Nicholls can Parade Gold Cup again

LOOKING ahead to today’s intriguing renewal of the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup, James Fanshawe hammered the nail on the head when he admitted: “In these big sprints you need a lot of luck even if you have got the best horse in the race.”

Statistically, he doesn’t have the best horse in the race – that would be, on handicap ratings, Majestic Myles – but he, like about a dozen or so other trainers, has a real chance today.

Finding the Gold Cup winner is as difficult as it gets, but one man who has a happy knack of knowing what it takes is David “Dandy” Nicholls and perhaps the key to success again lies with him, and 2008 winner Regal Parade, ridden by his son Adrian.

Nicholls jnr has already won this race twice for his father, but had to settle for runner-up spot on Tajneed three years ago when stablemate Regal Parade came out on top. This time the rider has plumped for Regal Parade over Tajneed because the former has given him many memorable moments in the saddle including two Group 1 victories.

“I’m looking forward to riding him. He’s a dual Group 1 winner back in handicap company,” he said. “I’m very happy with the draw (27), the ground won’t bother him, you just need a little bit of luck. He loves a big field and all the signs are positive.

“If he comes back to any of his form last year, he’d be very hard to beat. Tajneed is another one who loves the ground. He’s as tough as teak. When Regal Parade beat me in this race, Tajneed was one of the favourites and he was 18-1. Regal Parade has done a lot for me which is why I’m keeping the ride on him, but Tajneed has got course form as well and would have a big shout.”

Fanshawe, meanwhile, is hoping Mac’s Power can give him a memorable success at Ayr. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a winner at Ayr, so hopefully we can turn things around,” said Fanshawe. “We came out of the draw fairly early and we decided we were going to go six, eight or ten. Unfortunately all the pace appears to have gone to the stands side. I hope it’s not going to affect us too much. We’ll just see just who is the best judge – Dandy Nicholls or Richard Fahey. One has gone one side and one has gone the other.

David O’Meara is hoping favourite Pepper Lane can maintain her fine form this season with another big run.

The four-year-old has exceeded all expectations this term, wining four of her six starts and rising in the ratings from 74 to a current mark of 103. Her win in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last month was a career best and her trainer has his fingers crossed she can put in a similar performance. He has reservations about the draw (11), but is not too worried as there are a couple of fancied runners in nearby stalls.

“She seems in good form and, hopefully, she can repeat her run in the Great St Wilfrid. It would give her a great chance,” said the North Yorkshire trainer. “We would have preferred to have been drawn nearer one rail or the other, but Mac’s Power and the Irish horse that is fancied a bit (Croisultan) are near to us so that helps. She has surprised us all. Hopefully she will break well and get a clean passage through.”

Croisultan is the sole Irish challenger and Liam McAteer’s five-year-old showed he is in good form when third to Bewitched in a Group 3 race at the Curragh last Sunday.

“He ran really well last time and he needs some ease in the ground,” said McAteer. “If it is drying out then we would want some more rain really. He has won a Listed race and has been placed in Group 3s and I’m happy with the draw (seven), as he’s alongside Mac’s Power and High Standing, who should take him through. I think six furlongs is his best trip and I’ve got my fingers crossed, as he needs a bit of luck.”

Ancient Cross continues to surprise his trainer Mick Easterby and, after another fine effort when fourth to Nocturnal Affair in the Portland at Doncaster last Saturday, the seven-year-old tries again. “He was rated 63 once and now he’s rated 100 – he’s unbelievable,” said Easterby. “I think he’s had five operations, but he’s so honest and he’ll run a big race.”

Richard Fahey has five runners – Majestic Myles (which could well start at a big price), Mayson, Castles In The Air, Kaldoun Kingdom and Brave Prospector – as he seeks a second success in the race. “I went low but that isn’t me taking a solid position saying that I think a low draw will win it,” said the North Yorkshire handler. “I wanted to be either side and we were getting too far away from the high numbers (later in the draw).”

Pastoral Player has been campaigned at distances from five to seven furlongs and one of his best efforts came when he was third to Deacon Blues over this trip.

“Conditions should be fine, but I haven’t really got a clue if his draw (22) will work out,” said his trainer Hughie Morrison. “You can only go into these sort of races with high expectations if you think you have a horse which is 7lb ‘well-in’. He’s probably a bit wrong in the handicap, so I suppose I have no real expectations.”

Marcus Tregoning believes Darajaat will be suited by the fast and furious pace. “Darajaat ran a fine race in Listed company at Pontefract last time,” he said. “She appeared to handle some cut in the ground as a two-year-old and a fast-run six furlongs should be ideal.” And don’t rule out Scotland’s great hope of a home win Hawkeyethenoo – loudly touted for the race last year, before disappointing on the big day. “I think the horse will be better than he was 12 months ago. The lesson we probably learnt from last year is we probably ran him too often,” said trainer Jim Goldie.