Dave Nevison: my tips for Ayr Gold Cup day

The Gold and Silver Cup double has so far eluded me, but I’m certainly still trying – and at least very hopeful of getting the first leg up on Saturday. 

Bear Force One has yet to hit the frame in four runs for Michael Dods this season, and he definitely did not seem to enjoy himself at Southwell last time when finishing stone last. 

However, his two efforts on turf have been respectable and he is plummeting down the handicap, and it looks as though he could well take advantage soon. He ran a good sixth on his penultimate start and is 5lb lower now. 

Dods has already had a winner at a price at this meeting on Thursday, so his string are in form and it could well be time for Bear Force One to strike.

It very much looks as though Richard Fahey gave Brooklyn Nine Nine a sighter last time over five furlongs and, if so, the trainer must have been very much encouraged by what he saw. 

The four-year-old just got beat by a rapidly-diminishing neck after keeping on very well in the closing stages, while his prior form reads like a catalogue of disasters given he has met plenty of trouble in running or suffered from the run of the race in tactical affairs on more than one occasion. 

There is zero chance that this Silver Cup won’t be run to suit and, as such, this is the chance for Brooklyn Nine Nine to show what he can actually do.  

For me, the interesting thing about this Ayr Gold Cup contender is the fact that connections were happy for him to have a wind operation after winning in July and quite possibly forgo the chance to win decent summer handicaps. 

I go back to when trainer Kevin Ryan ran in one of the best nurseries of the season last year and he acquitted himself very well indeed. He then went on to win an expensive Sales race and was subsequently tried in Listed and Group company.

Room Service was in his first handicap of the season when he won last time out and, on that form, is not far off these. If the wind operation has been a success then he could well improve past some of these. 

Adrian Keatley has not missed a summer highlight – on the Flat or over jumps – with and the trainer certainly deserves to win a good race with his star gelding. 

Kihavah was second last time in the Ebor when running an absolute blinder and, before that, I still think he should have won if his run had been timed better in the valuable handicap hurdle at Market Rasen’s big fixture. 

The seven-year-old is dropped in grade now and, despite his massive burden of 10st 4lb, I’m confident of a good run over a trip that might be just right for him.