Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Friday preview: Purosangue can speed to success

- Virgin Bet sponsors the Ayr Gold Cup Festival from Thursday-Saturday 
- There are eight races on day two from 1.15pm-5.10pm
- Recommended bets: 
- Miss Roberts to win 1.15pm
- Bill's Baar to win 1.45pm
- Purosangue to win 2.15pm
- Marine Wave to win 2.50pm
- Water Of Leith to win 3.25pm
- Pembrokeshire to win 4.00pm
- Alpine Sierra to win 4.35pm
- Annandale to win 5.10pm

The middle afternoon of three day Ayr's Gold Cup Festival comes up on Friday and is once more action-packed with eight races on offer.

The include a double helping of Listed action via the British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes and the Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies' Stakes as well as the Virgin Bet Ayr Bronze Cup Handicap (3.25pm).

They race from 1.15pm-5.10pm on Friday at the Scottish venue and, once more, we have a race-by-race guide to the action from the Racing Post.

Nursery debutante Lunar Streets has shown enough in two runs, including a winning debut, to merit strong consideration for Ed Dunlop here.

However, MISS ROBERTS has been second in her last two at Newmarket and Beverley, bumping into rivals of substance in both cases, and the Ed Walker-trained Siyouni filly may well be up to carrying top weight to victory.

Racing Post selection: Miss Roberts 

There is loads of promise amongst this field of ten contenders, but there was plenty to like about the recent Ripon win from BILL'S BAAR and he may follow up for Adrian Keatley and Dougie Costello.

He has improved in each of three starts and took out an odds-on favourite last time that has scored since. This is tougher, for sure, but an opening mark of 77 may underestimate the Elzaam colt. 

Racing Post selection: Bill's Baar

These are a talented bunch and Beautiful Diamond is not overlooked in any haste for Karl Burke, but preference is for PUROSANGUE after the Acclaim colt brought home silver medals from Goodwood and York last month in Group 3/Listed company.

The pair that beat him – Big Evs and Inquisitively – are smart in their own right and this Andrew Balding-trained colt has the speed to get on the scoresheet again here.

Racing Post selection: Purosangue 

Cases can be made for plenty of these – with Queen Me and Pink Crystal amongst them – but the claims of MARINE WAVE are suitably strong. A daughter of Group 1-winning sprinter Harry Angel, she has shown pleasing form in four starts this season.

She was second here in June over 5f in this grade and has run well at York twice since over 5f/6f, with last month's close third in a £51k handicap hinting that this intermediate sprint distance could be optimal for the Richard Fahey and Oisin Orr team.

Racing Post selection: Marine Wave 

Jordan Electrics was fifth in this 12 months ago and has tuned up quite pleasingly for another go, while Kats Bob and Little Muddy are others on what could be an extensive shortlist.

WATER OF LEITH hasn't yet put it all together for a winning run this season, but the 5YO Kodiac gelding is becoming well handicapped as a result and is 4lb below his last win-mark before allowing for Amy Waugh taking off 5lb in the saddle.

His record here is generally good and he should put in a good shift.

Racing Post selection: Water Of Leith

PEMBROKESHIRE showed his best form last year over 6f and, after losing his way with William Jarvis in the early months of this season, he took a step in the right direction at Newcastle (7f, AW) this month on first start for Iain Jardine.

The assessor has eased him another 2lb for that and with the drop in trip also expected to suit he should be primed for a big run.

Racing Post selection: Pembrokeshire 

A former course and distance winner this season, ALPINE SIERRA is back on the same mark of 67 now for Jim Goldie and arrives back here off the back of a good effort in third at Carlisle at the start of the month.

Joe Fanning's partner should have a challenge in him back on this favoured layout.

Racing Post selection: Alpine Sierra 

Valley Of Flowers won this contest a year ago and cannot be crossed with certainty now, but ANNANDALE is another former winner of this contest and hasn't been with Iain Jardine all that long.

He has slipped to a really workable mark and was second at Redcar four weeks ago, leaving the idea that his turn is approaching once more. 

Racing Post selection: Annandale