TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

15:50 Ayr – Ayr Gold Cup

This annual cavalry charge takes place in Scotland once a year. One of the most notorious sprint handicaps in the racing calendar and it goes by the name of The Ayr Gold Cup.

The Irish invader Buffer Zone looks the most likely favourite and after winning a similar contest in his native Ireland at the Curragh showed he is more than capable. The downside however is the 8lbs hike in weight which, in what looks a better quality contest, may be too much to overcome.

Trainer David O’Meara has a hatful of entries and as such has a great chance of claiming success for his yard. Of the five horses he’s set to saddle three of them fill the current top four spots in the betting. The strongest of his quintet, based on the jockey bookings, looks to be Arecibo who has been ultra consistent recently without getting his head in front and personally feel he’s likely to finish in the money once again.

A staggering 215 years since it was first run back in 1804 and I’m siding with a horse who is trained by a trainer who has claimed the race on a handful of occasions before. Richard Fahey is a name that cannot be readily ignored when it comes to major sprint handicaps in the North and is set to saddle 7 year old George Bowen. He’s had a pretty poor season so far however there’s a few key elements that point towards an upturn in fortune. The fact that top jockey Paul Hanagan is booked for the ride bodes well, as does the fact he’s finished 2nd in the Ayr Silver Cup previously. He’s got decent course form and now has a total of 6lbs less weight to carry than when previously victorious which also aids his chances. He’s an outsider that is far from at his best but despite this he seems worth punting in this big runner field.

GEORGE BOWEN (E/W)

ITV Racing:

13:45 Newbury – Judicial (WIN)

14:00 Ayr – Club Wexford (E/W)

14:20 Newbury – Waldstern (WIN)

14:40 Ayr – Get Knotted (E/W)

14:55 Newbury – Pierre Lapin (WIN)

15:15 Ayr – Lambeth Walk (WIN)

15:30 Newbury – Forest Of Dean (WIN)

15:50 Ayr – (See Above)