Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Ayr Gold Cup Day best bets

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews ITV action from Ayr and Newbury

Saturday, Ayr

THUNDER ROAR can take the TV opener at Ayr on Gold Cup day (1.15). Very capable with lots of cut in the ground, he gave strong notice of an imminent return to the winners’ enclosure in a warm race at Ascot last time. This is his time of year, and he looks nicely treated at a venue where he has gone very well in the past.

ALMERIC looked a proper prospect when pulling clear with King of Cities in the Fielden at the start of the season, and it’s good to see him back in the Doonside Cup (1.50). Missing the dry summer may be a blessing in disguise, and he can pick up the winning thread for a stable that continues to enjoy fine Saturdays.

ROUSING ENCORE is the pick in the Silver Cup (2.25). Now back to his last winning mark, he has shown some of his best form in two spins at this track, and he acts fine in the mud. The draw looks fairly favourable, and he responded quite well to the cheekpieces last time.

DANDANA is taken to win the Firth of Clyde (3.00). Her Lowther fourth is just about the best form on offer here, and this slightly sterner test ought to suit her well. Although hard to assess, the South African dam had plenty of form on soft, which gives some cause for optimism that she’ll cope with the surface, and she looks well drawn.

DESERT FALCON could be the answer to the Ayr Gold Cup (3.35). While I fear Northern Ticker greatly, and feel he could be showing up in all the top sprints next year, there is a suspicion that he might be too quick for what is likely to be a relatively testing six. As such, Julie Camacho’s gelding is favoured on the basis of plenty of form over further, and an excellent effort on rain softened ground at Doncaster.

Saturday, Newbury

MONTASSIB can make his class tell on his belated reappearance at Newbury (1.30). He’s a fair price because this appears to be a little sharp for him, but he’ll have plenty of pace to run at and ground that he likes. Fundamentally, he’s better than these, and I’ll risk his readiness on the basis of his odds at the time of writing.

MASTER BUILDER can bounce back in a tough staying handicap (2.05). The stable is going okay at the moment, and this horse signalled a bit of a revival at Haydock the other day. He wants plenty of cut, and the track should suit.

ALMOSH’HER gets another chance in the ten furlong handicap (2.40). He’s been a bit disappointing the last twice, but he takes a marked drop in trip, and gets Jamie Spencer, who will curb his free going tendencies if anyone can. There’s plenty of pace for him to be buried away and come late, and the talent is still there if he can settle.

INTO THE SKY is taken to build on his striking debut in the Mill Reef (3.15). This might not be the strongest edition of the race, and the selection was really devastating here first time. Wary of a possible fluke, I dug hard into that performance, and found that his time, his stride, and the previous form of those in behind all stacked up to suggest this was a stakes performer.