drop in class, leading close home for a head win in the 7f novice event.

"I think the world of this horse," Ryan said of the two-year-old. "He relaxed lovely today but he was still green and backward and there is more to come.

"He'll have no problem staying a mile next year. He won't run again until next year, he'll keep progressing and I don't know how good he could be."

Kevin Ryan: 'He'll have no problem staying a mile next year'Credit: David Carr

Hi Royal, owned by Jaber Abdullah, confirmed the promise of his 50-1 debut third in the Convivial Maiden at York as he took the mile novice by two and a half lengths.

"He's always shown a lot of potential, he's a big horse and he could be one for ten furlongs next year," Ryan said.

"Kevin said he couldn't pull him up and he didn't even hit top gear. He picked up very quickly. I need to talk to Mr Abdullah but I'd say he's done enough for this year."

Hi Royal: 'He's always shown a lot of potential, he's a big horse and he could be one for ten furlongs next year'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Ryan will bid for a sixth Ayr Gold Cup success in 15 years on Saturday and said: "This is a great meeting and it's nice to get winners early on.

"I always bring a big team and I'll have 17 or 18 here this week with four in the Gold Cup. I could have run Magical Spirit as well but the ground is drying out too much – and five would be greedy!"

Triple triumph

Tim Easterby won last year's Silver Cup with Staxton and was another to strike early at the meeting this season when Triple Jaye took the 5f handicap in the same Ontoawinner colours.

David Allan's mount had finished fifth in this race in 2021 and her trainer said: "She ran well in this race last year but she was only a three-year-old and she's stronger now."

Staxton himself died earlier this year and Ontoawinner co-founder Simon Bridge said: "We brought the Silver Cup back up this week and it was a sad memory."

Triple Jaye (yellow and white) wins under David AllanCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Luck be a Lady

Easterby's uncle Mick, who won the Gold Cup with Jon George in 1977, and cousin David took the feature 1m2f handicap with Yorkshire Lady, aptly ridden by Jo Mason.

But it was only by a nose the 18-1 shot held off Clifford Lee's mount Mr Alan and the winning jockey admitted: "I thought I was beaten on the line, I said pulling up to Cliff 'you've got me there.'

"That was brilliant, she's such a hardy filly."

Course specialist

Jim Goldie, who will be without a runner in any of the feature sprints due to a mix-up at the confirmation stage, took division one of the mile handicap with Tommy G.

It was the nine-year-old's eighth course success and his trainer said: "He loves it here."

Replays, results and analysis

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