McGrew and Kingdom top Gold charge

Barney McGrew and Kaldoun Kingdom will carry joint-top weight in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday.

All the major ante-post fancies have stood their ground in the valuable six-furlong sprint.

David Barron’s impressive Portland Handicap winner Poet’s Place and his stablemate Hitchens will both carry a penalty. Phillip Makin stays loyal to Poet’s Place with Silvestre de Sousa coming in for the ride on Hitchens.

Roger Charlton’s Genki goes into the race with arguably the best form having finished third in the Group One Haydock Sprint Cup.

Last year’s winner Jimmy Styles has another crack but he does not appear to be in the same heart as 12 months ago.

David Nicholls is normally the man to follow in this race and he has five chances this year.

Stewards’ Cup winner Evens And Odds, Ripon winner Tajneed, Striking Spirit, three-year-old Victoire De Lyphar and Redford, the intended mount of Frankie Dettori.

Jim Goldie’s Hawkeyethenoo will give the home crowd something to cheer while the likes of Knot In Wood, Rileyskeepingfaith, Damika and the sole Irish raider Partner are others among the 27 to note.