Ayr Gold Cup Betting Tip: Tropics to Strike Gold on Saturday

One of the most open and competitive handicap races of the year is set to take centre stage this weekend and we have free horse racing betting tips for Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup.

The Ayr Gold Cup sees horses that are three year olds and upwards hurtling up the straight six furlong trip. Historically this race has thrown up some big priced winners and here we have a look at some of the key players in this year’s field:-

Professional golfer Lee Westwood and his manager ‘Chubby Chandler’ co own the colt Hoof It (12/1 Sportingbet), who burst onto the scene a couple of years back when landing the Steward’s Cup very impressively, and was shaping up to be a fantastic prospect in group company but was out of the picture in both Group Ones that same season, The Nunthorpe and the Sprint Cup. He came back from a very patchy 2012 season with his reappearance run at York this summer, and seemed very laboured. A slight bit of encouragement in his last run saw him finish third in the Sprint Cup behing Gordon Lord Byron. This suggested to me that he could maybe have one last big prize in him. He hammered the Steward’s field off a mark of 111 two years ago and now only needs to perform of 107. If the rain doesn’t arrive as is forecasted then at a nice price, Hoof It could have a great chance. Graham Gibbons is set to ride.

Jim Goldie has two runners in the race, Hawkeyethenoo (16/1) and Jack Dexter (8/1), with the latter set to be his first choice and apparently has been working very well at home. He won the Bronze Cup this time last year and is recently fresh of the back of a Group three success. He will however need to step up if he is going to run very well of his BHA mark of 110. He still goes into the race with top claims.

However, our pick of the race, is former Godolphin owned Tropics (14/1 Sportingbet). He is trained now by Dean Ivory and is said to be in ‘Top Shape’ as he prepares his assault on the race. He picked up the bridle nicely last time to land a Newmarket listed race. He generally travels like a good thing and this style often seems to suit him well in big field handicaps. His trainer is hoping that the ground holds and as it is forecast to, this colt should be able to show his full potential on a favoured surface. At a nice each way price, it is more than possible that with bit of luck in running, this colt can more than stake his claim. Jim Crowley is his more than able pilot.

Other horses in the race that maybe worth taking a look at are the Hugo Palmer trainer Khubala (14/1), the southern raider Highland Colori (16/1) and the St Wilfred winner Baccarat (9/1).

Ayr Gold Cup Betting Tip:

Tropics @ 14/1 with Sportingbet –  Each Way advised, 4 places

Open a new Sportingbet account tonight and get a risk free £50 horse racing bet this weekend. This means if you place a bet on any race you will get your stake refunded if the bet loses.

To get your risk free £50 bet:

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2. Open a new account for free

3. Place a bet of between £10 and £50

4. If your bet loses you will get the cost of your bet refunded

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See all the latest Ayr Gold Cup odds at Sportingbet.

By Rob Hodson Walker