Gordon Brown – Race Reporter
Gordon has a wealth of experience of racing through his background in the written and broadcast media. His current principle role is reporting and supporting the scene in Scotland on Racing TV and relaying the latest news with Scottish angles.
ABERAMA GOLD, trained by Keith Dalgleish and ridden by Billy Garritty, bids for his first success since December 2020 in the feature race at Ayr on Thursday.
The top-weight faces to rivals in the £12,000 Virgin Bet Handicap over the famous six-furlongs at the Craigie venue.
Beaten just over three lengths into ninth in the Ayr Silver Cup over course and distance last time, he looks thrown in off a mark of 85 as his last winning rating was achieved from a BHA rating of 101.
Rivals to Aberama Gold include Julie Camacho-trained Maple Jack, who reappears under a 5lb penalty for his comfortable Ayr success nine-days ago, and Classy Al, who was part of a Jim Goldie treble on that same recent card.
The afternoon gets underway with the Virgin Bet Apprentice Handicap over 1m 2f.
Hilts, twice a winner already this term for Jedd O’Keeffe, could go close if he can put a poor run at Pontefract behind him while Mike Smith’s Royal Regent has gained all six career wins at Ayr.
Hollie Doyle, who has two course wins to her name, has a decent book of rides and she is aboard likely favourite, the Archie Watson-trained colt Radetsky Marsch in the Virgin Bet Novice Stakes for two-year-olds.
Lucinda Russell, better known for her exploits over jumps, saddles two runners in the shape of Eastvan and Earthquake.