Jack faces Ayr wait

Hughie Morrison is pessimistic about Intrepid Jack’s chances of making the cut for next month’s totesport Ayr Gold Cup.

The lightly-raced three-year-old put in an eyecatching performance from a poor draw in last Saturday’s William Hill Trophy at York, finishing just a neck behind the winner Tax Free.

That run made him a leading candidate for the six-furlong cavalry charge on September 17 and he is as short as 8-1 with Ladbrokes and 10s with the sponsors.

However, Intrepid Jack has a current handicap mark of 90 and there are 22 horses rated 100 and over, so he may struggle to get in.

Morrison said: “The horse is fine after the race and is in the Ayr Gold Cup. I suspect he won’t get in though, as he looks to be a long way down the line.

“I saw he was put up at about 10-1 which probably isn’t a good bet considering where he is in the line.”

Jockey Steve Drowne dropped his whip inside the final furlong on the Knavesmire but Morrison is philosophical about the outcome.

“You win some, you lose some I suppose,” he said.

“If he had been drawn in stall eight and had some cover, it wouldn’t be an issue but he ran a very good race.”