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ALL eyes will be on the straight track at Ayr this afternoon with the Ayr Gold Cup (3.35) and the consolation Silver Cup (2.25) the main features of the three-day meeting as the sprinters fly down the six-furlong track.

Unlike most years at the track the West of Scotland area has been bright and dry and that seems highly likely to produce ground just on the fast side of good, going that many of the connections with entry would not have been expecting.

I tipped up Mostabshir to land the Stewards Cup last time out, and this talented charge kept on strongly in the closing stages following a somewhat ragged start to finish, a never nearer one-and-three-quarter-length fourth of 25 behind Get In.

Set to race off a 1lb lower mark here (rated 100) he looks a huge danger to all if he gets the run of the race from off the pace. I shall be having a saver on the John and Thady Gosden charge now that the stable are finally hitting a bit of form following a disappointing season with a top price of 14/1 very acceptable.

However, my main bet on this valuable handicap will be on FIVETHOUSANDTOONE trained by Andrew Balding. Ninth on this race in 2021 of a mark of 101, the six-year-old returned a year later and finished 12th beaten some five and a quarter lengths off a rating of 96. Since then the selection has won twice off 95 and 98, both on the all-weather, with his best run coming behind subsequent Haydock Park Sprint winner Montassib at Newcastle in the Group Three Chipchase Stakes.

You could readily argue he is a better horse on a synthetic surface, but he hasn’t been best drawn in his two previous outings here. However, back down to a mark of 99, I think he has strong claims as long as the draw plays in his favour. Best of the rest could come from Billyjohh who has run well in a number of the top six and seven furlong handicaps through the season and certainly deserves a gold medal and the big outsider, Coachello, who has finally been given a chance by the handicapper and drawn in 16 his jockey Callum Rodriguez will have the choice to race on the stands’ side or join the group on the far side of the track.

The Silver Cup may go to the Gold Cup winner from 2022, SUMMERGHAND, who looked a shade unlucky last time out in a valuable sprint at the Curragh when running on strongly close home to finish a closing sixth of the 25 runners behind My Mate Alfie.

Assured of a fast pace and down in grade here, even at the age of 10 he still has the get up and go to teach his younger rivals a lesson mate on and can take care of the likes of the well handicapped pair Rhythm N Hooves (good second at Windsor last time out) and Admiral D.

The last named was third in this race behind Wobwobwob last year off a mark of 85 and now is set to race off 84 and comes here a relatively fresh horse compared to his 23 rivals. Bottom weight Be Proud may sneak into the top six, most bookmakers are offering enhanced each-way terms, for the in form Jim Goldie.

The percentage call in the end of meeting seven-furlong handicap at 4.10 has to be AL MUQDAD. David O’Meara’s charge will have his perfect set-up here over seven furlongs on fast ground and his form figures at the track read 311 off marks of 71, 77 and 77.

He still looks nicely weighted off a rating of 81 and as long as there is pace in the race and he remains in good form, then I can readily see him picking off his rivals one by one and beating the likes of Judgement Call and three-year-old filly Tierney. The last named ran well below form at Newcastle last time out, but on her previous efforts at Leicester and Carlisle (Listed race) she is certainly worth a second look here.

The opening one-mile handicap at 1.50 looks a bettable event and at first glance my eyes were drawn towards Padishakh who before coming over here actually ran behind the likes of Big Rock and Ace Impact (French Derby) for Jean Claude-Rouget.

Since coming over to the UK and joining David O’Meara he has been very disappointing, but finally showed some kind of form off a mark of 94 when a running on fourth at Ripon. I am slightly concerned though about the drying ground so will have a saver on him behind STONE SOLDIER. The selection would also ideally want more juice in the turf but has run well on top the ground before and is thrown in here on some of his old form.

Chester still hasn’t fully recovered from the rains of two weeks ago and the ground remains on the soft side of good there. That should certainly aid Count D’Orsay who didn’t stay six furlongs last week. However, he has a horrible draw in stall 10 and is passed over in favour of bottom weight CANARIA QUEEN (3.40). She had a far from clear run last time out at Hamilton and although this is a tougher race the filly has a lovely sit in stall seven and can make her winning run off the home turn.

Later on, VINTAGE CLARETS (4.15) can make up for a lifeless run in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster by beating old stalwart Copper Knight, while GOOLOOGONG looks an each-way play in the staying event at 4.45 after bouncing back to form on his favoured soft ground at Goodwood.

There is going to be some give in the ground at Newbury where showers are forecast through the day, and I particularly like the Charlie Johnston trained KNIGHTSWOOD in the one-and-a-quarter-mile handicap at 2.05. He has been so consistent this season that the assessor has found it difficult to drop him, and this looks a real chance for him to finally strike gold for the first time since June 2023.

BOLSTER could go a long way to defying top weight in the Handicap at 2.40, while over at Newmarket the best bet on the card could come in the form of NEW HEIGHTS (5.05) in the amateur riders Cambridgeshire under James Harding.