Top sprinters head record entry for Ayr Gold Cup

A RECORD 241 horses, headed by a host of quality sprinters including Mick Easterby’s Hoof It, have been entered for the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup on 17 September.

Recent York winner Doncaster Rover from the David Brown yard is also entered, along with the Richard Fahey pair Majestic Myles and Mayson and Jim Goldie’s Hawkeyethenoo.

The final 27-runner field should ooze class as David Nicholls, who has saddled six winners from the past 11 runnings of the race including last year’s victor Redford, has 28 entries and there are also previous winners entered in Advanced (2007), Regal Parade (2008) and Jimmy Styles (2009).

Sponsors William Hill have the James Fanshawe trained Macs Power as 12-1 favourite with Hoof It, David O’Meara’s Pepper Lane and Kanaaf from Ed Dunlop’s yard all at 14-1. Jockeys expected to saddle up include Frankie Dettori, successful in 2009 on Jimm Styles and on Redford last year, current champion jockey Paul Hanagan, Silvestre de Sousa and Jamie Spencer.

The entry beats last year’s then record of 207 and Ayr Racecourse Sales and marketing manager Lindsey Smith said: “To have the quantity and quality of entries that we have is fantastic for the race and for the sponsors. We look forward to another great William Hill Ayr Gold Cup.”

Meanwhile, Maybe and La Collina are again set to lock horns in Sunday’s Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh. The two top-class juveniles spearhead 18 entries for the fillies’ Group 1.

Aidan O’Brien’s Maybe is unbeaten in four starts, which includes the Chesham Stakes, the Silver Flash, in which she beat La Collina by a neck, and the Debutante Stakes, but Sunday will be her first run in top company.

Kevin Prendergast’s La Collina bounced back from her sole defeat to beat the colts in the Phoenix Stakes. O’Brien has six other entries with After, Ahimsa, Chieftess, Devotion, Homecoming Queen and Soon all possibles. Mick Channon’s Samitar, impressive when winning the Albany Stakes, is set to have her first run since that day in June and is the sole entry from England. Jim Bolger’s Teolane is looking to bounce back from a couple of disappointing runs, while John Oxx’s Rubina has ground to make up on Maybe from the Debutante Stakes. David Wachman’s Fire Lily and Dermot Weld’s Yellow Rosebud are others of note.

At Deauville yesterday, the British runners were out of luck in the Prix De La Nonette Shadwell as Robert Collet’s Dream Peace just held off Epic Love. Hopes were high with the likes of Joviality, Barefoot Lady, Dorcas Lane, Beatrice Aurore and Cape Dollar all in France for the Group 2 but the finish was dominated by the home team as the Gerald Mosse-ridden winner struck the front over a furlong out and held on to win by half a length.