The Ayr Gold Cup is a 6f handicap race open to horses aged three years or older and is staged at Ayr Racecourse.

The maximum permitted field of 25 is put together from the highest-rated horses entered. Any horses that do not make the race are given the option to run in the consolation races – the Ayr Silver and Bronze Cups.

Since 1980 there have been just three winning favourites of Scotland’s richest handicap race which will make depressing reading for online horse racing favourite backers.

The favourite in 2018, Son Of Rest, dead-heated for first place which gives this year’s market leader a glimmer of hope.

A full complement of runners go to post this Saturday for this feature Scottish sprint race that goes off at 3.40pm (GMT).

Ayr Gold Cup: Trends

• Effect of the draw: 7 winners have had high draws in the past 10 runnings of the race, with one low drawn winners and two middle drawn. Last year’s winner was drawn in stall 24
• Trainers: Kevin Ryan has trained three of the last 10 Ayr Gold Cups winners, and Andrew Balding has trained two of them. Richard Fahey is also dual winner of the race
• Weight: 7 of the last 10 winners have carried between 9st and 9st 10lb. Highland Colori carried 8-13 in 2013, Baron Bolt carried 8-12 in 2018 and Angel Alexander was carrying 8-13 last year.
• Starting Price: The last 10 winners have ranged from 5/1 and 28/1.

Last 10 Ayr Gold Cup Winners:

• 2019 – Angel Alexander (28/1)
• 2018 – Baron Bolt (28/1) & Son Of A Rest (5/1 fav)
• 2017 – Donjuan Triumphant (13/2)
• 2016 – Brando (11/1)
• 2015 – Don’t Touch (6/1 fav)
• 2014 – Louis The Pious (10/1)
• 2013 – Highland Colori (20/1)
• 2012 – Captain Ramius (16/1)
• 2011 – Our Jonathan (11/1)
• 2010 – Redford (14/1)

Here is your runner-by-runner guide to the 2020 Ayr Gold Cup field:

Gulliver (David O’Meara)

Gulliver is one of four runners in the field for David O’Meara and probably the classiest of the quartet. His best finish this season was his fourth in the Wokingham and a reproduction of that would give him a live chance.

Kynren (David Barron)

Often pops up in these big handicaps and could be somewhat of a sleeping giant in this field. He was outclassed behind Space Blues at Haydock, ran mid-division in the Royal Hunt Cup, but this is much more within his sphere.

Major Jumbo (Kevin Ryan)

Has run with plenty of credit this season but is struggling to pluck out a win from somewhere. Likely to finish in the top ten but without winning.

Hey Jonesy (Kevin Ryan)

Won the Wokingham by a nose at Royal Ascot in June but has a profile that makes you think that may be his one and only victory this season.

Lahore (Phillip Makin)

The best horse in Makin’s stable and generally performs well in these type of races.  First run over 6f this season.

Mr Lupton (Richard Fahey)

Finished a close third to Staxton in the Great St. Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon, then bounced back to his best with an impressive win at the Curragh last weekend. Should go close.

Barbill (Mick Channon)

Stable have hit a little purple patch in the last week so may be one to keep an eye on. Ran reasonably well in the Portland last week.

Nahaarr (William Haggas)

Beaten favourite in the Stewards’ Cup but he was right there on the premises and cannot be dismissed lightly here.

Bielsa (Kevin Ryan)

Won his first four races as a 2-y-o but is yet to hit those heights this term. Beaten favourite at Haydock last time out.

Wise Counsel (Clive Cox)

Course winner but has failed to produce any form this season that points to a sudden change of fortune here.

Koropick (Colin Teague)

Off the track for 1093 days. Pick another.

Spanish City (Roger Varian)

Last year's Bunbury Cup runner-up but has been somewhat frustrating this season. Third place in the Wokingham was his best result to date.

Soldier’s Minute (Keith Dalgleish)

A little hit and miss this season but saved his best two runs for York. Disappointing last week in the Portland but is the type to bounce back.

Stone Of Destiny (Andrew Balding)

Won last week’s Portland with plenty to spare and holds a great chance in the betting if he continues in this current vein of form.

Air Raid (Jedd O’Keeffe)

Potential dark horse who looks to be just bubbling under the surface and sits on a nice racing weight.

Another Batt (David Barron)

Course and distance winner who won a nice handicap for his current trainer in August. He could go well again.

Rayong (Karl Burke) 

Youngster with plenty of scope but this will be his greatest task to date.

Young Fire (David O’Meara)

Picked up a 7f handicap at Haydock a fortnight ago on soft going but things will be happening much quicker for him here.

Cold Stare (David O’Meara)

Raised 5lbs for his win at Goodwood last time out and holds a decent outside chance under Paul Mulrennan.

Gabrial The Wire (Richard Fahey)

Chester regular but has only troubled the judge once this term. That was in Scotland however!

Bungee Jump (Grace Harris)

Probably best to keep the elastic band wrapped around the money in your wallet. There will be others days for this one.

Arecibo (David O’Meara) 

One of the most punted on handicappers in the land at the moment but can he finally win again today? Chances are he’ll place again.

Wentworth Falls (Geoffrey Harker)

Fairly unknown trainer to most people which will mean his price with be a little top heavy. Type to sneak in unnoticed under the radar.

Staxton (Tim Easterby)

Winner of the Great St. Wilfrid at Ripon and hails from a stable that is firing on all cylinders at the moment. Has to be a major each-way contender.

Lexington Dash (Richard Hannon)

One of two Middleham Park hopefuls and has to be worth a cautionary look in the market, especially when racing off bottom weight.

Ayr Gold Cup: Expert Pick

A slightly unoriginal choice but the way Mr Lupton won at the Curragh last Sunday leads us to select him as one of our main horse racing tips in the Ayr Gold Cup.

In a race of this nature it’s always good to have a plan-B, so our alternative each-way selection is Jed O’Keeffe’s Air Raid who looks set to run a big race.

888sport suggests: Mr Lupton and Air Raid (e/w).

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark Humphrey / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 17th September 2020

Revelations on the Here We Go podcast suggest a Leeds move is imminent for Rodrigo De Paul, a player who has regularly featured in Leeds United transfer news of late.

Host of the podcast Francesco Porzio claimed he has selected the Udinese midfielder in his team, but respected transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano thinks De Paul will be an option before long.

Romano is adamant De Paul wants the move.

“He also tweeted some days ago to say ‘yes’ to Leeds but then deleted the tweet immediately because the transfer market is not for social media.

"The contract is ready. We can say that personal terms are agreed between De Paul and Leeds. It’s a five-year contract. The player wants to join – he’s ready.”

As has been reported elsewhere, the ball is firmly in Leeds’ court. He isn’t the first journalist to claim the two clubs are struggling to agree a fee for De Paul.

“The real problem, at the moment, is that there is no agreement between Udinese and Leeds. They want €40million (£36.3m) so it is much more complicated because Leeds are offering €25million (£22.7m)."

It’s a question of how much Leeds are willing to pay for De Paul at this stage. If they can agree a fee, it looks like they can land the Argentina international before the window shuts.

Leeds’ PSG Target Set For Move

Leeds were linked with PSG midfielder Julian Draxler recently in a report from RMC Sport.

Thomas Tuchel’s comments on Goal didn’t do anything to calm such rumours with PSG’s manager refusing to rule out a transfer.

Draxler netted a last-minute winner for PSG over Metz this week, but Tuchel was non-committal about whether he will remain at the club.

Asked about Draxler’s future, Tuchel said, “It’s football, we can’t guarantee anything. During the transfer window, we can’t guarantee things because maybe the next day things will be different.”

Tuchel appeared to question Draxler’s consistency in his following comments, which might suggest they’re open to offers for the German international.

“Draxler has quality, for sure. In football, you have to show your qualities every day. It’s important at that level. You have to be ready to suffer, to be present and to be crucial for your team.”

While PSG might entertain bids for Draxler, Leeds would likely still face an uphill battle to convince him to join. Reports have suggested he is very happy in Paris.

If anyone can tempt Draxler to a newly promoted Premier League side, though, it’s Marcelo Bielsa.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Manu Fernandez / AP Photo*