Ayr Races Today: Can Odds-On Tiger Strike Twice on Ladies Day?

Meeting Context

Anyone searching for the Ayr races today gets a proper Saturday night out west of the border: seven races from 17:27 to 20:30 on the Scottish course’s flat, galloping mile-and-a-half oval.

The going is officially Good, Good to Soft in places, and with a couple of millimetres of rain forecast and showers rolling in off the Firth of Clyde, an emphasis on stamina wouldn’t be a shock late on. Draw bias is minimal on this track, though low-drawn, prominent racers are historically favoured over five furlongs.

This meeting is not on ITV — the cameras are at Ascot for the Shergar Cup and Haydock for the Rose of Lancaster — so it’s a Racing TV evening. For the full terrestrial picture, see our ITV racing schedule guide, and for the afternoon action our Ascot Shergar Cup preview and Haydock tips have you covered.

Three non-runners to note already: King Of The Jungle (18:00), Annandale (18:30) and Charencey (20:30). Odds correct at time of writing.

17:27 — A McKie Builders EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (Class 5, 6f)

Ten juveniles open the card in a maiden that has a competitive look at the top of the market.

No.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Form	Odds
1	Beechwood Glory	Mikey Sheehy	John Butler	53	9/4
10	Roman Crystal	Billy Garritty	Michael & David Easterby	6543	10/3
5	Mick’s The Boy	Jake Dickson	Michael & David Easterby	826	7/2
6	Ponte Carlo	Sean Kirrane	Tim Easterby	38635	7/2
4	Lone Striker	Sam James	Phillip Makin	—	11/1
3	Flashing Star	Jason Hart	Mark Walford	66	12/1
9	Black Cuillin	Andrew Mullen	Craig Lidster	444	14/1
7	Redrosecastana	Paul Mulrennan	Christopher Kellett	—	16/1

Plus two others: Coul Blue (22/1) and Unbeatable Fame (70/1).

The Favourites: Beechwood Glory improved sharply from debut to hit the frame at Chepstow and sets the form standard. Roman Crystal has been knocking on the door for the in-form Easterby yard.

The Value: Ponte Carlo at 7/2 has more experience than most and Tim Easterby’s juveniles often come alive at this time of year.

The Verdict: Beechwood Glory to build on that Chepstow third.

18:00 — Sunday Roast At Western House Hotel Handicap (Class 6, 5f)

A dozen sprinters go to post after the withdrawal of in-form King Of The Jungle, which blows this Class 6 dash wide open.

No.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Form	Odds
8	Harry Mole	Dougie Costello	Steph Hollinshead	644-05223	9/4
4	Water Of Leith	Paul Mulrennan	Jim Goldie	14655365	11/2
1	Hi Lord	Barry McHugh	Gary Harrison	78-051373	7/1
3	Harb	Lexie Clarkson	Tristan Davidson	88168304	7/1
6	Midnight Lir	Sean Kirrane	Michael Dods	260-93444	15/2
5	Startling	Jason Hart	John Wainwright	6P-832242	8/1
7	South Parade	Ethan Tindall	Richard & Peter Fahey	00074963	10/1
12	Royal Duke	Shay Farmer	R. Mike Smith	76377565	12/1

Plus four others, including Keep The Gold (16/1) and Supremissy (18/1). Non-runner: King Of The Jungle.

The Favourites: Harry Mole has been placed on three of his last four starts and Dougie Costello’s booking catches the eye for a horse who just needs things to fall right.

The Value: Startling at 8/1 is another serial place-getter, while local handler Jim Goldie knows the time of day with Water Of Leith over this trip.

The Verdict: Harry Mole finally gets his day with the main market rival out.

18:30 — Book Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Ladies Day Handicap (Class 5, 1m2f)

The bet of the night runs in the third. Annandale is a non-runner, leaving 13 to face the starter.

No.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Form	Odds
1	Tiger	Ryan Kavanagh	Ian Williams	7634-6421	10/11
11	Phantom Shadow	Jason Hart	Ewan Whillans	74-823521	6/1
6	Dryburgh	Sam James	Oli Rix	353-73282	13/2
8	Faeberon	Dougie Costello	Simon & Ed Crisford	74-831	7/1
7	Unchartedterritory	Lewis Edmunds	David O’Meara	54-4731	8/1
2	Mr Lincoln	Andrew Mullen	Iain Jardine	028/8623	12/1
4	Geo	Paul Mulrennan	Jim Goldie	91624223	12/1
3	Draupnir	Billy Garritty	Michael & David Easterby	317-35370	16/1

Plus five others, including Pol Roger (18/1) and Path To Peace. Non-runner: Annandale.

The Favourites: Tiger won at Chester last Sunday and turns out again under a penalty for Ian Williams, whose string is flying — the yard even has seven Shergar Cup rides at Ascot this afternoon. Odds-on, but deservedly so.

The Value: Phantom Shadow won over course and distance last time for local trainer Ewan Whillans and is the pick of the each-way alternatives at 6/1.

The Verdict: Tiger is the acca anchor.

19:00 — Unite Ewing Hope’s Happy Retirement Handicap (Class 4, 1m)

The most valuable and most open race on the card, with barely a length between the front six in the market.

No.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Form	Odds
2	Walsingham	Billy Garritty	David O’Meara	10-310805	4/1
1	Theoryofeverything	Jason Hart	David O’Meara	508-05458	4/1
5	Breakdancer	Paul Mulrennan	Simon & Ed Crisford	10-232584	5/1
7	Hale End	Lewis Edmunds	Michael Dods	44122071	5/1
10	Military Leader	Sam James	Phillip Makin	242-11322	11/2
9	Jannas Journey	Lauren Young	Jim Goldie	09784814	13/2
3	Bravais	Ryan Kavanagh	Ian Williams	2027-5000	8/1
4	Milteye	Ethan Tindall	Harriet Bethell	31261-018	12/1

Plus two others: High Point (14/1) and Count Palatine (18/1).

The Favourites: David O’Meara runs two at the head of the market, with Walsingham marginally preferred to stablemate Theoryofeverything. Hale End arrives on the back of a last-time-out win.

The Value: Jannas Journey has won five of her eight starts at Ayr for Jim Goldie — a remarkable strike rate for a 13/2 shot — and won here again earlier this summer.

The Verdict: Jannas Journey each-way; the course queen can outrun her odds again.

19:30 — Christmas Parties At Western House Hotel Handicap (Class 6, 6f)

Thirteen line up in the six-furlong handicap, and one horse dominates the tipping columns.

No.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Form	Odds
1	Mr Cool	Oliver Stammers	Charlie Johnston	56735231	9/4
4	Kelpie Grey	Paul Mulrennan	Jim Goldie	05-658606	9/2
6	Taaklam	Aiden Brookes	Harriet Bethell	7853-3257	6/1
13	Lanarra	Andrew Mullen	R. Mike Smith	7761-2343	8/1
2	Annie Edson Taylor	Sam James	Phillip Makin	1260-4616	17/2
5	Thunderstorm Katie	Lauren Young	Jim Goldie	97222629	9/1
8	Whiskey Kisses	Greg Fairley	R. Mike Smith	23-460933	9/1
11	Ukiyo	Mikey Sheehy	Andrew Kinirons	07202038	9/1

Plus five others, including Impressor (12/1) and Masai Angel (18/1).

The Favourites: Mr Cool won over this course and distance last time for Charlie Johnston and is reportedly the most-tipped horse on the entire card. Kelpie Grey heads a three-strong Goldie battalion.

The Value: Annie Edson Taylor at 17/2 has already won twice this season for Phillip Makin and is better than her latest run suggests.

The Verdict: Mr Cool to follow up — the crowd will be with him.

20:00 — Book The Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Class 5, 7f 50y)

A reminder that the big one — the Ayr Gold Cup itself — is only six weeks away, and this seven-furlong handicap is a typically fierce warm-up act.

No.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Form	Odds
2	Runninsonofagun	Jack Garritty	Tristan Davidson	3-0835132	7/2
10	Milford Grange	Billy Garritty	Michael & David Easterby	3-722268	5/1
6	Sanafi Zabeel	Paul Mulrennan	Jim Goldie	1-5319334	6/1
3	Black Storm	Greg Fairley	Katie Scott	230-44253	13/2
12	Yaaser	Lauren Young	Jim Goldie	99759533	7/1
8	Ubetterseethis	Sam James	Craig Lidster	37723-304	17/2
7	Circle Of Trust	Lewis Edmunds	Kevin Ryan	4652-0921	9/1
9	Stoic Poet	Mikey Sheehy	Iain Jardine	44358-427	10/1

Plus five others, including Highfield Viking (10/1) and Supreme Clarets (11/1).

The Favourites: Runninsonofagun has hit the frame on three of his last four for Tristan Davidson and sets a fair standard. Milford Grange has been running well without winning.

The Value: Yaaser was a highly creditable third at Hamilton just a week ago and 7/1 underestimates his chance for the Goldie yard, which could farm the finish here.

The Verdict: Yaaser each-way to reward the local stable’s persistence.

20:30 — Festive Day Dancing At Ayr Racecourse Classified Stakes (Class 6, 1m2f)

The finale is a classified stakes, and it looks a match on ratings — until you notice the second favourite has come out.

No.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Form	Odds
1	Wicklow Way	Jack Garritty	Mark Walford	0-1099371	2/1
6	Patrick Street	Mikey Sheehy	Andrew Kinirons	300-50915	5/1
10	Flying Moonlight	Sean Kirrane	Sandy Thomson	777-33	5/1
11	Raise The Stakes	Greg Fairley	Ewan Whillans	960-0923	8/1
7	Sassy Glory	Jason Hart	Mark Walford	4-0549210	10/1
3	Falaise Blanc	Jake Dickson	Katie Scott	06824227	18/1
4	Golden Valour	James Sullivan	R. Mike Smith	6-5785365	18/1
12	Resdev Time	Billy Garritty	Michael & David Easterby	55-556367	18/1

Plus four others, including One More Bottle (20/1) and Zebra Star (20/1). Non-runner: Charencey.

The Favourites: Wicklow Way hammered a classified field by over four lengths at Newcastle last week and a quick repeat bid off the same mark makes obvious sense. Charencey’s absence removes his biggest danger.

The Value: Flying Moonlight, third on both starts since joining Sandy Thomson, is open to more improvement than most at 5/1 and any evening rain would not inconvenience him.

The Verdict: Wicklow Way to send the Ladies Day crowd home happy.

Accumulator

Our four-leg Ayr acca: Beechwood Glory (17:27), Tiger (18:30), Mr Cool (19:30) and Wicklow Way (20:30) — a combined price of around 60/1. If you fancy something saner, the Tiger–Wicklow Way double pays close to 9/2.

Racing continues across Britain all evening — see our Redcar tips for more northern action on Saturday’s card.

Please gamble responsibly. 18+, BeGambleAware.org.