Dixie out to claim the Silver
Chepstow trainer Ron Harris is hoping stepping back up to six furlongs after two solid efforts at the minimum trip can bring about a change of fortune for Golden Dixie at Ayr tomorrow.
The six-year-old goes for the totesport Ayr Silver Cup after being beaten a neck on his last two starts by Green Manalishi at Sandown and Reverence at Doncaster. He is 14-1 with the sponsors.
“He ran a very good race at Doncaster last week but the trip just found him out. We’d been looking to run him over six furlongs before Ayr but could not find a race for him,” said Harris.
“We ran him over five at Sandown where he was just touched off and the same happened over a similar trip at Doncaster.
“He does quicken over five but he’s better over six. I am happy with the draw (23) as I did want a high number and the ground will suit. Our apprentice Mark Savage rides and he’ll take off a useful 3lb.
“Fingers crossed with luck in running he’ll run a good race.”
Drawn next to Golden Dixie in stall 22 is Pomfret Lad, whose trainer John Quinn is grateful his horse has made the cut in a 28-strong maximum field.
“I declared him for the five-furlong race tomorrow as I thought he wouldn’t get in the Silver Cup, but a couple have dropped out and he has, so he will run in the Silver Cup instead,” said Quinn.
“The horse seems really well and I am pleased with him. He’s been running well all season without winning, but is in good nick.
“He seems to go on any sort of ground but with a few showers forecast I would imagine it would be good ground there tomorrow and that will be fine for him.”
Totesport make Ice Planet, one of four David Nicholls’s runners, favourite at 9-2.
The four-year-old had been a leading fancy for Saturday’s Ayr Gold Cup but missed the cut at the 48-hour final declaration stage.
totesport Silver Cup, sponsors bet: 9-2 Ice Planet, 7-1 Mutamared, 10-1 Border Music, 14-1 Golden Dixie, Highland Warrior, Rising Shadow, 16-1 Bo McGinty, Johnston’s Diamond, Roman Maze, 20-1 Machinist, Pomfret Lad, 22-1 King’s Gait, 25-1 bar.
