Jim Crowley: I’d be disappointed if she doesn’t win this

This is a step up to Group 3 class, but she has earned that rise, and I’m in no doubt she can take the step up in her stride. As a Shadwell home bred, there’s always more satisfaction to be gained from the good ones, and I can see her being a 3-y-o of some note, that’s how highly we rate her. I’d be disappointed if she’s not winning this.

Ayr 3.35 – Orazio

I rode Orazio in the Coral Stewards’ Cup last month, but like so many runners in that race, he got completely stuck in the Goodwood mud. It was so bad that day the meeting was abandoned after the race! Before that he’d run well to finish sixth in the Wokingham.

His trainer Charlie Hills still has plenty of faith in this horse, and so do I. He could still turn out to be a group race performer, so I can see him winning one of these big sprint handicaps if everything falls right. As I commented earlier, we’re in stall 23, with the likes of Mr Wagyu close by us, so there will be early pace, and one major rival, Juan Les Pins, is a non-runner.

At around 8/1 the field, clearly it’s a wide-open race, but my fellow is the current favourite for a reason. I rode in the Coral Scottish Grand National here. I didn’t manage to win that, so it would be great to win Ayr’s greatest flat race!

Ayr 4.10 – City Burglar

Another ride for Ralph Beckett, this time in the Jeff Smith colours. City Burglar has had just the three runs, but has done enough to earn top weight in this nursery handicap. He’s run well on good to soft, and while top weight won’t make life easy, his yard are flying and he wouldn’t be without a chance in a tricky looking contest.

Ayr 4.45 – Old Smoke

I’m on Old Smoke for the first time, and although he’s just got the one win to his name, he’s run consistently all season. Richard Fahey also runs Outrun The Storm, the choice of stable jockey Oisin Orr, but another solid run from Old Smoke could certainly see him involved in the places.

Ayr 5.20 – Vaynor

I end the day on another for Charlie [Hills]. Vaynor won at Thirsk a couple of weeks ago, that was over a mile and a half but he’s won over this longer trip too, so we know he stays well, and that would give him every chance here.

Jim

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