Irish raider Nans Best (18-1) showed the way home under Pat Cosgrave in the W&D McCulloch Rail Division Handicap on the first day of the Ayr Gold Cup meeting.

Dandy Nicholls will be five-handed in his bid to win the totesport Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday and he made a flying start to the three-day fixture when Northern Bolt won the opening You Can't Predict FA Maiden Auction Stakes today.

Ginger McCain’s runners have hit a rich vein of form since the turn of the year and the Aintree legend kept up the good work with a 25-1 double thanks to wins from Vicario and West Hill at Sedgefield on Monday.