Get your glad rags on, it’s the start of one of Scotland’s biggest racing festivals of the year and there’s some quality racing on offer over the next three days.
We begin with a quick list of Thursday’s tips from the eight-race card at Ayr, and we’ve pulled out some reasons for why we’ve picked our selections further down the page.
Don’t forget to check out the full racecard, results and live odds in Planet Sport’s racing live centre.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article’s first publication)
13:42 (Ayr) Jorge Alvares
14:12 (Ayr) Methgal
14:42 (Ayr) Frank The Spark
15:12 (Ayr) Eternal Sunshine
15:42 (Ayr) Pol Roger
16:15 (Ayr) Cheshire Dancer
16:48 (Ayr) Never Better
17:23 (Ayr) Profiteer
Jorge Alvares can get off the mark in division one of the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.
Trained by Kevin Ryan, the son of Cotai Glory has run four times and has been in the picture each time.
His most recent effort was in the highly competitive and valuable Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes at York, where he was the fourth-placed horse when beaten a length and a quarter at 18/1.
Now stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time, he can build on the promise shown on the Knavesmire to claim a first career success. Catalyse, not seen since the Coventry at Royal Ascot, is the danger on his return.
Methgal was not disgraced at Goodwood finishing sixth tackling a higher graded seven maiden.
Open to plenty of progress up in trip and down in class, so can get among the places in the Western House Hotel Ebf Novice Stakes.
Frank the Spark bids for a hat-trick following a neck success among this company at Beverley tackling a five furlong handicap.
Ticks plenty of boxes and will be a leading contender in Brandinghub For Signs & Graphics Handicap.
Eternal Sunshine can continue an excellent run with victory in division two of the five-furlong Brandinghub For Signs & Graphics Handicap.
The Jim Goldie-trained filly has been the model of consistency throughout the summer, placing first or second in her past six runs with two wins at Ayr in amongst her efforts.
She has stepped back down to five furlongs of late after a handful of successful runs over six and seems to be equally effective over both, making her the one to watch for an in-form stable.
Another consistent sort is Michael Dods’ Pol Roger, who can prevail in the Livescore Bet Kilkerran Handicap over a mile and a quarter.
The gelding hit a real run of form when never coming home out of the top two in six runs from May to August, with a step up in trip to a mile and a half seeing him beaten into third place last time out Thirsk.
Now back at 10 furlongs he should take a bit of beating under Connor Beasley.
Dancingwithmyself bids for a hat-trick following a victory contesting a 1m4f handicap at Ripon and has another big chance in the British Stallion Studs Scottish Premier Series Ebf Fillies’ Handicap.
Never Better brings a promising profile with a Kempton seven furlong success preceding a pair of placings including a good third over 1m at Newbury.
Having James Doyle in the saddle too, piques the interest.
Half Moon Rising will be a leading player and brings strong form after a pair of victories including a 5.5L success in a seven furlong handicap last week at Catterick.
