AYR 15:45 465q66

All 16 ran.

Time: 1m 12.49s Closing Sectional: (3f): 35.8s (101.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 131%, Betfair SP 100.1%

More a trial for the Silver Cup in truth, none of these rated high enough to have got in last year's Gold version and no more than a fairly useful handicap in its own right, the pace a sound one which meant coming from the second half of the field was an advantage, Ramiro sweeping through to look a comfortable winner despite being out of the handicap, with Aberama Gold shaping well as best of those that raced close up; the field raced as one down the centre with the exception of the pair that brought up the rear.

RAMIRO (IRE) had gone close on his last 2 starts and coped well with the drop back in trip without the hood this time, this easily his best effort for current yard and close to his best from in Ireland; held up, smooth headway from halfway, quickened to lead inside final 1f, had bit in hand; he was 5 lb wrong at the weights from out of the handicap and with his jockey putting up 1 b overweight, connections perhaps obliged to turn him out under a penalty from effectively a similar mark, for all he's already been busy of late.

MUSIC SOCIETY (IRE) again ran well to make the frame for a third start in a row and fifth time this year, his consistency hard to knock; mid-field, pushed along halfway, headway inside final 1f, ran on.

ROCK MELODY (IRE) was sent off at big odds for one chasing a hat-trick and ran at least as well as last time, this trip suiting just as well as shorter (winner over even further for old yard); mid-field, travelled well, shaken up over 1f out, driven inside final 1f, late headway.

ILLUSIONIST (GER) back on softer ground, ran creditably after 6 weeks off; held up, pushed along 2f out, carried head bit awkwardly, late headway, his rider seeming reluctant to use the whip, his head carriage perhaps suggesting he's not the sort to respond all that well to it.

ABERAMA GOLD who goes well at this track (2 wins and 3 places from 7 previous starts here), shaped promisingly on first outing for a new yard (previously trained by Keith Dalgleish), and though he's gone back up the weights for 2 wins earlier in the year, there are still more races to be won with him from this sort of mark; prominent, travelled well, quickened to lead 2f out, headed inside final 100 yds, did too much too soon.

BALLYARE broke on this time and wasn't disgraced in a stronger race than he need contest; mid-field, pushed along 2f out, one paced.

TINTO wasn't in quite the same form as last time, when he'd finished just ahead of the second; mid-field, pushed along soon after halfway, not quicken.

THUNDER ROAR was strong in the betting to build on his win here last week but failed to repeat that, racing closer to the pace than ideal; chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final 1f; he's worth another try at this trip.

BLACK FRIDAY shaped similarly to last time in this deeper race; chased leaders, effort soon after halfway, struggling when hampered 1f out, not quicken.

AMERICAN AFFAIR shaped as if back in form, possible that he's better over further; slowly into stride, raced well off the pace, pushed along over 2f out, merely closed up late.

MANILA SCOUSE found run of good form coming to a halt but is best forgiven this; close up, pushed along soon after halfway, weakened inside final 1f, raced closer to pace than ideal.

RAMON DI LORIA (IRE) found run of good form coming to a halt back up in grade; mid-field, pushed along over 2f out, weakened.

FOOLS RUSH IN (IRE) back in headgear/tongue strap for first time this year but was easy to back and fared little better; awkward leaving stalls, held up, pushed along over 2f out, never a threat; he's not one to forget about back up in trip when the market speaks more in his favour.

TWELFTH KNIGHT (IRE) came here in good heart and can have a line put through this run; led, headed around 2f out, weakened, ridden too aggressively.

ABDUCTION (FR) can have a line put through this run; raced near side, held up, pushed along before halfway, left behind over 1f out, left poorly placed.

JORDAN ELECTRICS has quickly gone off the boil; awkward leaving stalls, raced near side, raced off the pace, pushed along before halfway, made no impression.