A competitive seven-race flat programme will take place at Ayr Racecourse on Monday, 20 July, featuring races for novice performers and experienced handicappers across distances ranging from five furlongs to one mile and two furlongs. Prize money will range from £7,000 to £30,000, with the Fergie & Myra Happel Ayr Gold Cup Trial Handicap Stakes serving as the feature contest of the afternoon. Racing will begin at 2:00pm and will conclude with a five-furlong handicap at 5:00pm.
Ayr Race Cards 20 July
Opening the afternoon, The EBF Novice Stakes (Class 4) will get underway at 2:00pm over 6f with prize money of £10,000. Although only two runners will contest the race, it will provide an intriguing start to the meeting as Great Oak and Star People will meet in the opening novice event. The contest will offer an early opportunity for both horses to build valuable experience.
The second race on the programme will be The Dream Weddings at Western House Hotel Handicap Stakes (Class 6) at 2:30pm. Run over 6f for £8,000, the handicap will feature a field of seven runners. Water Of Leith, Mount Ruapehu, Harlequin Bay, Whiskey Kisses, Cotai Starlight and Royal Duke will be among those scheduled to compete in what will be another competitive sprint.
Racing will continue at 3:00pm with The Western House Hotel Handicap Stakes (Class 6) over 7f 62y. Carrying prize money of £7,000, the race will include Imperial Guard, Yaaser, Ramon Di Loria, Soul Warrior, Supreme Dancer and Lanarra. The extended trip compared with the earlier races will provide a different challenge for the field.
The feature contest of the afternoon will take place at 3:30pm with The Fergie & Myra Happel Ayr Gold Cup Trial Handicap Stakes (Class 3). Worth £30,000, the 6f race will bring together a quality field of nine runners including Veblen Good, Lord Roxby, Gentle George, Jordan Electrics, Azure Zain and Clonmacash. As the richest race on the card, it will stand out as the centrepiece of Monday’s meeting.
Attention will then turn to The John Hamilton ScotRail Celebration Handicap Stakes (Class 5) at 4:00pm. The 1m 12y contest will carry prize money of £8,000 and will feature a competitive field of nine runners. Hale End, Krissy, Cisco Disco, Donna Nook, Benacre and Runninsonofagun will be among those taking their places.
The penultimate race will be The Try Racing TV For Free Now Handicap Stakes (Class 6) at 4:30pm over 1m 2f 12y. The £7,000 contest will include Motawaared, Taylormade Lad, Falcon Nine, Braes Of Doune, Toy Soldier and Glasses Up among an eleven-runner field. It will be the longest race of the afternoon and will test stamina as well as consistency.
Bringing the meeting to a close, The Watch Racing TV Free For 31 Days Handicap Stakes (Class 6) will be staged at 5:00pm over 5f for £7,000. The final sprint will feature Brash, Golden Havana, Sea Her Excel, Under The Radar, Bella Delizia and Sands Of Seve among the seven runners. The race will conclude a programme that covers a wide variety of distances and competitive handicap contests.
The Monday fixture will present a balanced schedule of novice and handicap racing, highlighted by the valuable Ayr Gold Cup Trial. With races spanning sprint trips to middle distances, the card will provide opportunities for horses across different classes and stages of their careers.
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