Officials are “hopeful” the Ayr Gold Cup – one of the big betting races of the year – will take place on Saturday after being forced to abandon Thursday’s meeting at the track because of waterlogging.
The eight-race card would have featured the Doonside Cup but officials found part of the track waterlogged after the course was hit by 15mm of rain in 24 hours.
The clerk of the course, Graeme Anderson, said: “We were expecting the amount of rain we had but we weren’t expecting it would do this to the track. We’ve walked the entire track and it’s absolutely fine in the back straight but when you get to the two-and-a-half-furlong mark there’s a patch of ground that is false and muddy.
“I’m not even 80% happy we could race on it. I’m not thinking about the next two days in coming to this decision, I’m just not comfortable it would be safe for the horses and jockeys and we won’t take any risks.”
Friday’s card is subject to an 8am inspection but Anderson is hopeful racing will go ahead. “We’ll work on this patch of ground today and the forecast is a lot better going forward,” he added. “We’re forecast one or two showers tonight but that should amount to only two millimetres, so hopefully we’ll be fine.”
The clerk of the course confirmed talks were taking place with the British Horseracing Authority about whether the Doonside Cup could be saved and moved to another day.
The loss of the meeting at Ayr will switch the focus on Thursday to Yarmouth, where Ryan Moore looks set for a profitable afternoon. The well-bred, Sir Michael Stoute-trained Forever In Love (3.00), who has proven form on soft ground and should improve with racing, looks very fairly handicapped off bottom weight in the Parkdean Resorts Nursery.
Moore also has good prospects on board Desert Cross (3.35), a Flat runner from the prominent jumps trainer Jonjo O’Neill. The selection, who is only 3lb higher than his latest winning mark, won with something in hand last time out at Bath and the booking of Moore catches the eye.
At Chelmsford’s evening fixture the unexposed Regal Gait (6.15), who has course and distance-winning form, can complete his hat-trick at the track in the Bill Ives Memorial Handicap.
Thursday’s tips
Chelmsford 5.45 Awsaaf 6.15 Regal Gait (nb) 6.45 Vote 7.15 Blue On Blue 7.45 Enigmatic 8.15 Belgravian 8.45 Diptych 9.15 Bicolour
Pontefract 2.20 Militia 2.50 Mushaireb 3.25 Ludorum 4.00 Tirania 4.30 Transpennine Star 5.05 Misscarlett 5.35 My Girl Maisie
Yarmouth 2.00 Gabr 2.30 Flying Sparkle 3.00 Forever In Love 3.35 Desert Cross 4.10 William Hunter 4.40 Vernatti 5.15 Mazyoun 5.50 Big Tour
